Double-bow icebreaker structure for polar region mining

Abstract

The invention provides a double-bow icebreaker structure for polar region mining, and belongs to the field of ship design and manufacturing. The problems that in the prior art, an icebreaker is large in resistance and poor in economical efficiency when sailing in open water, and a traditional single prow design cannot meet the requirements for long-distance sailing economical efficiency and high-strength icebreaking operation are solved. The ship comprises a ship body, a composite prow structure and a ballast water system, the composite prow structure is arranged at the prow of the ship body, and the ballast water system is arranged in the ship body and used for adjusting ballast water distribution in the ship body; the combined type stem structure comprises an icebreaking bow and a bulbous bow, the bulbous bow is arranged at the bottom of the icebreaking bow, and the ballast water system comprises a head ballast tank, a tail ballast tank and a pipeline for connecting the two ballast tanks. The integrated design of the double-function prow is adopted, a complex mechanical deformation mechanism is avoided, switching of working modes can be achieved only through a reliable ship control means of adjusting ballast water, the structure is simple, operation is convenient, and the maintenance cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of ship design and manufacturing, and in particular relates to a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional ship designs are typically optimized for a single navigation environment. For example, open-water vessels focus on reducing drag and increasing speed, while icebreakers emphasize the bow structure's ability to break through ice. For vessels that need to navigate alternately in open water and icy conditions, such as polar research vessels and ice transport ships, traditional single bow structures cannot meet the performance requirements of both environments.

[0003] With the deepening of polar resource exploration and development, the demand for specialized vessels with both transportation and icebreaking capabilities is becoming increasingly urgent, such as polar mining vessels. These vessels operate under a distinct duality: on the one hand, they need to make long-distance voyages between the polar regions and ports, where economy and speed are crucial when navigating in open water or light ice areas; on the other hand, once they reach the polar mining area, they need strong continuous icebreaking capabilities to maintain operational windows, advance into ice-covered mining areas, or escort transport convoys. Currently, vessels with icebreaking capabilities typically employ only one fixed bow design, either a bulbous bow emphasizing drag or a sloping bow emphasizing icebreaking. This standardized design results in significant drag and poor economy when navigating in non-ice-covered areas; or, when operating in ice-covered areas, a standard bow is inefficient at breaking ice, failing to meet the demands of high-intensity, high-efficiency mining support. Therefore, there is currently a lack of a ship structure that can flexibly switch the bow working mode according to the actual navigation environment, thereby achieving both excellent economic speed and efficient icebreaking capability on the same ship. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, in order to solve the problems of high resistance and poor economy of icebreakers when sailing in open water, and the inability of traditional single bow design to meet the needs of long-distance navigation economy and high-intensity icebreaking operations, this invention proposes a double-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining, comprising a hull, a composite bow structure and a ballast water system, wherein the composite bow structure is disposed at the bow of the hull and the ballast water system is disposed within the hull for adjusting the distribution of ballast water within the hull. The composite bow structure includes an icebreaking bow and a bulbous bow, with the bulbous bow located at the bottom of the icebreaking bow. The ballast water system includes a bow ballast tank, a stern ballast tank, and pipelines connecting the two ballast tanks.

[0006] Furthermore, when the ship is sailing in open water, ballast water is injected into the stern ballast tank of the ballast water system, causing the hull to be in a stern-listing state, and the bulbous bow to be submerged in the water to operate.

[0007] Furthermore, when the ship is icebreaking, ballast water is injected into the bow ballast tank of the ballast water system, causing the hull to be in a bow-listing state, and the icebreaker bow is submerged in the water to work against the ice layer.

[0008] Furthermore, the ballast water system also includes a pump and valve control unit for controlling the injection and discharge of ballast water.

[0009] Furthermore, the angle between the forward tilt line of the icebreaker bow and the horizontal plane is 30° to 45°.

[0010] Furthermore, the cross-section of the icebreaker bow is triangular, with the middle of the icebreaker bow 1 being the widest, the top the next widest, and the bottom the narrowest. Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining described in this invention are: 1. This invention provides a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining. Through an integrated composite bow structure and an adjustable ballast water system, a single vessel possesses both excellent open-water navigation performance and efficient icebreaking capability. It can flexibly adapt to two completely different mission scenarios: open-water cruising and ice-covered operations. It is particularly suitable for special vessels such as polar mining vessels that need to balance the economy of long-distance transit with the high-intensity icebreaking requirements in mining areas, significantly improving the vessel's mission flexibility and overall operational efficiency.

[0011] 2. This invention provides a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining. In open water sections where the majority of the voyage time is spent, the bulbous bow drag reduction mode can be activated, which can effectively reduce wave-making resistance, save fuel consumption, and significantly reduce the operating cost of long-distance voyages. 3. This invention provides a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining. When operating in ice-covered areas, it can quickly switch to icebreaking mode and achieve efficient bending icebreaking by utilizing the optimized icebreaker bow structure and the ship's own weight. This reduces the direct impact between the hull and the ice layer, lowers the impact load on the hull structure, and improves the safety and service life of the ship when operating in harsh ice-covered areas. 4. This invention provides a structure with a dual-function bow integrated design, which avoids complex mechanical deformation mechanisms. The working mode can be switched by adjusting the ballast water, a reliable means of ship control. The system has a simple structure, is easy to operate, and has low maintenance costs. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining as described in this invention. Figure 2 This is a side view schematic diagram of a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to the present invention. Figure 3 This is a main schematic diagram of a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining as described in this invention.

[0013] In the picture: 1-icebreaker bow, 2-bulb bow, 3-hull. Detailed Implementation

[0014] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown in the drawings, and not all of them. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention.

[0015] See Figure 1-3 This embodiment describes a twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining, comprising a hull 3, a composite bow structure, and a ballast water system. The composite bow structure is located at the bow of the hull 3 and includes an icebreaking bow 1 and a bulbous bow 2. The bulbous bow 2 is located at the bottom of the icebreaking bow 1. The ballast water system is located inside the hull 3 and is used to regulate the distribution of ballast water inside the hull 3.

[0016] This embodiment, through an integrated composite bow structure and an adjustable ballast water system, enables a single vessel to possess both excellent open-water navigation performance and efficient icebreaking capabilities. It can flexibly adapt to two completely different mission scenarios: open-water cruising and ice-covered operations. It is particularly suitable for special vessels such as polar mining vessels that need to balance the economy of long-distance voyages with the high-intensity icebreaking requirements in mining areas, significantly improving the vessel's mission flexibility and overall operational efficiency.

[0017] When the vessel is navigating in open water, ballast water is injected into the stern ballast tank of the ballast water system, causing the hull 3 to be in a stern-listing state. The bulbous bow 2 is submerged in water to reduce wave-making resistance. In open water sections where the voyage time accounts for most of the time, the bulbous bow 2 drag reduction mode can be activated, which can effectively reduce wave-making resistance, save fuel consumption, and significantly reduce the operating cost of long-distance voyages.

[0018] When the vessel is engaged in icebreaking operations, ballast water is injected into the bow ballast tank of the ballast water system, causing the hull 3 to be in a tilted position. The icebreaking bow 1 is submerged and operates against the ice layer to achieve efficient icebreaking. During operations in icy areas, the vessel can quickly switch to icebreaking mode, utilizing the optimized icebreaking bow 1 and the vessel's own weight to achieve efficient bending icebreaking. This reduces direct impact between the hull and the ice layer, lowers the impact load on the hull structure, and improves safety and the vessel's service life in harsh ice conditions.

[0019] In this embodiment, the bulbous bow 2 generates waves that interfere with the main hull waves, creating a "crest-to-trough" cancellation effect, thereby reducing wave-making drag during navigation. During navigation, a wave system is generated at the bow, and the bulbous bow 2 itself also generates a wave system. In this embodiment, the shape and position of the bulbous bow 2 are designed so that its generated wave system is out of phase with the main hull wave system, thus partially canceling the amplitude of the combined wave and reducing wave-making energy loss. With reduced drag, the ship can achieve a higher speed with the same power output, or save fuel at the same speed. This effect is most pronounced when the ship's Froude number (Fr) is between 0.2 and 0.3.

[0020] In this embodiment, the bulbous bow 2 can increase the waterline length, reduce the pitch amplitude, and improve the stability of the ship's movement in waves. Furthermore, the bulbous bow 2 changes the water flow field at the bow, making the water flow separate more smoothly along the hull, reducing vortex generation, lowering viscous pressure resistance, and guiding the water flow in the bow part to the depth, reducing splashing and breaking waves on the water surface, and further reducing energy loss.

[0021] In this embodiment, the angle between the forward tilt line of the icebreaker bow 1 and the horizontal plane is between 30° and 45°.

[0022] In this embodiment, the icebreaker bow 1 has a triangular cross-section. The icebreaker bow 1 is widest in the middle, followed by the top, and narrowest at the bottom. This can also be seen from the attached drawings. This shape can generate a force that expands to both sides when breaking ice, which helps to push the broken ice blocks to both sides, clear the waterway, and reduce the risk of the ship being "stuck" by broken ice, i.e., ice resistance.

[0023] The ballast water system described in this embodiment includes ballast tanks arranged at the bow and stern of the hull, pipelines connected to the ballast tanks, and pump and valve control units for controlling the injection and discharge of ballast water. The structure and connection method of the pump and valve control units for controlling the injection and discharge of ballast water in this embodiment are existing technologies and will not be described in detail here.

[0024] The working principle of the twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining described in this invention is as follows: When a vessel is scheduled to sail for an extended period in ice-free open water, the operators instruct the ballast water system via the control console to inject ballast water into the stern ballast tank. As the weight of the stern ballast tank increases, the vessel gradually tilts. At this point, the bulbous bow 2 is fully submerged and begins to reduce wave-making drag, allowing the vessel to sail at an economical speed.

[0025] When a vessel approaches or enters an ice-covered area and needs to break through the ice, the operators instruct the ballast water system to pump ballast water from the stern and inject it into the bow ballast tanks. The vessel's trim changes accordingly, from stern trim to bow trim, making it easier for the icebreaker bow 1 to contact and ride on the ice. Propelled by the main engine, the vessel moves towards the ice edge, and the icebreaker bow 1 climbs the slope, transferring part of the vessel's weight onto the ice cap ahead. Because the bending strength of ice is much lower than its compressive strength, under continuous gravity load, cracks form at the bottom of the ice and propagate upwards, eventually bending and breaking, thus efficiently opening a channel. In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating orientation and positional relationships are based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention disclosed above are merely illustrative of the invention. These embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the invention to the specific implementations described. Many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of the invention, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize the invention.

Claims

1. A twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining, characterized in that: It includes a hull (3), a composite bow structure and a ballast water system. The composite bow structure is located at the bow of the hull (3), and the ballast water system is located inside the hull (3) to regulate the distribution of ballast water inside the hull (3). The composite bow structure includes an icebreaking bow (1) and a bulbous bow (2), with the bulbous bow (2) located at the bottom of the icebreaking bow (1). The ballast water system to the hull (3) includes a bow ballast tank, a stern ballast tank, and pipelines connecting the two ballast tanks.

2. The twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the ship is sailing in open water, ballast water is injected into the stern ballast tank of the ballast water system, so that the hull (3) is in a stern-listed state and the bulbous bow (2) is submerged in water to work.

3. The twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to claim 2, characterized in that: When the ship is icebreaking, the bow ballast tank of the ballast water system is injected with ballast water, so that the hull (3) is in a bow-down state, and the icebreaking bow (1) is submerged in the water to work on the ice layer.

4. The twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ballast water system 3 also includes a pump and valve control unit for controlling the injection and discharge of ballast water.

5. The twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle between the forward tilt line of the icebreaker bow (1) and the horizontal plane is 30° to 45°.

6. The twin-bow icebreaker structure for polar mining according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cross-section of the icebreaker bow (1) is triangular, with the middle being the widest, the top the next widest, and the bottom the narrowest.

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