Parametric Designs of a Pre-swirl Duct for the 180,000DWT Bulk Carrier Using CFD

In this study, a pre-swirl duct for the 180,000 DWT bulk carrier has been designed from a propulsion standpoint using CFD. The stern duct - designed by NMRI - was selected as the initial duct. The objective function is to minimize the value of delivered power in model scale. Design variables of the duct include duct angle, diameter, chord length, and vertical and horizontal displacements from the center. Design variables of the stators are blade number, arrangement angle, chord length, and pitch angle. A parametric design was carried out with the objective function obtained using CFD. Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations have been solved; and the Reynolds stress model applied for the turbulent closure. A double body model is used for the treatment of free-surface. MRF and sliding mesh models have been applied to simulate the actuating propeller. A self-propulsion point has been obtained from the results of towing and self-propelled computations, i.e., form factor obtained from towing computation and towing forces obtained from self-propelled computations of two propeller rotating speeds. The reduction rate of the delivered power of the improved stern duct is 2.9%, whereas that of the initial stern duct is 1.3%. The pre-swirl duct with one inner stator in upper starboard and three outer stators in portside has been designed. The delivered power due to the designed pre-swirl duct is reduced by 5.8%.