Computational investigation of the effects of the propeller diameter on the self-propulsion performance of a submarine at different forward speeds

Abstract

The power generated by the propulsion system of a submarine must be used as efficient as possible due to a high propulsive efficiency reduces the dependency of the submarine to the surface and thus enhance its operational capabilities. Although several studies have been conducted in order to investigate the effects of the changes in a variety of parameters on the submarine self-propulsion performance up to now, some parameters are still needed to be discussed in more detail. The propeller diameter, one of the most important characteristics of the propeller geometry, is one of these parameters which needs deeper investigation into the topic. Since, the effects of the propeller diameter on the self-propulsion performance of the submarines are usually presented by some generalized diagrams in the open literature whose derivation methodology are not explained. The literature review in Chapter 1.1 which summarizes the past studies related to the field of the submarine hydrodynamics focusing especially on the submarine self-propulsion explains all other details and the developments regard to the topic over the years in the chronological order. On the other hand, further explanations for the base point of the study presented in this thesis exist in Chapter 1.2. In Chapter 2, the naval architectural based engineering terminology adopted throughout the study are described. In this context, definitions for the non-dimensional parameters which characterize the performance of the marine propellers and the propulsive factors of the submarines are given. In addition, the methods used for the open water and the self-propulsion analyses as well as the principles of the thrust identity and the torque identity methods are explained in Chapter 2. The present study utilizes the viscous flow based computational fluid dynamics methods for the analyses carried out with the aim of the investigation of the effects of the propeller diameter on the submarine self-propulsion performance. In this regard, RANS approach was used along with the SST k-ω turbulence model throughout the study in order to solve the incompressible flow around the bodies subjected to the examinations and the flow was assumed to be steady in the scope of the study. For the computations where the rotational motion due to the propeller is required to be modelled, the MRF method was additionally applied. The equations to be solved were discretized in the flow domain by means of finite volume method, on the other hand, the coupling between the pressure and the velocity terms was satisfied by the SIMPLE algorithm in order to solve these equations in an iterative manner. In Chapter 3, in-depth explanations are provided for these computational techniques among with their scientific basis starting from the introduce of the governing equations of the fluid dynamics. The application procedure of the GCI method which was used to assess the uncertainty due to the spatial discretization in the present study is also explained in Chapter 3. For the computational analyses, the fully-appended generic submarine model DARPA Suboff AFF8 was used whereas this submarine model was propelled by the generic INSEAN E1619 submarine propellers in different diameters. Three different INSEAN E1619 propellers having diameters of 0.262 m, 0.308 m and 0.354 m were selected which give reasonable values for the ratios of the propeller diameter to the maximum hull diameter to be 0.516, 0.606 and 0.697, respectively to propel DARPA Suboff AFF8. Further details about the geometries used are provided in Chapter 4. The computational process started with the verification and the validation studies which were required to proceed with the case studies. In this regard, the employed solution methods for the resistance characteristics of DARPA Suboff AFF8 and the open water characteristics of the full-scale INSEAN E1619 whose diameter is 0.485 m were verified and validated. Furthermore, a validation study for the self-propulsion characteristics of DARPA Suboff AFF8 propelled by INSEAN E1619 in 0.262 m diameter was also executed. The step-by-step explanations for the verification and the validation studies are presented in Chapter 5.1. After the solution strategies to be adopted were shown to be valid, the open water computations for the scaled INSEAN E1619 propellers were performed based on the structure of the verified and validated method employed for the full-scale INSEAN E1619. With these computations, the open water curves of these scaled propellers were obtained to be used in the stage of the calculation of the propulsive factors. In the next stage, the studies continued with the self-propulsion computations of DARPA Suboff AFF8 propelled by INSEAN E1619 propellers in the determined diameters to yield its propulsive characteristics at three different submarine forward speeds by using the validated method for its self-propulsion. Detailed information into the case studies are provided in Chapter 5.2. The data obtained by the computations were used as the input for the calculation of the propulsive factors of the propeller-submarine couples for three different forward speeds by utilizing from the thrust identity method. The variations of the obtained propulsive factors with respect to the ratio of the propeller diameter to the maximum hull diameter and the submarine forward speed were illustrated by the curves and an elaborate discussion was made through these relationships. Besides, the obtained data set by the present study were also compared with the previous data presented to the literature and discussed. The calculation of the propulsive factors and discussions on the obtained data are presented in Chapter 5.3 with all the details. On the other hand, the visual inspections which focus on to the features of the flow downstream the submarine were carried out by post-processing the data obtained from the self-propulsion analyses. Visualization studies are presented in Chapter 5.4 with their comprehensive discussions. It was demonstrated that the torque requirement of the propeller increases even though the propeller rotational rates at the self-propulsion points reduce as the propeller diameter increases. It was also detected that the propulsive factors are significantly affected by the propeller diameter being the Taylor wake fraction is the most affected one and its analysis requires a special attention in determining the propeller diameter of a submarine. Moreover, it was shown that the submarine forward speed affects all the propulsive factors except the propulsive efficiency. Also, it was observed that the trends of the curves drawn for the propulsive factors in the present study are in compliance with those of in the literature. Besides, it was visually demonstrated that the changes in the propeller diameter alter the wake flow of the submarine remarkably. Further concluding remarks in more detail along with the recommendations for the future studies related to the topic are provided in Chapter 6.