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The Study of Ducted Propeller in Propulsion Performance of a Malaysia Fishing

Boat

Article in Jurnal Teknologi · May 2015

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v74.4639

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 Jurnal Full paper
Teknologi

The Study of Ducted Propeller in Propulsion Performance of a Malaysia

Fishing Boat
Koh K. K.,* Omar Y., Azreen E., Nurhaslinda K.

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor bahru, Johor, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Article history Abstract

Received :25 December 2014 Through the installation of ducted propeller,fishing vessels are able to operate with more towing power and
Received in revised form : will be more economic in terms of fuel usage. The application of the shroud or ring to the propeller made
25 March 2015 the propeller more practical for tugs, pushboat, supply ship and trawler. The study of this paper is focused
Accepted :15 May 2015 on the propulsive performance by ducted propeller when operating at tow speed and low rpm. From the
research on the ducted propeller, the design characteristics such as length-diameter ratio and thickness-
Graphical abstract length ratio are determine from the chart provided by previous researcher. The design selection of nozzle
is done with the use of CFD program, Javafoil to analyze the flows of the profile and it’s characteristic.
Model tests were conducted by using a 26m fishing boat model with and without nozzle.It is foundthat by
using ducted propeller to a fishing vessel, thrust can be increase up to 23%.

Keywords: Ducted propeller; fishing vessel; thrust

© 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved.

1.0 INTRODUCTION low pressure side of aerofoil faces outward so the top looks like an
aircraft wing right way up. The accelerating nozzle is now being
In Malaysia, fishing is an important industry as they had contribute used extensively for a ship with heavily loaded. It offers a means
an amounted of 1239434 tonnes valued at RM3.84 billion, of increasing the efficiency of heavily loaded propellers, and it
constituting about 1.54% of the national Gross Domestic Product produces a positive thrust. An accelerating duct will generally
(GDP) in year 1996 by Omar.1 Trawlers and purse seiners together increase efficiency performance on ships with a high thrust
contributed 84 percent of total fish landings and 74 percent of total
coefficient, according to Breslin.3 E.g. tug boats, trawlers, tankers,
wholesale value of fish in Peninsular Malaysia in 1990 referring to
AUVs etc.
Viswanathan.2
In terms of their propulsion units, Malaysian fishing vessels With the second type which is decelerating nozzle, the inflow
are still using an open water propeller to operate instead of velocity is reduced, whereby pressure is increased, thus reducing
practicing the use of ducted propeller as their propulsor which is cavitations. A decelerating duct is a major contributor to noise
because of cost constraint in installation, and this had left us further reduction which is why it is getting more popular with modern
behind compared to the other developing country which had warship designs.
implemented it as their main propulsion unit. For a fishing vessel,
it is usually operate at low speed with high loading propeller. 2.1 Advantages of Ducted Propeller
Therefore, ducted propeller would be a good addition in increasing
the propulsion performance at low speed. A nozzle provides an improvement in the efficiency of propulsion
system and the efficiency of the propeller itself. As the blades turns
in the water, high pressure areas are generated behind each blade
2.0 DUCTED PROPELLER while a low pressure area occurs at the front of the blades. The
different between these pressures provides the force to drive the
Ducted propeller is a propeller shrouded by a nozzle of with an vessel through the water. However, losses occur at the tip of each
aerofoil shape. There are 2 types of nozzle, accelerating and blade as water escapes from high pressure to low pressure side that
decelerating. Accelerating duct is formed when the high pressure give a little benefit in pushing the vessel forward. These loses can
side of the aerofoil faces outwards so the top looks like an aircraft be reduced by the used of close-fit nozzle or duct around the
propeller.
wing upside down and the decelerating duct is formed when the

74:5 (2015) 39–43 | www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my | eISSN 2180–3722 |

40 Koh K. K. et al. / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 74:5 (2015), 39–43

The application of nozzle on fishing vessels can save fuel because and diameter for the design nozzle correspond to the type of ship.
the vessels can carry out the same trawlnet at the same speed, but MARIN has made an investigation on the effect of the dimension or
at lower RPM. Furthermore, the fuel savings should be slightly shape of different nozzle with different length-diameter ratio to
smaller than the thrust gain which is around 20 percent which stated emphasize their effect to the ducted propeller. Figure 1 below
by Anon.4 From the work done by Chung K.S.5 it also shown shows the result from the research made by MARIN on the nozzle
proved that the installation of ducted propeller to a fishing vessel with different length-diameter ratio, 𝑙 ⁄𝐷.
can give an increase of thrust at low speed for almost 20 percent. Figure 1 show a graph of propeller efficiency ηP against thrust
coefficient CT, that nozzle 3 has a higher efficiency with a length-
diameter ratio of 0.5, compared to other nozzle with different ratios
3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY within the range of 60 to 100 of power coefficient, Bp. This is the
range of Bp for a trawler to operate. Therefore, the ratios of Length-
There are various methods in calculating the propulsion diameter for the design of nozzle had been obtained which is 0.5,
performance of a ship which includes the used of CFD programs since the nozzle design is to be attached to a trawler.
for design optimization and model tests in towing tank. The design
of the nozzle was studied in order to improve the efficiency of a
propeller. In designing the nozzle, Kort nozzle 19A and geometry
set by Tadeusz6 are used as a reference for its dimensions
parameters.
The designed nozzles will be tested using a program called
Javafoil for calculating the profile drag and to estimates the airfoil
performance. It was followed by fabricating the nozzle according
to the dimension of propeller for a trawler model with a model code
MTL038, taken from UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia Marine
Technology Laboratory. After the construction of the nozzle, an
experiment will be conducted for the analysis of the performance
of trawler with and without nozzle.

4.0 NOZZLE DESIGN

From the test on ducted propeller that had been carried out by
MARIN with different profile and designs, result shows that the
efficiency of the nozzle is depend on the parameters of the nozzle
such as length-diameter ratio (𝑙⁄𝐷 ), tip clearance (C), maximum Figure 1 Results from the comparison of nozzle with different length-
thickness-length ratio (𝑠⁄𝑙 ), trailing edge and dihedral angle (α). diameter ratio (Van Manen J. D., 1966)7

4.1 Propeller Particulars

4.3 Thickness-length Ratio, 𝐬⁄𝐥
The parameters of nozzle will be designed according to the existing
The thickness-length ratio has an important role in determining the
propeller with a diameter of 138 mm. The propeller used is a B4.70
risk of flow separation on the interior surface of the nozzle. Flow
propeller, and the characteristic for the model size propeller is
separation can cause an unsteady velocity of the fluid thus causing
shown in the Table 1 below:
some losses in thrust. Separation of flow will produce resistance
that make the fluid flow becomes detached from the surface of the
Table 1 Characteristic for model size propeller
nozzle, and instead takes the forms of eddies and vortices.
Oosterveld 8 made a research on the sectional lift coefficient
Propeller Characteristic Value CL with different thrust ratios τ and different thickness ratios of
Diameter 138 mm nozzle, the result as in the Figure 2, shows that the loading of the
Pitch at root 114 mm accelerating nozzle is strongly restricted by the risk flow separation
Pitch at 0.7R 114 mm on the interior part of nozzle.
Pitch at blade tip 114 mm
No. of blade 4
Material Bronze
Direction of rotation Right handed
Scale ratio 1 : 31.935

4.2 Length-diameter Ratio, 𝒍⁄𝑫

Length-diameter ratio is the ratio for the length of the nozzle and
diameter of nozzle. The ratio will determined the suitable length
41 Koh K. K. et al. / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 74:5 (2015), 39–43

4.6 Designs

The design nozzle will follow the geometry set by Tadeusz 6 as he

stated that this simple nozzle provide better performance at high
advance coefficient than the MARIN 19A nozzle due to the smaller
drag of the nozzle as a result from better flow conditions on the
outside surface of the nozzle.
Several modifications will be made on the geometry of the
nozzle as shown in Figure 3 (Nozzle 1 to Nozle 5), in order to get
the desired and better characteristic out of the designs.
Modifications will be focused on the diameter of the inlet section
of the nozzle, the outlet angle and also the outlet diameter. The
different in the diameter will somehow give an effect in the flow of
the water through the surface. Parameters measured will be on the
drag produce by the nozzle plus with the inlet flow velocity at the
inlet section.

Figure 2 Sectional lift coefficient of nozzle profile (Oosterveld, 1970)

By referring to the result in Figure 2, nozzle with thickness-

length ratios of 0.15 give a minimum risk of separation flow. So,
the ratio of 0.15 will be used in the design of nozzle.

4.4 Tip Clearance, C

According to Anthony F. M.,9 it is not least in maintaining the

circularity of the nozzle and providing reasonable clearances
between the blade tips and the nozzle, but from the hydrodynamic
viewpoint that the clearance should be as small as possible. The
efficiency of the nozzle will decrease when the tip is big because
of cavitation occur with the clearance flow.
Referring to the work by Tadeusz,6 they stated that the tip
clearance between the blades of propeller and the inner surface of
nozzle should be equal to 1.0 to 1.5 percent of the propeller
diameter.

4.5 Nozzle Dimensions

The dimensions of the designed nozzle need to be calculated. The

length-diameter ratio is 0.5 and thickness-length ratio is 0.15. The
final dimensions and ratios for the designed nozzle is listed in Table
2.

i. 𝑙⁄𝐷 = 0.5
𝑙 = 0.5 × 138 = 69 𝑚𝑚

ii. 𝑠⁄ = 0.15
𝑙
𝑠 = 0.15 × 69 = 10.3 𝑚𝑚

Table 2 Final dimensions and ratios for the designed nozzle

Figure 3 The geometry of the technological simple nozzle
Description Value
Length (mm) 69
Diameter (mm) + clearance 141 4.7 Design Analysis
Thickness (mm) 10.3
Length-diameter ratio, 𝑙⁄𝐷 0.5 Analysis are conduct for all designs of nozzle using software called
Thickness-length ratio, 𝑠⁄𝑙 0.15 Javafoil. This JavaFoil is a relatively simple program, which uses
several traditional methods for airfoil analysis as shown in Figure
Dihedral angle, α < 10°
4.
Outlet angle, β < 5°
42 Koh K. K. et al. / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 74:5 (2015), 39–43

rejected as they have a high CD which will contribute more on drag

force. In selecting the best Nozzle out of 3, flow velocity will be
considered as the value of CD for these 3 Nozzle 1,3 and 4 are close.
Velocity of flow will give more advantages in the thrust force
produce by ducted propeller. Hence, Nozzle 1 is chosen because it
has the highest velocity out of those 3 nozzle with a reasonable C D
that only has a small different with Nozzle 3.

5.0 MODEL TEST

The test used in determining the thrust is self propulsion test. In this
model test, it is conducted by using stern trawler model MTL038,
using the facilities provided by Marine Technology Laboratory
Figure 4 Flow analysis for Nozzle 1
towing tank, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. The model speed of
0.812 m/s is chosen which is equal to 5 knots for actual ship
because it is the towing design speed for the trawler model. Test
Figure 4 above shows the flow analysis for nozzle 1 profile
will be carried out at different loading, starting at low rpm to high
and reveals that it has a low pressure at the tip of the leading edge
rpm in order to measure the thrust produce by ducted propeller at
as indicated with red in colors of Cp (pressure coefficient),
lower rpm compared to open propeller. The rpm used are 400, 500,
according to the colors of pressure distribution shown at the right
600 and up to 1000 rpm. Table 4 below shows the particulars of the
side of the nozzle. According to Bernoulli’s principle, where the
trawler model.
fluid is moving faster when the pressure is lower, and the fluid is
moving slower when the pressure is greater. This means that flow Table 4 Trawler model particulars
velocity towards inlet of nozzle at leading is much greater than the
upper surface. It can be expected when the fluid flow velocity Particulars Value
through the inlet of nozzle is high, the force or thrust produce at the
Length overall, LOA 2.60 m
end of the nozzle would be higher because of the combination with
Length on Waterline, LWL 2.39 m
the thrust produce by the propeller itself. The distance of flow
separation at high pressure side is small which cause some drag on Breadth, B 0.60 m
the smoothness of the flow. Draught, T 0.24 m
From Javafoil, drag coefficient (CD) and the flow velocity Displacement 133.17 kg
through the profiles can be known. Results from Javafoil are shown LCG to amidships 0.024 m
in Table 3 below:
Vertical center of gravity, KG 0.246 m

Table 3 Result generated from Javafoil Scale 1 : 10

Nozzle CD Velocity
5.1 Results
1 0.0329 1.329
2 0.0556 1.245 Data in Table 5 below shows the results of thrust generated from
experiment.
3 0.0319 1.257
4 0.0329 1.323 Table 5 Thrust generated from experiment
5 0.0520 1.315
Thrust (N) Thrust
RPM Vm (m/s) Ducted Open increment
propeller propeller (%)
A result in Table 3 shows that CD for Nozzle 2 and 5 in bigger
400 0.812 2.788 2.254 23.69
for almost 2 times compared to other nozzles. This indicates that
diameter and angle of outer edge plays a part in the contribution of 500 0.812 5.508 5.227 5.38
drag force as the flow separation on these nozzles are high. 600 0.812 8.917 9.012 -1.05
700 0.812 13.234 13.763 -3.84
𝐷𝑟𝑎𝑔𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒
𝐶𝐷 = 1 (Equation 1) 800 0.812 16.924 19.196 -11.83
𝜌𝑉 2 𝐴
2
900 0.812 21.565 25.746 -16.24
From the equation of CD (Equation 1), the drag force will 1000 0.812 26.797 32.845 -18.41
increase as CD increase as the values of density, velocity and area
are almost the same for all nozzles. Therefore, Nozzle 2 and 5 are
 43 Koh K. K. et al. / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 74:5 (2015), 39–43

Figure 5 Thrust comparison between ducted propeller and open propeller

Figure 5 illustrates the comparison of thrust between ducted Through the result obtained from model test, it can be
propeller and open propeller. From the test conducted, it was found recommended that Malaysian fishing vessel should implement the
that the thrust produced by ducted propeller at towing speed is installation of ducted propeller as it can gave more catching power
higher than open propeller. However, at the intersection point at at lower speed and rpm. Furthermore, the nozzle also can provide
580rpm, the thrust of ducted propeller is starting to drop under the a protection to propeller blade from hitting any underwater hazards.
open propeller curve. The result had proved that the installation of The protective ducting around the propeller serves as a protective
ducted propeller is suitable at low rpm speed for trawler or fishing casing guarding the blades against damage. This can be useful for
boat with heavily load propeller. For trawlers, if the operating rpm fishing vessel operating at shallow water as the hazards are high
exceeds 580rpm, the efficiency of the propeller will drop. and can protect the propeller from any debris underwater.
The highest percentage of thrust increase for the installation
of ducted propeller in this model test is 23.69 percent at 400 rpm
compared to open propeller. This is a huge amount of thrust References
produced as it can gave an advantage for catching power with the [1] Omar Y., Quah P. C. 1999. Weather Downtime and Its Effect on Fishing
same rpm produce by open propeller. Thus the cost of operation Operation in Peninsular Malaysia. UniversitiTeknologi Malaysia.
[2] Viswanathan, K. K., et. al. 2000,Technical efficiency and fishing skill in
can be saved as the power supplied is same. Decreased in the Developing Country fisheries: The Kedah, Malaysia Trawl Fishery. IIFET
percentage of thrust is almost constant as the rpm is increase with (International Institiute of Fisheries Economics and Trade).
the highest value of 18.41 percent of decrease at 1000 rpm. This [3] Breslin, J. P., Andersen, P. 1994. Hydrodynamics of Ship Propellers.
shows that ducted propeller cannot efficiently operate under high Cambridge University Press.
[4] Anon. 1970. Efficient Propulsion. Research and Development Bulletin. 36:
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[5] Chung K. S. 2005. The Design of Ducted Propeller to a Trawler. Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia.
6.0 CONCLUSION REMARKS [6] Tadeusz, K. et al. 2009. A Complete Design of Ducted Propellers Using
the New Computer System. Polish Maritime Research.
[7] Van Manen J. D. 1966. Member, and Oosterveld M. W. C., Visitor.
Throughout the research, CFD program can be a useful tool in Analysis of Ducted Propeller Design in Society of Naval Architects and
determining the best designs of nozzle. From the program of Marine Engineers (SNAME) Transaction. Published by Society of Naval
javafoil, various of parameter were generated in giving the Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) Trinity Place, New York. N.
Y 14006. 74: 522–562.
characteristic result for the design of different nozzles in terms of [8] Oosterveld M. W. C. 1970. Wake Adapted Ducted Propellers. Netherland
the flows, velocity and drag coefficient which are vital in selecting ShipModel Basin.
the best nozzle. [9] Anthony F. M. 2008. A Guide to Ship Design, Construction and Operation.
The Maritime Engineering Reference Book.

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