Numerical Study of Kaplan Series Propeller using CFD: Effect of Angle of Attack and Number of Blade Variations

Abstract

Kaplan series propeller has the potential to improve ensuring the high ship propulsion performance of the operation. In this study, a Kaplan propeller is evaluated with a Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP) behavior such as angle of attack and the number of blades. The propeller blades which are studied are 3, 4, and 5 blades with the angle of attack about 10.3⁰, 15.3⁰, and 20.0⁰. The method in this study is using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulations. Moreover, surface pressure, thrust, torque, and efficiency are evaluated due to the influence of the angle of attack variations. It has been found that varying the angle of attack significantly affects the distribution of the pressure surface of the propeller. The pressure gradually increases at the higher level of the angle of attack. Furthermore, it is well known that variations in the angle of attack and the number of blades significantly affect propeller performance as expressed by propeller thrust and torque values. Thrust and efficiency tend to increase at higher levels of the angle of attack. However, it tends to decrease at the propeller with more blades on it.