NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THE CAVITATING FLOW AROUND MARINE CO-ROTATING TANDEM PROPELLERS.

In the present paper, a numerical simulation has been carried out to determine the hydrodynamic characteristics in cavitating viscous flow of the conventional INSEAN E779A propeller in single and tandem configuration by using Singhal et al. cavitation model implemented in FLUENT Software. Firstly, calculations have been carried out on single E779A propeller in non-cavitating and cavitating flows. The computed performances have shown good agreement with experimental data. Next, the numerical approach has been applied in loaded conditions to the case of tandem propeller configurations with respectively 0.2 and 0.6 axial displacement. Results reveal that cavitation is qualitatively well predicted and the cavitation area is rather more pronounced on the fore propeller. Te use of tandem corotating propeller in loaded conditions is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]