2023_programme: Underwater Radiated Noise as a Propeller Design Constraint

• Session: 21. Underwater Noise - Modelling and Measurements
  Organiser(s): Alexander Gavrilov
• Lecture: Underwater Radiated Noise as a Propeller Design Constraint
  Paper ID: 2081
  Author(s): Tomy Joseph Praful, Berger Stephan, Shin Keun Woo, Bingham Harry, Andersen Poul
  Presenter: Tomy Joseph Praful
  Abstract: The philosophy of ship propeller design optimization has traditionally been a balance between improved efficiency and reduced cavitation. In recent years, with the growing concern about the adverse effects of propeller noise on marine life, the focus tends to shift towards reduced cavitation and noise radiation, even for commercial ships. \n\nThe evaluation of underwater radiated noise using high-fidelity Navier-Stokes solvers, involves high computational costs that makes it unsuitable for optimization algorithms. Hence, the use of potential flow concept coupled with acoustic analogies, has garnered keen interest within the propeller design community. The low computational cost makes it ideal to be incorporated in design optimization algorithms; as well as to evaluate the various design parameters that critically affect the noise behavior. This paper focusses on the latter part, wherein various design operating conditions are analyzed for their influence on the overall noise characteristics.\n\nESPPRO, a potential flow solver based on Boundary Element Method (BEM), is coupled with an acoustic analogy solver based on Ffowcs-Williams Hawkings (FWH) method. This enables the prediction of the tonal noise, for any given propeller design and operating condition. Critical parameters for the noise-based-design are identified. The focus is not on integrated parameters such as the thrust coefficient or the wake fraction; but instead on field parameters such as quality of the ship wake-field, and propeller blade loading distribution.\n\nSystematic variation of the critical field parameters is achieved through parametric functions and through blade shape refinements. The underwater radiated tonal noise for the parametric operating conditions are then evaluated using the BEM-FWH coupled solver. The results are analyzed in order to identify key characteristics that could aid in the design of low-noise propellers. The outcome of the work can be furthered towards application in design optimization algorithms and/or data-based prediction methods.
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• Corresponding author: Mr Joseph Praful Tomy
  Affiliation: Industrial PhD student, MAN Energy Solutions
  Country: Denmark
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