Numerical analysis of influence of streamline rudder on screw propeller efficiency

During designing the ship its designer tends to obtain as high as possible efficiency of ship propulsion system. To this end on certain ships additional elements such as: nozzles, half-nozzles or suitably profiled fins attached to underwater part of ship's hull before screw propeller, are applied (sometimes they are intended for the mitigating of vibration resulting from operation of screw propeller). Another device which affects operation of screw propeller is streamline rudder capable of improving its efficiency (most of the transport ships is fitted with single screw propeller and streamline rudder placed behind it). In this paper the influence of streamline rudder on screw propeller efficiency has been examined with the use of numerical methods of fluid dynamics (CFD). The obtained results indicate a very favourable influence of the rudder on screw propeller efficiency. Research in this area is continued and its results concerning impact of particular geometrical parameters of rudder on screw propeller efficiency, will be presented in the future.