Design of a Low Reynolds Number Propulsion System for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

dc.contributor.authorPortner, Stephen Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeechairNeu, Wayne L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWoolsey, Craig A.en
dc.contributor.committeememberStilwell, Daniel J.en
dc.contributor.departmentAerospace and Ocean Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-08-21T08:00:12Zen
dc.date.available2014-08-21T08:00:12Zen
dc.date.issued2014-08-20en
dc.description.abstractA methodology for the design of small autonomous underwater vehicle propulsion systems has been developed and applied to the Virginia Tech 690 AUV. The methodology is novel in that it incorporates fast design level codes capable of predicting the viscous effects of low Reynolds number flow that is experienced by small, slow turning propellers. The methodology consists of determining the minimum induced loss lift distribution for the propeller via lifting line theory, efficient airfoil sections for the propeller via a coupled viscous-inviscid flow solver and optimization, brushless DC motor identification via ideal motor theory and total system efficiency estimates. The coupled viscous-inviscid flow solver showed low Reynolds number flow effects to be of critical importance in the propeller design. The original Virginia Tech 690 AUV propulsion system was analyzed yielding an experimental efficiency of 26.5%. A new propeller was designed based on low Reynolds number airfoil section data yielding an experimental efficiency of 42.7%. Finally, an entirely new propulsion system was designed using the methodology developed herein yielding a predicted efficiency of 57-60%.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:3648en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/50398en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectAutonomous Underwater Vehicleen
dc.subjectLow Reynolds Numberen
dc.subjectPropelleren
dc.subjectPropulsionen
dc.titleDesign of a Low Reynolds Number Propulsion System for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicleen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineAerospace Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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