Abstract
With the implementation of the energy efficiency design index (EEDI) by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the goal of which is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, interest in energy saving devices (ESDs) is increasing. Among such ESDs are air lubrication methods, which reduce the frictional drag of ships by supplying air to the hull surface. This is one of the efficient approaches to reducing a ship’s operating costs and making it environmentally friendly. In this study, the air lubrication method on a flat plate was studied using computational fluid mechanics (CFD). OpenFOAM, the open-source CFD platform, was used. The coupled level-set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) solver, which combines the advantages of the level-set method and the volume of fluid method, was used to accurately predict the air and water interface. Rayleigh–Taylor instability was simulated to verify the CLSVOF solver. The frictional drag reduction achieved by the air lubrication of the flat plate at various injected airflow rates was studied, and compared with experimental results. The characteristics of the air and water interface and the main factors affecting the cavity formation were also investigated.
Highlights
As global warming accelerates due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the international community remains vigilant
The coupled level-set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) solver, which combines the advantages of the level-set method and the volume of fluid method, was used to accurately predict the air and water interface
The frictional drag reduction achieved by the air lubrication of the flat plate at various injected airflow rates was studied, and compared with experimental results
Summary
As global warming accelerates due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the international community remains vigilant. Energy-saving devices (ESDs) are being actively studied as a means of increasing the fuel efficiency of ships [1,2,3]. For ships with a high Froude number, studies on ESDs that reduce frictional drag are active. Grid Size (m) Grid Count Coarse Medium Fine. The considered total grid counts were 1.2 × 10 for the Figure at the ygrid, = 0 plane. Three types of grid, i.e., coarse, medium, and fine grids, were considered. The considered total grid counts were 1.2 × 10 for the coarse grid, 2.8 × 10 for the medium grid, and 4.8 × 10 for the fine grid
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