Numerical Viscous Flow Simulations of Cavitating Propeller Flows at Different Reynolds Numbers

In this paper, we conducted numerical simulations to investigate single and two-phase flows around marine propellers in open-water conditions at different Reynolds number regimes. Simulations were carried out using a homogeneous two-phase flow model with RANS turbulence modelling approaches. Transition was accounted for in the model-scale simulations by employing an LCTM transition model. In the model scale, also an anisotropic RANS model was utilized.
We investigated two types of marine propellers: a conventional and a tip-loaded one. We compared the results of the simulations to experimental results in terms of global propeller performance and the cavitation observations. The propeller cavitation, near-blade flow phenomena and the propeller wake flow characteristics were investigated in model- and full-scale conditions. A grid sensitivity study was carried out with respect to the propeller performance and cavitation characteristics.
The model-scale propeller performance and the cavitation patterns were captured well with the numerical simulations, with little difference between the utilized turbulence models. The global propeller performance and the cavitation patterns were similar between the model- and full-scale simulations. A tendency of increased cavitation extent was observed as the Reynolds number increases. At the same time, greater dissipation of the cavitating tip vortex was noted in the full scale conditions.