An Open-Source Framework for Ship Performance CFD

Development of novel hydrodynamic solutions to meet the demands for fuel efficiency of the future merchant fleet will require continuous innovation in the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods being used. This is especially true when considering the development of Energy Saving Devices (ESDs). Open-source CFD is a way to allow more researchers to participate in this process and to accelerate innovation. This paper presents an open-source framework for conducting ship performance analyses within the OpenFOAM CFD suite. The framework helps to alleviate the steep learning curve for initially setting up a successful model of a self-propelled ship in OpenFOAM. It is demonstrated that, using this framework, results in line with the current state of the art set by leading institutions and commercial solvers can be obtained for the performance of a bulk carrier fitted with an ESD. Two different models for describing the action of the propeller on the fluid are explored and conclusions are drawn from comparisons with available experimental data.