A Hydrodynamic Design Procedure for Multi-Stage Blade-Row Propulsors Using Generalized Linear Model of the Vortex Wake

Abstract

This paper presents the hydrodynamic design procedure for multi-stage blade-row marine propulsors using the original authors' model of the vortex wake. The special attention is paid to optimization algorithms that solve the problems about optimum spanwise circulation distribution and optimum chord length and thickness of the blade sections for wake-adapted propellers. A developed method allows the design of the podded propulsors and captures the potential part of the blade rows I pod "effective" velocity field. The contra-rotating propellers, rotor wane wheel device, and notional AZIPOD with tandem propellers are considered to illustrate the design procedure.