Numerical Study on Improvement of Hydrofoil Performance Using Vortex Generators

In this paper, the effects of rigid triangular passive vortex generators on a hydrofoilwere investigated numerically. In the first step, using the Finite Volume Method forbare hydrofoil was modeled. Also, the results of lift and drag coefficients were validated using experimental data. In the next step, the hydrofoil equipped with vortex generators was modeled. So, its effect on the hydrofoil performance was examined. In the next step,by introducing a source term into the momentum equation the effect of vortex generators was considered. Their geometry, however, was completely removed. The results showed that this can significantly decrease the computational memory and calculation time. Furthermore, the results revealed that the use of vortex generators can delay the stall conditions by increase the stall angle leading to a higher lift coefficient in new stall angleand decreasing the drag coefficient. In a case study on NACA 0012 section profile results showed that the use of vortex generators increases the stall angle by 4 degrees and the lift coefficient at this point by 37%.