EFFECTS OF POLYETHYLENE-OXIDE SOLUTIONS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A SMALL PROPELLER

Thrust and torque were measured and efficiency calculated for a 14.6-cm diam, two-bladed propeller in aqueous solutions of polyethylene oxide, WSR-301, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 75 wppm. For the propeller operating under heavily loaded conditions (advance coefficients from 0.04 to 02.), the thrust decreased with increasing concentration while the torque passed through a minimum at 10 wppm. The net result was that the propeller efficiency remained essentially constant except for a small increase of a few percent at 10 wppm. Acoustic measurements demonstrated that the polymer greatly reduced the rate of propeller cavitation but did not influence the rotational speed at which cavitation was first noticed. The polymer had no effect on the sound pressure level (SPL) of the fundamental blade line.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

  1290 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY  United States  10019
• Authors:
  • Sanders, J V
  • Henderson, L H
  • White, R J
• Publication Date: 1973-7

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 124-128
• Serial:
  • Journal of Hydronautics
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Additives; Cavitation (Mechanics); Cavitation erosion; Performance; Polymers; Propellers
• Old TRIS Terms: Polymer additives; Propeller performance
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00046681
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 18 1973 12:00AM