A Study on the Propulsion Performance of Caterpillar Paddle Wheel Propellers

Caterpillar paddle wheel propellers are widely used in fishery vessels operating in shallow or debris‐laden waters due to their simple structure and excellent antientanglement characteristics. However, compared with conventional screw propellers, their relatively low propulsion efficiency has hindered further development. To enhance energy utilization efficiency and environmental performance, this study systematically investigates the propulsion characteristics of caterpillar paddle wheels, employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology. Initially, theoretical analysis identifies key factors influencing propulsion performance. Subsequently, numerical simulation methods are utilized to examine the impact patterns of structural parameters—immersion ratio (0.2–0.5), number of blades (6–12), and caterpillar length (2200–2900 mm)—on propulsion efficiency. Finally, prototype tests following similarity principles are conducted, with propulsion efficiency of the optimized configuration calculated through thrust and torque measurements. Results demonstrate that immersion ratio, caterpillar length, and paddle number are significant factors affecting efficiency. After parametric optimization at an immersion ratio of 0.2, 6 blades, and 2900‐mm caterpillar length, propulsion efficiency exhibits a sixfold maximum improvement. The numerically simulated optimal efficiency reaches 58.0%, whereas experimental measurements yield 51.6%, showing a 12.4% error. This research provides theoretical foundations and technical benchmarks for optimizing caterpillar paddle wheel propeller designs.