Thrust force evaluation for a ROV (Remont Operating Vehicle) propeller

Abstract

The underwater vehicles operated remotely, known from the specialized literature under the name of ROV are common and are intensively used in the maritime industry. Depending on the area of use, ROV must satisfy numerous constructive and functional requirements, which are difficult to achieve in practice and the simulation is a challenging alternative. The big challenge is the simulation of the thrust force generated by the propeller. The present work aims to present such a simulation realized with the Ansys Fluid Dynamics software package. The simulation presented uses a 3D model of an asymmetrical propeller in the duct, having as reference the T100 propeller marketed by Blue Robotics. The fluid volume extracted after the model was made was separated into two domains one static and other rotating around the propeller, which was discretized using the default grid generator. The solution was obtained under stationary conditions using only the flow equations together with the standard k-ε model for turbulence modelling. The calculation was made for rotation speed values in the working domain. In the end, using the facilities of the program, the thrust force of the propeller was calculated. The obtained results were compared with the experimental measurements and critical analysis will be done.

Propulsion Thrust Force Calculation With Cavitation for an Underwater Vehicle

“…For this reason, we perform a network calibration calculation using the cavitation model. At 2000 rpm the limit speed at which the no-cavitation model also provided satisfactory results [1]. After successively reducing the fineness of the network, it reached 1 million cells.…”

“…The first time we need to calibrate the discretization network. The very fine discretization network used in the calculation without cavitation [1] cannot be used with the new model due to hardware limitations. For this reason, we perform a network calibration calculation using the cavitation model.…”

“…The simulation uses a 3D model of an asymmetrical propeller in the duct, imported from a previous paper [1] having as reference the BlueRobotics's T100 propeller presented in Figure 1. The mesh is also imported from the previous work but needs adjustments due to hardware limitations.…”

“…The present paper is an improvement of an older one [1] which aimed to evaluate the thrust force for an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicles, vehicles that are operated underwater and remotely) to analyse the dynamic and nautical characteristics. At the first time, only a general evaluation of the thrust characteristics was done.…”

“…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.…”