ENGYS has published a study testing how accurately its open-source HELYX software can simulate the performance of ship propellers. The goal was to check whether computer simulations match real-world test results, using a well-known five-bladed propeller design that has already been physically tested in a lab. The propeller’s rotation speed was kept constant while the water inflow speed was varied across several conditions, and the team compared the simulated thrust, turning force, and efficiency against actual measurements.
The study also tested two different meshing methods for handling the spinning propeller region and found both produced nearly identical results. Overall, the simulations closely matched experimental data, with small deviations appearing only under lightly loaded conditions. The study indicates that open-source CFD tools like HELYX are becoming a credible alternative for propulsion design validation.
Image courtesy: ENGYS