Abstract The hydrodynamic performance of tandem propeller (two co-rotating KP458 propellers) is investigated by an FVM (Finite Volume Method) based approach in this study. The effects of advance ratio J (0 ≤ J ≤ 0.7), spacing ratio (0.26 ≤ L/Df ≤ 0.34) and diameter ratio (0.92 ≤ Da/Df ≤ 0.97) are comprehensively studied and analyzed. A three-dimensional cubic computational domain is considered in this study, and the MRF (Moving Reference Frame) approach is adopted to handle the rotation of the tandem propeller mathematically. Turbulence is accounted for with the RNG k-e model. It is demonstrated that the hydrodynamic forces maximize at a spacing ratio of 0.29 if the diameter ratio equals 1.0. It is also found that the efficiency is improved by approximately 45% for the tandem propeller with the diameter ratio being 0.95 at L/Df = 0.29, compared to the single propeller, at J = 0.7. In addition, by appropriately specifying the spacing ratio or the diameter ratio, the rotation of rear propeller could well absorb the energy of the trailing vortices shed from the front propeller. Consequently, the trailing vortices are rapidly dissipated and disappear in the wake field after merging, and a better hydrodynamic performance can be obtained.

中文翻译：

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串联螺旋桨流动特性及水动力性能数值研究

摘要 在本研究中，通过基于 FVM（有限体积法）的方法研究了串联螺旋桨（两个同向旋转的 KP458 螺旋桨）的水动力性能。对进给比J（0≤J≤0.7）、间距比（0.26≤L/Df≤0.34）和直径比（0.92≤Da/Df≤0.97）的影响进行了综合研究和分析。本研究考虑了三维立方计算域，并采用 MRF（移动参考框架）方法从数学上处理串联螺旋桨的旋转。RNG ke 模型考虑了湍流。结果表明，如果直径比等于 1.0，则水动力在间距比为 0.29 时最大。还发现，在 L/Df = 0.29 时，直径比为 0.95 的串联螺旋桨的效率提高了约 45%，与单个螺旋桨相比，J = 0.7。此外，通过适当指定间距比或直径比，后螺旋桨的旋转可以很好地吸收前螺旋桨脱落的尾涡能量。因此，尾涡合并后在尾流场中迅速消散消失，获得更好的水动力性能。