COMPIT 2010: Paper on Aerodynamic Optimization of Superstructures

+++2010-03-18+++

Aerodynamic Optimization of Superstructure Designs

Funnel variation study on ANSYS CFX directed by the FRIENDSHIP-Framework

The established hydrodynamic optimization of ship hulls and components is applicable also for aerodynamic design an investigation shows which will be presented at this year's COMPIT. The study focused on favorable yacht funnel design and the potential of optimization. It reveals substantial findings.

Improved smoke dispersion behind a yacht's or cruise ferry's funnel is a key lever for clean air flow. The investigation of aerodynamic phenomena and the optimization of superstructure designs are, however, highly complex. A study on the potential of aerodynamic optimization of ship superstructures showed that superstructures such as funnels are influenced by all surface particulars, which opens potential to optimization.

The investigation found that the principles for the optimization process already established for the simulation-driven design of ship hulls, propellers and appendages are applicable. The optimization of superstructure designs can, the investigation further showed, lead to substantial improvements. A parameter study of 50 funnel designs displayed huge differences in the exhaust dispersion even for modest design changes.

The exhaust concentration behind the funnel of a mega-yacht (LPP of around 100 m) could be tangibly reduced for a representative situation of the yacht at anchor encountering head-winds. The study was conducted with a combination of software: the application was set up within the FRIENDSHIP-Framework which served as geometric modeling engine, controller for the external flow code and distributor for remote computing on an external cluster; the flow simulations were performed with ANSYS CFX on unstructured grids.

Parametric yacht model with plume in the FRIENDSHIP-Framework

The full study and the paper will be presented during this year's COMPIT conference.

Details:

COMPIT 2010 — 9th International Conference on Computer Applications and Information Technology in the Maritime Industries.

Date: April 12th - 14th 2010, Gubbio, Italy

Info: www.compit.info, events[FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS]

The reader compiling the 2010 COMPIT papers is available for download on the conference's website. The paper on the Aerodynamic Optimization of Superstructures is also available on this website in the papers section.