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large separation effects. This turns in an unsteady important effect on ship-thruster interaction.
inflow to the pusher propeller.
While ship-thruster interaction is the result of the
Besides that, when more than one unit is installed, installation of the units, thruster-thruster interaction is
other parameters such as the location, disposition, a consequence of the omni-directionality of the
rates of the thrusters and the complex astern hull form thrusters. A large number of configurations of the
are main concerns of interaction between thruster- thrusters is possible, which could lead to scenarios
thruster and ship-thruster. For a propulsion unit where one of the units (trailing thruster) is operating
installed at the ship its ambient flow is determined by in ambient flow partially or totally influenced by the
the ship’s wake being the first component of ship- slipstream of the other one (leading thruster). Fig. 2
thruster interaction. Moreover, due to the omni- shows some arrangements where thruster-thruster
directionality of the units, other sources of interaction interaction occurs for the portside unit.
might occur. For example, when the azimuth angle is
= 180 ° the thrusters’ slipstream is directed To better understand the thruster forces developments,
through the length of the ship, resulting in lower the experimental data is presented in two sections:
surface pressure and local friction losses [7], and for thruster forces at bollard pull condition and thruster
smaller azimuth angles, such as ≈ 150 ° or forces with nonzero ship velocity.
≈ −150 ° for the starboard side and the portside
units, respectively, the skeg of the ship might have an
δ SB= -45°
δ SB= 0°
1.5 2 0.5 1
0.5 1 -0.5 0
-90° 90° -90° 90°
180° 180°
T xp: nPS = 80%, nSB = 80% 0° δ SB= -180° Typ: nPS = 80%, nSB = 80% 0°
δ SB= -135°
-30° δ =30° -30° δ =30°
PS PS
δ SB= -90°
δ SB= -45°
δ SB= 0°
-60° 60° δ SB= 45° -60° 60°
δ SB= 90°
δ SB= 135°
7 9 2 3
5 0 1
3 -2 -1
-90° 90° -90° 90°
180° 180°
Txp: nPS = 40%, nSB = 80% 0° δ SB= -180° Typ: nPS = 40%, nSB = 80% 0°
δ SB= -135°
-30° δ =30° -30° δ =30°
PS PS
δ SB= -90°
δ SB= -45°
δ SB= 0°
-60° 60° δ SB= 45° -60° 60°
δ SB= 90°
δ SB= 135°
3 5 2 3
1 0 1
-1 -2 -1
-90° 90° -90° 90°
180° 180°
Fig. 3 T (a, c, e) (left column) and T (b, d, f) (right column) for the portside unit at bollard pull conditions for the fully loaded
vessel at 150% under keel clearance
(a),(b) n#$ = 40% and n$' = 40%
(c),(d) n#$ = 80% and n$' = 80%
(e),(f) n#$ = 40% and n$' = 80%
The legends refer to azimuth angles δ$' of the starboard thruster.
10th International Conference on Hydrodynamics
October 1-4, 2012 St. Petersburg, Russia
Thruster Forces Development at Bollard Pull and, hence, the thrust force. However, in this range of
azimuthal angles of the portside unit a cancellation of
General Observations. Bollard pull tests are carried the interaction effects is found for ,* = −90°. This
out with zero speed and zero acceleration; therefore, seems to be logical since both thrusters are operating
the thruster rates, )*+ and ),* , and the azimuthal at the same rate and are arranged in opposite direction.
angles, *+ and ,* , are the only parameters in this As a result, the slipstream velocities developed by
analysis. Fig. 3 presents the plots of the thrust both units are equal but in opposite directions, i.e.
force, , and the normal force, , for the portside leading to zero inflow velocity and, therefore, no
unit at bollard pull condition while the fully loaded thrust force variation.
ship has an under keel clearance of 150% of the draft.
In the plots the markers represent the measured values A strengthening of the interaction effects to the thrust
and the lines their interpolation. force can be observed in Fig. 3 (., /) where the rate of
both propulsion units has increased to )*+ = ),* =
In Fig. 3 the arrangement is as follows: the first 80% of the maximum rpm. However, similar to Fig.
column (-, ., /) and the second column (0, 1, 2) are 3(a), Fig. 3(c) also experiences the zero interaction
plots of and , respectively, and the rows are zone for ,* = −90° confirming that an equivalent
arranged for the same set of propeller rates. For each zero inflow velocity to the portside unit occurs for
polar plot the presented results correspond to a fixed configurations where the rates of both thrusters are set
position of the azimuth angle of the starboard side unit to the same value. This can be clearly seen when
while the azimuthal angle of the portside unit varies observing Fig. 3(/) where the propeller rates of the
between ,* = 0° and ,* = 360°, either in thrusters are different, which largely affects the thrust
clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. produced by the portside unit at ,* = −90°.
Observing Fig. 3 (-, 0 ), two main zones can be Normal force. The normal force (see Fig. 3 (0)) is a
determined based on the forces, generated by the result of a complex combination of effects such as the
portside unit in and , corresponding to lift and drag of the blades, the strut and the duct. Since
azimuthal positions of the starboard side unit. The first the rate of the thrusters is held constant (for each polar
zone is determined by direct interaction where the plot) and the velocities and acceleration are set to zero,
portside unit operates in ambient flow determined by the ambient flow will be determined by the slipstream
the slipstream of the starboard side thruster; this of the starboard side unit for the zones where
corresponds to azimuthal configurations of the interaction takes place. Thus, the variation of of
starboard side unit varying between *+ = 45° to the portside unit will only be dependent of its own
135°. The second zone covers all other angles where propeller rate and the slipstream of the starboard side
insignificant fluctuation of and is observed. unit.
Thrust force. For the thrust force generated by the As observed for in Fig. 3(-), the variation of
port side thruster (see Fig.3 (-)) while the starboard (see Fig. 3(0)) is drastically influenced for azimuthal
side unit has an azimuth angle of *+ = 90°, three positions of the starboard side unit varying from
zones with positive, negative and zero interaction *+ = 45° to 135°, with a stronger interaction at
effects can be observed, corresponding with *+ = 90°. When the azimuth angle of the starboard
increasing, decreasing and unchanging thrust force, side unit varies within that range, the portside unit
respectively. experiences larger interaction effects for almost every
azimuthal position.
For azimuthal angles of the portside unit between
,* ≈ 20° and 160° the net inflow velocity is When comparing from Fig. 3(1) and Fig. 3 (2)
increased due to the slipstream of the starboard side for configurations where stronger thruster-thruster
unit. This decreases the effective angle of attack and, interaction occurs, one can see the value of does
consequently, the thrust force. This effect reaches a not vary significantly when the rate of the portside
maximum as the portside unit reaches the azimuthal unit is changed. Thus, it can be stated that in the
position of ,* = 90° where it is aligned with the presence of the stronger thruster-thruster interaction
slipstream of the starboard unit. the own contribution of the portside unit to its normal
force is rather small. On the other hand for *+ =
The opposite effect occurs for the remaining sector of 45° to 135°, a contribution of the own rate of the
azimuthal angles (,* < 20° or ,* > 160°). In this portside unit is observed to ; however, it is only
scenario the inflow velocity is negative, thus significant at higher rates of the portside unit.
increasing the angle of attack of the propeller blades
10th International Conference on Hydrodynamics
October 1-4, 2012 St. Petersburg, Russia
Thruster forces developed with nonzero ship speed pattern is deviated in such a way that the portside unit
is subjected to a condition similar to bollard pull.
Thrust force. Fig. 4 presents the results of the thrust
coefficient, ;< , for the portside unit evaluated at The first observation seems to be logical since a small
different combinations of advance number, , and drift variation in the inflow angle (in this case =) does not
angle, =, while both thrusters are set to zero azimuth change significantly the net inflow velocity to
angle. In Fig. 4 the plotted results in the top and the propeller disc, thus the effective angle of attack to the
bottom correspond to an under keel clearance of 150% propeller blades and, hence, the thrust force, remain
and 35% respectively. approximately equal. However, when the inflow angle
is larger, the net axial inflow velocity to the propeller
It is important to remember that, as mentioned before, is also reduced thus the development of ;< is closer
to the bollard pull value. In fact it is expected that for
= is based on the magnitude of the total ship
= = 90° and = = −90° the thrust should be constant
velocity vector > , instead of the axial velocity
and equal to the bollard pull case, however this is not
component relative to the thrust unit as in [4].
observed. This can be attributed to an angular
deviation of the flow in the vicinity of the thruster unit,
In Fig. 4 (a), it can be seen that the values of ;< are
resulting in a non-zero inflow velocity into the
approximately the same for small drift angles varying propeller blades.
from = = −10° to 10°, and they diverge more from
each other as = increases. Additionally, some Other important issues can be pointed out when
differences between ;< for positive and negative comparing the results of ?@. = 150% with the ones
drift angles are observed; these differences appear to relative to ?@. = 35%. The complex wake field as a
be important for = = 60° and−60°, but nearly non- result of the decrease of the water depth causes more
existent for = = 90° and −90°. scatter of ;< . In general, an increase of the thrust is
1.5
observed, e.g. when comparing the curves of ;< for
β = 90°
= = 0°; the deep water curve is significantly steeper
1 β = 60°
0 β = 0°
-0.5
β = -10° Fig. 5 presents the results of ;< , of the portside
β = -30°
-1 β = -60° thruster for a discrete number of values while the
β = -90°
-1.5 ship is moving ahead with = = 0° and both units are
-2 operating in tandem condition ( *+ = ,* ) for a
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2 2.4 2.8 3
J [-] variation of azimuth angles covering 360°. In Fig. 5
1.5 the top and the bottom figures correspond to ?@. =
1 150% and ?@. = 35% respectively.
0.5
1.2
KTxp [-]
0
1
-0.5
0.8
-1
KTxp [-]
0.6
J = 0.51
-1.5 0.4 J = 0.51
-2 J = 0.26
0.2
0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2 2.4 2.8 3 J = 0.26
J [-] 0 J = 0.13
J = 0.13
Fig. 4 ;< for the portside unit at: (a) ?@. = 150% (above) -0.2
-180 -135 -90 -45 0 45 90 135 180
and (b) ?@. = 35% (below). The azimuth angle of both δ [°]
thrusters was set to *+ = ,* = 0° 1.2
1
These differences in ;< for negative and positive 0.8
0.6
between the thrust unit and the ship. This seems to be 0.4
The variation of ;< for a constant advance ratio opposite to the approaching flow (wake of the ship) of
defines zones of operation for the thrust force. the portside unit thus decreasing the effect of the wake
Looking to Fig. 5(a), four zones can be identified of the ship and turning the ambient flow to a similar
corresponding to azimuth angles: case as the bollard pull.
• = −180° FG ≈ −60°;
• ≈ −60° FG ≈ 60°; The results of ;< obtained for ?@. = 35%
• ≈ 60°FG ≈ 120°; generally follow the same pattern described for
• ≈ 120° FG = 180°. ?@. = 150%. However, the shallow water curves
varies less drastically as the ones of deep water. This
The development of the thrust force shows higher seems to be the most important effect when the under
;< values in the first zone, = −180° FG ≈ keel clearance is reduced as observed when the
−60°. This increase in ;< is mainly related to the influence of the drift angle was discussed.
negative inflow velocity to the thruster. Thus, one
Normal force. The normal force to the thruster units
could expect higher ;< values for = −180° when
at a constant ship speed with both thrusters at = 0°,
compared to = 120°, as the inflow velocity is presented in Fig. 6 where the results are plotted as a
decreases with the increase in the inflow angle. function of the ratio between the rate of the
However, this is not observed and the opposite holds propellers, ), and the maximum rate, )I , for different
true. In fact, when = −180°, the thrust coefficient drift angles. The results are presented for two different
takes a value of ;< which is closer to the bollard water depths.
pull value. This might indicate that the velocity in the
slipstream of the other thruster is strong enough to At ?@. = 150% J, increases for positive drift
cancel the wake of the ship at those advance numbers. angles and varies around J, = 0(K) for negative
The higher values for = −120° can be addressed to ones. This was also observed for ;< (see Fig. 4),
the fact that at this azimuthal positions part of the indicating that for negative drift angles the ambient
thruster slipstream is turned off by the stern of the velocity at the vicinity of the portside unit is partially
ship, thus reinforcing the inflow velocity and deviated by the ship hull and the skeg, thus resulting
consequently increasing the effective blade angle of small J, forces.
attack and, hence, the thrust force.
1.5
β = 90°
When the azimuth angle is set between = β = 60°
1
−60° to 60° the inflow velocity to the thruster is β = 30°
β = 10°
positive, thus a decrease in the thrust force is expected
TYP [N]
0.5
β = 0°
at larger J numbers or smaller angles, e.g. the lowest β = -10°
0 β = -30°
value of ;< is experienced at = 0°. β = -60°
-0.5 β = -90°
Azimuth thrusters possibly offer large advantages in [7] Dang J. and Laheij H. Hydrodynamic Aspects of
manoeuvring, but the understanding of the Steerable Thrusters. Dynamic Positioning Conference,
hydrodynamic phenomena are important in their Houston , USA, September 28-30, 2003
design stage to avoid larger thrust degradation and
unwanted ship forces. [8] Cozijn H., Hallmann R. and Koop A. Analysis of
the Velocities in the Wake of an Azimuthing Thruster,
The results of the present study clearly show the using PIV Measurements and CFD Calculations.
interaction effect between the thruster units and the Dynamic Positioning Conference, Houston, USA,
interaction between the ship and the thruster, October 12-13, 2010
identifying defined zones where a contribution of the
slipstream of the unaffected thruster to the ambient [9] Delefortrie G. Manoeuvring Behaviour of
flow of the affected unit is considerable and zones Container Vessels in Muddy Navigation Areas, PhD
where the skeg of the ship diverge away the ambient Thesis, Gent University, 2009.
flow thus generating large wake factors. Moreover,
both a reduction and an increment of those effects can [10] K. Eloot. Selection, Experimental Determination
be found for smaller under keel clearances. and Evaluation of a Mathematical Model for Ship
Manoeuvring in Shallow Water, PhD thesis, Ghent
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS University, 2006.
This research was funded by the department of [11] Oosterveld M.W.C and Oortmerssen G. Thruster
Mobility and Public Works of the Flemish Systems for Improving the Maneuverability And
Government, Belgium. The authors wish to thank Position-Keeping Capability of Floating Objects.
Veth Propulsion, The Netherlands, for their Offshore Technology Conference, Texas, USA, 1972.
willingness to share the plans of their Z-drives and
GSP Projects, Belgium, for sharing the line plans of
the estuary vessel MS Tripoli.