Design of AUV propeller based on a blade element method

Author

Cairns, J. ; Larnicol, E. ; Ananthakrishnan, P. ; Smith, S. ; Dunn, S.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Ocean Eng., Florida Atlantic Univ., Boca Raton, FL, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1998

fDate

28 Sep-1 Oct 1998

Firstpage

672

Abstract

Design of a propeller for Florida Atlantic University´s Ocean Explorer (OEX) series autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is presented. The primary requirement of the design is that the vehicle achieve a steady forward speed of 5 knots using a direct-drive motor limited by a torque of 4 Nm at 1000 rpm. The thrust required to propel the vehicle at steady 5 knots was estimated to be ≈100 N. The estimation takes into account, empirically, the effects of hull-propeller interactions on flow into the propeller and vehicle drag. While an elaborate hydrodynamics analysis is envisaged for the design of AUV propellers in the future, a blade element method is used in the present design. Assuming a functional form of loading curve and radial variation of chord together with the blade-element method, a three-bladed propeller of diameter 34 cm and based on NACA 66-221 sections is designed. Sea trials are planned to evaluate the performance of the propeller

Keywords

drag; electric propulsion; hydrodynamics; remotely operated vehicles; torque; underwater vehicles; 34 cm; Florida Atlantic University; NACA 66-221 sections; Ocean Explorer; autonomous underwater vehicle; blade element method; direct-drive motor; flow; hull-propeller interactions; hydrodynamics analysis; loading curve; radial chord variation; three-bladed propeller; thrust; torque; vehicle drag; Automotive engineering; Blades; Design methodology; Hydrodynamics; Marine vehicles; Oceans; Propellers; Remotely operated vehicles; Torque; Underwater vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS '98 Conference Proceedings

Conference_Location

Nice

Print_ISBN

0-7803-5045-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.1998.724323

Filename

724323