An analytical investigation into the design of a shaftless thruster using finite element and computational fluid dynamics approaches

摘要

Traditional marine propellers and thrusters driven by a shaft are associated with problems suchudas debris tangling (e.g., fishing nets), cavitation and limited machinery arrangement. Theudelimination of such impediments is being investigated through an alternative propulsion method,udwhich is shaftless. To achieve this objective, a model was designed and analyzed using FEAud(finite element analysis) and CFD (computational fluid dynamics). By applying these analyticaludprocedures, it was possible to simulate the propeller region under various rotating conditions, soudthat detailed information on the energy transfer of the inherent complex, unsteady flow fieldudcould be obtained. Usually, the design of such structures is enhanced through actual experimentaludsimulations in the appropriate facilities. However, because experimental tests in such facilitiesud(e.g., towing tanks and cavitation tunnels) are sometimes very time-consuming and exorbitant, itudis always beneficial to carry out analytical simulations prior to actual testing, so a betterudunderstanding of the structure and the results obtained experimentally can be achieved. (Moreover,udthis approach could also reduce the time and cost associated with such experiments.) In thisudpaper, the analytical simulations approach is being adopted.udBased upon the reported results and evaluations, it was concluded that a shaftless thruster ofudsuitable efficiency (in the marine industry) could effectively eliminate tangling, and the needudfor a conventional driving shaft.