Computational Investigation of the Performance Enhancement of SR3 Propeller With Swirl Recovery Vanes

A rotor in motion transfers energy to the fluid, comprising not only the essential axial component but also a rotating segment that contributes to propeller thrust. This study scrutinizes the effects of integrating swirl recovery vanes (SRVs) with the eight‐bladed SR3 rotor for transonic flows in a tractor prop configuration, examining setups both with and without SRVs. By introducing a set of stator blades behind the rotor, a fraction of the circulating airflow in the field can be redirected in a streamwise direction. This process generates supplementary thrust, consequently amplifying propulsive efficiency. The computation was performed by solving the unsteady Reynolds‐averaged Navier–Stokes equations using the ANSYS CFX solver. In the present study, SRVs with eight vanes featuring the NACA 4703 aerofoil profile are used. The computations were carried out for four different pitch angles designed for operation with the SR3 rotor, and the results have indicated that there is a noteworthy increase in the propeller thrust coefficient of 4.56% for a higher pitch angle. Integrating SRVs into a propeller‐only model has provided a 3.06% enhancement in propeller propulsive efficiency.