Numerical investigation of the immersion ratio effects on ventilation phenomenon and also the performance of a surface piercing propeller

Surface Piercing Propellers (SPP) show high efficiency at high advance speeds. Regarding operational conditions, this kind of propellers generate an air layer when entering the water due to the rotation of the propeller; this phenomenon is called ventilation. The ventilation phenomenon divided into some mechanism with respect to air cavity length on the propeller surface; among them are partially ventilation mechanism and fully ventilation mechanism which has great importance. In this study, using numerical simulation, we have investigated ventilation patterns and also the performance of a five-blade SPP propeller (SPP 5.74) at immersion ratio of 33, 40, 50and 70% respectively. We used Sliding Mesh Technique for modeling. Also, we applied the volume of fluid method to simulate the open surface pattern. To validate numerical results, the four-blade propeller, 841-B was simulated, and then the results of thrust and torque coefficients compared with Olofsson experimental results and validated accordingly. The findings indicate that the maximum value for thrust and torque coefficient would occur at immersion ratio of 70% and the maximum propeller efficiency occurs at immersion ratio of 33% and advance coefficient of 1.1; Moreover, the critical advance coefficient (at the partially and the fully ventilation boundary) increases by a reduction in immersion ratio, so that critical advance coefficients are 0.6 and 0.76, respectively at immersion ratios of 70 and 33%. Meanwhile, as advance coefficient increases, length of ventilation zone will decrease, and consequently the propeller will be laid on partial ventilation zone.