Prediction of propeller performance on a model podded propulsor in ice (propeller-ice interaction)

• Main Author: Wang, Jungyong
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 2007
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/9886/; https://research.library.mun.ca/9886/1/Wang_Jungyong.pdf

With the increase in popularity of podded propulsors and arctic navigation, understanding the interaction between a podded propulsor and ice has become more important. Propeller-ice interaction itself is a complicated process resulting from the variations associated with the properties of the ice and with the propeller-ice interaction conditions. Model tests provide relatively well-controlled ice properties and interaction conditions to reduce these variations. -- The objective of this work is to understand propeller-ice interaction phenomena and develop a numerical method to predict the interaction ice loads. A model podded propulsor was tested in an ice tank with scaled model ice. Three six-component dynamometers and six single-axis dynamometers measured the ice loads acting on various positions of the experimental model. In order to achieve the desired numerical simulations, both a Panel method and empirical formulae were used. The Panel method was suitable for predicting the hydrodynamic loads acting on the propeller blades. The empirical formulae for the ice milling loads were also implemented into the Panel method, thus the hydrodynamic loads and ice milling loads were calculated simultaneously. The ice milling loads model takes into account geometric and kinematic considerations. -- Numerical results were compared and validated with the experimental results. The numerical model was valid for the first quadrant operating conditions with various azimuthing (yaw) angles. The numerical results showed a good agreement with experimental results. The findings from this work were then presented and discussed.