Comparisons of CFD simulations and in-service data for the self propelled performance of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

A blade element momentum theory propeller model is coupled with a commercial RANS solver. This allows the fully appended self propulsion of the autonomous underwater vehicle Autosub 3 to be considered. The quasi-steady propeller model has been developed to allow for circumferential and radial variations in axial and tangential inflow. The non-uniform inflow is due to control surface deflections and the bow-down pitch of the vehicle in cruise condition. The influence of propeller blade Reynolds number is included through the use of appropriate sectional lift and drag coefficients. Simulations have been performed over the vehicles operational speed range (Re = 6.8 × 106 to 13.5 × 106). A workstation is used for the calculations with mesh sizes up to 2x106 elements. Grid uncertainty is calculated to be 3.07% for the wake fraction. The initial comparisons with in service data show that the coupled RANS-BEMT simulation under predicts the drag of the vehicle and consequently the required propeller rpm. However, when an appropriate correction is made for the effect on resistance of various protruding sensors the predicted propulsor rpm matches well with that of in-service rpm measurements for vessel speeds (1m/s - 2m/s). The developed analysis captures the important influence of the propeller blade and hull Reynolds number on overall system efficiency.

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