MAR3040: Further Ship

Hydrodynamics
Blade Element Theory (B.E.T.)
Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:

• Know of a method that will help to overcome some of the limitations that
were previously obtained from General Momentum Theory

• Know how to derive an expression for propeller efficiency based upon Blade
Element Theory
Blade Element Theory

• General Momentum Theory helps explain/model some basic principles of propeller

action

• Not useful alone to design a propeller (Momentum theory assumes propeller is an

actuator disc, with infinite blades)

• First BET theory developed by William Froude (Trans I.N.A. 1898, vol 19)

• Flow is assumed 2D over thin blade element (ie no cross flow)

• Fluid is assumed viscous, so drag effects are accounted for

• Total force acting on blade can be determined as sum of forces acting on each
blade section (or element)
Blade Element Theory (Cont.)

• Element thrust and torque can be calculated as seen

in figure
Figure 1.
• and are the induced axial and tangential
2 2
velocities, respectively
• These induced velocities are equivalent to a and Ω as obtained from
momentum theory
• Efficiency at particular radius is
1− tan
= 2Ω  
1+ 9 +
2

Hydrodynamic Friction drag

energy losses losses due to
due to viscous flow
potential (non- effects
viscous) effects
Nomenclature of Vector Diagram

• is advance velocity

• = 2  9 is angular velocity

• and are axial & tangential induced velocities respectively. These

2 2

velocities are equivalent to the inflow velocities and  ′ as derived from

momentum theory

• is the advance angle given by = tan at far forward of the propeller

the resultant flow lies on a helical line with a pitch angle
Nomenclature of Vector Diagram (Cont.)

+
• is the hydrodynamic pitch angle given by =  tan 2
Under the
 −
2

action of the induced velocities, the pitch angle of the direction of the
resultant velocity increases continually, and at the propeller it has the value

• is the resultant inflow to the blade element

• is the angle of attack

• is the geometric face pitch angle

• is the chord length

• ′ is the drag angle

Derivation of Efficiency at discrete radius
• From Figure 1, elementary thrust ( 4) and elementary torque force ( ) can be
written as follows, accounting for elementary lift ( 4) and drag ( 4)
4 = 4 cos − 4 sin
= 4sin + 4cos

• If is the section chord length and is the number of blades, by introducing the
lift and drag coefficients:

4 4
=1 and =1
   
2 2

Then for all blades

1
4= [ cos − sin ] 
2
1
1
= [ sin  + cos  ] 
2
Derivation of Efficiency at discrete radius
(cont.)
• From figure 1:

+ 1+
=  2 = 2 2
sin sin

• By substituting equations 2 in 1 and considering the fact that in the limit as → 0 the
thrust ( 4) and torque ( ) per unit length of radius at become:

4   1+
=   2 cos − sin
2sin

  1+
=   2 sin + cos
2sin
Derivation of Efficiency at discrete
radius (cont.)
• The efficiency of the blade element at :

4
= 4

• From equations 4 and 3:

cos − sin
= 5
sin + cos
Derivation of Efficiency at discrete
radius (cont.)
• As shown in figure 1, by introducing the “drag angle” ′ as

4 6
= tan = tan
4

And

tan = 7

By dividing numerator and denominator of equation 5 by cos and also

substituting equations 6 and 7 into 5, it follows:

1 − tan tan
= tan
tan + tan ′
Derivation of Efficiency at discrete
radius (cont.)
• Hence
tan
=
tan +
• By further manipulation
tan tan
= 8
tan tan +
And since
1+
tan =  2 9
  1−
2
Derivation of Efficiency at discrete
radius (cont.)
• By substituting equations 7 and 9 in 8 it follows:

1− tan
= 2Ω   10
1+ 9 +
2

Hydrodynamic Friction drag

energy losses losses due to
due to viscous flow
potential (non- effects
viscous) effects
Efficiency Comparison with Momentum
Theory
• Compare equation 10 with the derived efficiency expressions from momentum
theory, ie:

1
= (based on pure axial momentum theory)
1+  

1− ′
= (based on momentum theory including rotational effects)
1+

1− ′ tan
= (based on eq. 10 of Boundary Element Method)
1+ tan +
General Comments on B.E.T.

• Design & analysis requires determining blade element forces

• This in turn requires the hydrodynamic pitch angle, induced velocities and the
lift and drag properties of the particular blade section element

• It is possible to combine B.E.T. with axial and angular momentum theories to

obtain induced velocities
General Comments on B.E.T. (Cont.)

• It is possible to obtain lift and drag characteristics, crudely, from semi-

empirical procedures

• Needs corrections for 3D effects

• Only approximate results are obtained

• These problems were overcome with the development of Vortex Theory

Conclusions

You will now be able to:

• Know of a method that will help to overcome some of the limitations that
were previously obtained from General Momentum Theory

• Know how to derive an expression for propeller efficiency based upon Blade
Element Theory

Whilst combined General Momentum Theory and Blade Element Theory can be
used to estimate propeller performance, there are other methods that can be
used which yield significantly more accurate results

These methods will be discussed next