Engine Propulsion Matching for High-Speed Craft

The study discussed in this paper has been made to illustrate the ease with which engineers can choose propellers described in available literature to match high-speed ship designs, saving time and cost incurred in waiting for individual computer services. Specifically an investigation was made utilizing current literature to determine the performance of supercavitating versus conventional propeller in relation to hydrofoil craft. Powering requirements are given for a typical hydrofoil craft, and a preliminary choice of propeller diameter and pitch ratio has been made from published series and experimental work. It is shown that the supercavitating propeller already documented fulfills the requirements of high-speed craft at speeds exceeding 100 knots, whereas at speeds greater than 60 knots the conventional propeller fails.

This paper also shows that supercavitating sections have good drag-to-lift ratios when the propeller is driven at high rotative speeds. Mention is made of the successful application of lightweight gas turbines to marine use.