A body-force model for waterjet pump simulation

The role of waterjet pump is to generate thrust by increasing the flow head. Details of the flow inside waterjet pump are important when pump performance is of the main interest. However, in waterjet self-propulsion, pump induced effects are of the main interest rather than the details of the flow inside the pump. This permits simplification of pump models when using numerical methods for simulating the flow. In order to find a robust and yet accurate pump model suitable for Computational Fluid Dynamics based methods, models of different sophistication level are studied in this paper. First, a Sliding Mesh approach, which is capable of capturing the flow details, is validated against a set of cavitation tunnel measurements. Then a series of simpler models, i.e. Moving Reference Frame technique and three different body-force models, are studied and their results are compared to the ones obtained from the Sliding Mesh approach. The results indicate that one of the body-force models which takes the guide vanes as well as the impeller induced flow swirl into account has the best compromise between the robustness and accuracy among the investigated pump models.     

Power cycle analysis of two-phase underwater ramjet

To predict the cycle and propulsive performance, and further instruct the integral engine design, an ideal power cycle model for a two-phase underwater ramjet is established. Four performance parameters are defined to evaluate overall performance of the two-phase underwater ramjet systems: transmission efficiency, propulsive efficiency, overall efficiency and specific impulse. Then, a scaled-down experimental ramjet engine was tested in a direct-connect ground testing system to validate the present model, and the predictions with present model compare favorably with experimental results. Subsequently, the influences of cruise velocity, air/water mass ratio and cruising depth on the theoretical performance of the two-phase underwater ramjet are discussed. The results indicate that one of the most outstanding advantages of two-phase underwater ramjet is its high propulsive efficiency with the order of 50–95%. As a result, the overall efficiency magnitude are as high as 30% at cruise speed of 100 m/s. Furthermore, regarding rules of specific impulse vs cruise velocity under a certain air/water mass ratio, the occurrence of peak specific impulse of order 400 s is observed.     

Simulation for the propulsion of a micro-hydro robot with an unstructured grid

The flow mechanism of contractive and dilative motion was numerically investigated to obtain a propulsive force in a highly viscous fluid. The computing program for the analysis of complicated motions was numerically developed with a cell-centered, unstructured grid scheme. The developed program was validated by the well-known equation of an oscillating plane below viscous fluid for an unsteady problem, which is known as Stokes’ second problem. Validation has continued through comparison with the experimental results.In this case, sinusoidal motion was applied to the validation, instead of trochoidal motion, because it was very difficult to actually simulate trochoidal motion in this experiment. Finally, the validation and comparison with the nodal-point scheme was accomplished by Stokes’ problem, which is the famous problem at a low Reynolds number. The validated code was applied to contractive and dilative motion in a narrow tube, whose motion was embodied by trochoidal movement. In a highly viscous fluid, such as a very sticky honey or a swamp, the computed results show that a viscous force can be used for propulsion instead of a dynamic force.From the present results, it was found that a propulsive force can be obtained by contractive and dilative motion at a low Reynolds number, which can be applied to the propulsion of micro-robots in a highly viscous fluid such as a blood vessel or a swamp. This research could also be considered fundamental research for the propulsion of micro-hydro robots, which are expected to be actively studied in the future in accord with further development of nanotechnology.     

Wind technologies: Opportunities and barriers to a low carbon shipping industry

The abatement potential of wind technologies on ships is estimated to be around 10–60% by various sources. To date there has been minimal uptake of this promising technology, despite a number of commercially available solutions that have been developed to harness this free and abundant energy source. Several barriers have been referred to in the literature that inhibit uptake of energy efficiency measures in shipping. This paper provides a systematic analysis of the viability of wind technology on ships and the barriers to their implementation, both from the perspective of the technology providers and technology users (ship owner–operators), using the survey and the deliberative workshop method. The data generated from these methods is analysed using the qualitative content analysis method. The results show that whilst there is renewed interest in wind power, there are several common economic barriers that are hindering the mass uptake of wind technologies. Our analysis shows that third party capital is a plausible solution to overcoming the cost of capital, split incentives and information barriers that have contributed to inhibiting the uptake of wind technology in the shipping industry.     

中小船用新型螺旋桨研究

通过对荷兰B型,日本AU型,国内GD型等几种螺旋桨的几何图形结构及其四种投影面轮廓与切面座标图象的分析,针对其桨模原度“线性变化”的缺陷,设计了CF型新型螺旋桨。其特点是:增大侧斜角,适度减小叶根宽度,侧投影面积窄10％,螺距沿经向线性递增4％;桨模叶原按强度标准分布,毂径比0.16边缘原度适宜。试验结果表明:其敝水效率高于荷兰B型桨,船后推进性能高于日本AU型桨。     

A simple model of propulsive oscillating foils

The design of thrusters inspired by the locomotion of fishes is currently investigated in many research centres for unmanned underwater vehicles. Fast fishes propel themselves in water through the rhythmic motion of their tail. Propulsion is achieved by means of the periodic shedding of vortex structures by the edges of the tail. Thrust is produced because the vortices give rise to a steady jet of fluid which leaves the tail in the direction which is opposite to the forward motion of the fish. Assuming that the fish tail can be modelled by a two-dimensional plate in steady forward motion and oscillating with a combination of harmonic heaving and pitching movements, Brown and Michael’s model is presently used to determine the dynamics of the vortex structures shed by plate edges. Numerical simulations have been carried out to investigate the effects on the flow field of varying the physical parameters of the phenomenon. The knowledge of the strength and trajectory of the vortex structures shed by the plate allows the characteristics of the jet producing the thrust to be quantified.     

Novel sledge net system employing propulsion vehicles for sampling demersal organisms on sandy bottoms

A new sledge net system using propulsion vehicles has been developed to sample more efficiently the demersal juveniles of marine organisms. A net attached to a sledge maneuvered by a SCUBA diver who uses operating switches on a steering handle to adjust the altitude of the sledge and the position of the tickler chains to ensure that the footcloth of the mouth of the net remains in constant contact with the bottom surface. Video camera, flow meter, compass, and dive computers are positioned on the sledge net in the view of the diver. Given that the system can attain speeds of 70 cm s⁻¹, the net can be employed to capture highly mobile fish. Unlike most boat-based net sampling methods, the use of propulsion vehicles means that there are no sound or vibration disturbances due to the boat and tow ropes typically used to maneuver these types of sampling nets. Marine fauna was collected at monthly intervals over a two-year period in a sampling area along the southern coast of Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 2641 specimens comprising 61 species and including five species which were the first records for the region were collected. These findings suggest that the new sledge net system employing propulsion vehicles was effective for sampling demersal juveniles, particularly in situations where sledge nets towed by boats or push nets cannot be deployed.     

仿鱼尾推进小型水下航行器设计与模型试验研究

以蓝鳍金枪鱼为蓝本,进行了仿鱼尾推进小型水下航行器方案设计与模型制作,包括设计主体外形、主体结构及安装形式、传动机构、尾鳍形状等。在水池中开展了自航实验,测定了尾鳍的摆幅、频率、形状及刚度对航速的影响,结果表明在相同条件下提高尾鳍摆动频率或增大尾鳍摆幅,能提高水下航行器的速度;当采用柔性尾鳍时,航行器的速度明显增加。     

Numerical investigation of auto-pitch wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsor

The propulsive characteristics of auto-pitch wing-in-ground effect oscillating foil propulsors (APWIGs) were numerically investigated through an unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes solver. The kinematics of such a biplane configuration is characterized by the prescribed heave motion and flow-induced pitch motion restrained by a torsional spring for each foil. Based on the validated numerical model, the comparison of propulsive performance between APWIGs and single auto-pitch oscillating foil, as well as dual-foil heave-only configuration, was conducted at different advance speeds. Results show that APWIGs is advantageous in both thrust production and efficiency enhancement over other two configurations due to the resulting wing-in-ground effect and substantial reduction of flow separation by the flow-regulated pitch motion. Furthermore, the effect of torsional spring stiffness on the propulsion of APWIGs was studied under different loaded conditions. It was found that both the maximum pitching angle and phase difference of pitch with heave are dramatically affected by the spring stiffness, which has major contribution to the hydrodynamic behaviours of the foils. Under a certain operating speed, an optimal torsional spring stiffness that produces the best propulsive performance can be found. With respect to the parametric space in the current study, the APWIGs can achieve a constant high efficiency over 70% by employing an appropriate spring stiffness.