2.

SCOPE OF WORK

This project was undertaken to overcome the issue that the jet outlet would be blocked by the proposed stern extension. The aim of the project was to maintain the current waterjet efficiency while extending the waterjet to clear the stern extension. As part of this investigation it was decided that several areas would be examined. The first main area was looking at having the waterjet discharge whilst submerged in water which is the opposite of current industry best practice. The second main area was looking into the possibility that diameter matching the nozzle outlet for a certain speed would help improve the efficiency. The final area of interest was the location of the discharge relative to the new stern section and whether by strategically locating this discharge location a high pressure region could be created pushing the hull forward. These areas of interest lead to the project title: Ducting optimisation for slow speed waterjets.

As this project was being undertaken on the jet section, Oliver Thornalley (2009) was examining the issue of the control relocation and maintaining the current efficiency using vectoring vanes. It was necessary to define interfaces between each project to clarify objectives and guidelines. The interfaces that were defined were compiled into the following statement:

The issue of improved control and reversing at equivalent efficiency was to be explored by Oliver Thornalley and the waterjet ducting was to be included into Jacob Gerkes Research Project.

To assist in defining this project, the thesis was broken down into hypotheses that incorporate the main aims of the project. The hypotheses are defined below with explanation of what has been explored and how it was achieved. For the overall aim of the research project to be deemed a success one or all of the hypotheses need to be proven.

2.1 D IAMETER MATCHING NOZZLE TO JET EFFICIENC Y Tapered discharge jet pipe can improve propulsive efficiency by optimising jet to vessel speed ratio, for a given speed. The DJ60 waterjet was initially designed for high speed, not for consistent low velocity. It was thought that by investigating the actual current jet velocity at a certain speed and relating this to the speed of the vessel, the flow rate of the waterjet outlet could be optimised to provide the greatest thrust from the power delivered. Current theory on how best to match the jet water speed to the vessels speed was reviewed. Steps to undertake optimisation of an existing waterjet installation were not clear as all literature found was for a new installation. An attempt was then made to develop a method to calculate the optimum jet nozzle. During this development it became apparent that the mass flow rate of the jet needed to be obtained. It was decided that although the current waterjet mass flow
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rate was estimated by DOEN, it was necessary to experimentally measure the flow rate in the initial configuration accurately. The mass flow rate was obtained by using a pitot tube to measure the velocity of the water across the jet. This flow rate was then used for a calculation of the optimum jet velocity ratio (JVR).

2.2 A BOVE SURFACE VERSUS SUBMERGED JET DISCHARGE Submerged waterjet can match the efficiency of surface discharge This hypothesis was created because the Greenliner jet in its current location discharges into the water whilst submerged. Current industry practice is to discharge the waterjet into the air pocket created by the vessel once it is moving. As the Greenliner, in its current configuration, cannot achieve the speed required to create this air pocket, it discharges whilst submerged in water. Initially all relevant theory was reviewed, the review found no commonly know reasons for the surface discharge of the waterjet into air other than the extra drag caused by its submergence. Leading from this review a test was developed to attempt to evaluate the differences in performance of the two discharge locations. The testing was undertaken using the Greenliner with the installed DJ60 waterjet and an extension that allowed for the discharge locations to be easily achieved. These results were then analysed and a conclusion was drawn regarding the best vertical location for the jet discharge.

2.3 O PTIMUM JET DISCHA RGE LOCATIO N TO RE DUCE VE SSEL DR AG It is more efficient to extend the waterjet past the exit of the stern than to discharge at the stern exit. In the preliminary discussion on which parameters affect the performance of the waterjet, the point was raised that the waterjet creates a low pressure regions around the nozzle when operating. The low pressures can act upon the hull of the vessel and cause excess drag upon the hull. It was decided to investigate whether the effects of these low pressure regions could be eliminated. Also it was investigated whether a high pressure region could be created to produce a stern wave. It was proposed that this stern wave could provide thrust in the forward direction much like a wave in a following sea does. After initially considering where pressure regions should form, an investigation was undertaken into the drag caused by discharging the waterjet at various locations with reference to the new stern extension. This was undertaken using Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with the help of Nicolas Heysen from Ensieta University from France. Jet lengths ranging from 800mm to 1400mm from the existing transom were modelled and the drag estimated. The results from this were analysed and a theoretical optimum jet discharge location with reference to the stern extension was found.

2.4 D ESIGN DEVELOPMENT The outcomes of these hypotheses were used in the design and development of the final DJ 60 waterjet extension. As well as the above inputs various operational and practicality confinements that exist with the Greenliner being a trailable reconfigurable hull form were considered during the design. The design development section of this project justifies and states why the design has evolved to the final built version.

2.5 E VA LUATION OF DESIGN To evaluate the new stern extension a test was developed. The test involved performing a static bollard pull of the original DJ60 waterjet and the newly constructed jet extension. From this test an efficiency curve was developed with respect to input power into the electric motor. From these curves an evaluation was performed on the effectiveness of the extension.