To minimize the energy consumption of contra-rotating propellers (CRPs), the optimal matched rotational speeds of the forward propeller (FP) and rear propeller (RP) of CRP are investigated based on the potential-based panel method. The optimal matching problem of a set of CRP405 is investigated. The open-water hydrodynamic performances of CRP405 with the FP and RP having the same rotational speed are calculated and the method is validated. The hydrodynamic characteristics of CRP405 with changing FP and RP rotational speeds are investigated. The cubic spline interpolation method is used to determine the equal thrust line at which CRP405 generates the target thrust while keeping the inflow velocity constant. A series of equal thrust points on the equal thrust line is selected for the analysis of the delivered power. The rotational speeds of the FP and RP corresponding to the minimal delivered power are the optimal matched rotational speeds of CRP405. The optimal matching calculations are carried out at different inflow velocities. The results show that, under the condition of a low inflow velocity, properly increasing the rotational speed of the FP and decreasing the rotational speed of the RP are the most direct and efficient ways to reduce the energy consumption and avoid the negative effect of the net torque of the CRP on the transverse stability.
In order to study the effects of geometric parameters of the rudder on the hydrodynamic performance of the propeller-rudder system,the surface panel method is used to build the numerical model of the steady interaction between the propeller and rudder to analyze the relevant factors.The interaction between the propeller and rudder is considered through the induced velocities,which are circumferentially averaged,so the unsteady problem is translated to steady state.An iterative calculation method is used until the hydrodynamic performance converges.Firstly,the hydrodynamic performance of the chosen propeller-rudder system is calculated,and the comparison between the calculated results and the experimental data indicates that the calculation program is reliable.Then,the variable parameters of rudder are investigated,and the calculation results show that the propeller-rudder spacing has a negative relationship with the efficiency of the propeller-rudder system,and the rudder span has an optimal match range with the propeller diameter.Futhermore,the rudder chord and thickness both have a positive correlation with the hydrodynamic performance of the propeller-rudder system. 相似文献