Assumptions:

•Propeller is assumed to be a disc which imparts a sudden

increase of pressure to the fluid passing through it.

•The propeller imparts a uniform acceleration to all the fluid

particles passing through it, so that the thrust there by
generated is uniformly distributed over the disc.

•Only axial flow takes place, no rotational flow

•There is an unlimited inflow of water to the propeller

 For consideration of continuit y,
velocity on either side of the disc
must be equal

3 2 1

Propellor
close area A o

increase in pres -
sure at solow
disc
 Volume flow rate per unit time = Q  VA (1  a) Ao

Change in momentum per unit time = Thrust

= Q[VA (1  b)  VA ]
T  QVAb
  Ao (VA2 )(1  a)b

Increase in kinetic energy of the fluid = 1  Q (V ) 2 (1  b) 2  V 2   1  Q[V 2b 2  2bV 2 ]

2  A A 
2
A A

 b  b
  QVA2b 1    T VA 1  
 2  2
 Increase in kinetic energy of the
Total work done/unit time =
fluid

b
TVA (1  a )  TVA (1  )
2
b
 a
2
The useful work obtained from the propeller = TVA

Work expanded or actual work = TVA (1  a)

b
Power loss  TVA (1  a)  TVA  TVA .a  TVA .
2
useful work obtained
Ideal efficiency,i 
work exp ended
TVA 1
 
TVA (1  a) 1  a
 bVA 1 2
Slip Ratio   b  2a; i  
VA s 2s
1
2
b
For a   b s
2 T   AoVA2 1   b   AoVA2 (1  ) s
 2 2

Thrust loading coefficient

T s 2
CT   2(1  ) s; i 
1
 AoVA2 2 1  CT  1
2
2 2 2 2
i    
2s ( s  1)  1
2
( s  2s)  1  1
2
CT  1  1

Max efficiency even in ideal condition is < 1.0

Efficiency decreases as thrust loading increase & vise versa
Therefore , for a given thrust, larger the propeller greater its efficiency