PROPULSION THRUST FORCE CALCULATION WITH CAVITATION FOR AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE

Abstract

This paper aimed to evaluate the thrust force for a propeller taking into account cavitations, to analyze the dynamic and nautical characteristics of an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles). This approach is not a theoretical one, it also has a practical purpose to achieve high-performance propulsion systems with the lowest possible design costs. This is the purpose for which we want to create a viable and high-performance simulation model which allows optimization by numerical analysis, and in the end to make the prototype and perform measurements. The simulation is done in Ansys CFX and uses a 3D model for the propeller and duct of the T100 thruster produced by Blue Robotics. The simulation introduces the cavitation model from Ansys CFX, simplified Rayleigh-Plesset formulation, and we will perform analyses whit important improvements. Taking into account the results obtained in previous author work [1] and information from other scientifical papers, we will test fine discretization mesh in rotor zone to solve the cavitation. Increased resolution for the numerical scheme, two-order schemes for pressure momentum, and turbulence equations. Replacement of k-epsilon turbulence model whit a more performant k-omega model. The obtained results will be analyzed and compared with the experimental measurements.