Ship Hull Duct Assembly for Drag Reduction and Maneuverability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ship hull designs fail to effectively reduce wave making resistance and viscous drag, leading to increased energy consumption and suboptimal maneuverability, while existing solutions either produce marginal results or complicate the manufacturing process and are not easily retrofittable.
Innovation Solution
A hull assembly featuring a propeller chamber with ducts extending from the bow to the stern, allowing controlled water flow and pressure management through adjustable openings and a steering nozzle for enhanced maneuverability, which can be mounted on existing ships.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If water flow control and pressure control systems are added to reduce resistance, then energy efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hull is divided into multiple pressure zones (bow, midship, stern) with independent control. Multiple ducts are distributed along the hull length, each controlling water flow in specific regions. This segmentation allows localized pressure management without requiring a single complex centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses adjustable openings with variable dimensions that can be dynamically modified along the longitudinal and transversal directions. The ducts can be opened or closed at different positions to adapt water flow control to varying operational conditions, providing dynamic resistance reduction without permanent structural complexity.
2Ease of operation
If ducts with adjustable openings are installed to control water flow, then maneuverability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ducts serve multiple functions: they control water flow for resistance reduction, provide maneuverability control through selective opening/closing, and can be adjusted during operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems, simplifying the overall manufacturing requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings in the ducts have dimensions that can be modified along longitudinal and transversal directions. This parameter adjustment capability allows the same duct structure to adapt to different operational requirements, eliminating the need for multiple fixed-configuration components and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hull assembly significantly reduces wave-making resistance and viscous drag, improving ship speed and maneuverability while minimizing operational costs and altering the optimal hull design, with the ability to be retrofitted on existing vessels.
Implementation Method 1
at least one propeller (24) positioned at the rear part of the stern (16) in said propeller chamber (22)
Implementation Method 2
the ducts (20) having a plurality of bow openings (30) along the bow (14) for the water to flow directly toward the propeller chamber (22)
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a hull assembly for reducing water resistance on a ship hull and improving the maneuverability on said ship. The hull assembly is mountable on a pre-existing ship hull having a bow, and a stern. The hull assembly comprises a propeller chamber for enclosing at least one propeller positioned proximate the stern of the ship hull, and a plurality of ducts attachable to an outer surface of the ship hull. The ducts extend in a longitudinal direction from a front part of the bow to the propeller chamber. The ducts have a plurality of bow openings along the bow for the water to flow directly toward the rear part of the stern, each of the ducts comprising at least one stern opening near the propeller chamber. The propeller chamber comprises two opposed chamber sides; at least one chamber opening on each of the two opposed chamber sides; and a rear opening for each of the at least one propeller.