System, process, and method for studying full-scale, multiphase, hydrodynamic flow representative of a ship's boundary layer

A system for studying full-scale, multi-phase, dynamically similar, hydrodynamic flow representative of a ship's boundary layer for enhancing fuel efficiency for marine craft, comprising:

• a closed loop boundary layer test system defining a collective sequential group of modules configured for testing hydrodynamic effects on a selected specimen, wherein the selected specimen is representative of ship hull designs and features, hull systems and coatings, or air lubrication systems, and wherein the selected specimen is immersed continually in a liquid within the closed loop boundary layer test system;
• wherein the collective sequential group of modules configured for testing ship hull designs includes:
• i) a means of delivering a fully developed flow of water onto a constructed sub-surface ship component, whereby the fully developed flow of water is defined as a stage in the flow of water where characteristics of the boundary layer do not change along a remaining length of a test channel, thereby creating a scalable model for observing and recording performance variables of said component in real time;
• and
• ii) a means of providing a layer of gas into the controlled water stream onto the submerged ship component to evaluate an effect of said layer of compressed gas on said submerged ship component, in real time;
• and
• wherein the boundary layer test system further includes:
• an electronic device comprising:
• an input interface for receiving sensor data;
• a memory for storing the received sensor data and computer software;
• and a processor configured to execute the computer software stored in the memory;
• wherein the computer software, when executed by the processor, performs the steps of:
• polling and recording sensor information;
• engaging sensors to begin collecting a first set of data;
• engaging accelerator of motion nexus module to begin circulating a flow of water within said collective sequential group of modules of said closed loop boundary layer test system;
• increasing a flow rate of said accelerator to a set velocity level;
• collecting a second set of data from said sensors;
• collecting gas humidity and gas properties;
• opening an airflow valve and throttling said air flow until a set air flow level is reached;
• collecting a third set of data from said sensors;
• varying water velocity for a fixed gas flow and collect a set of data from said sensors;
• varying gas for fixed water flow and collect a set of data from said sensors;
• plotting all data points;
• creating a nozzle operating map for said data points;
• and
• recording a tested nozzle design and tested hull surface corresponding to said data.

An entrance region for a closed loop boundary layer testing system, comprising:

• a hydrodynamic stabilization area directly preceding at least one test module, wherein said stabilization area defines an elongate rectangular channel having parallel horizontal top planar surface and horizontal bottom planar surface and parallel vertical planar sidewalls;
• wherein said hydrodynamic stabilization area includes a uniform geometrical shape along a length of the entrance region, wherein the length is configured to provide for settling of water flow;
• an upper boundary at said horizontal top planar surface configured to be in communication with said water flow to provide for testing of completely immersed underwater components;
• and
• wherein said entrance region is extended to a length of at least triple the length of said testing module to provide a stable boundary layer flow specific to ship hulls, thereby providing stabilization and a boundary layer flow that is equivalent to pipe flow.

A method for a boundary layer testing system, comprising:

• providing a motion nexus module for propelling a flow of water, wherein said motion nexus module includes a water movement device capable of propelling the flow of water, wherein said motion nexus module includes an inflow area and an outflow area;
• providing a water stabilization module for influencing said flow of water to become stratified, wherein said water stabilization module is coupled to said outflow area of said motion nexus module and comprises a plurality of screens and diffusers;
• providing an enclosed linear testing channel for monitoring a test surface for condition-based feedback, wherein said enclosed linear testing channel includes an entrance region, an air delivery region, and at least one test module, wherein said linear testing channel includes at least one area facilitating observation;
• providing an access to said enclosed linear testing channel in each test modules in said at least one test module for housing at least one test surface and a plurality of sensors, whereby said at least one test surface and said plurality of sensors can be mounted and observed;
• providing a diffuser for decreasing said flow of water exiting said testing channel, wherein said diffuser is coupled to an outflow of said linear testing channel;
• providing a pipe to couple said diffuser to a degassing chamber, wherein said degassing chamber has an inflow area and an outflow area, and a main body diameter in excess of a diameter of said pipe coupling said diffuser to said degassing chamber, whereby the increase in diameter results in an increase in volume, which allows bubbles injected through a nozzle in said air delivery region to extricate from said flow of water;
• and
• forming a continuous closed loop water flow circuit by coupling said outflow area of said degassing chamber coupled to said inflow area of said motion nexus module.

A system for studying full-scale, multi-phase, dynamically similar, hydrodynamic flow representative of a ship's boundary layer for enhancing fuel efficiency for marine craft, comprising:

• a closed loop boundary layer test system defining a collective sequential group of modules configured for testing hydrodynamic effects on a selected specimen, wherein the selected specimen is representative of ship hull designs and features, hull systems and coatings, or air lubrication systems, and wherein the selected specimen is immersed continually in a liquid within the closed loop boundary layer test system;
• wherein the collective sequential group of modules configured for testing ship hull designs includes:
• i) a means of delivering a fully developed flow of water onto a constructed sub-surface ship component, whereby the fully developed flow of water is defined as a stage in the flow of water where characteristics of the boundary layer do not change along a remaining length of a test channel, thereby creating a scalable model for observing and recording performance variables of said component in real time, wherein the means of delivering a fully developed flow of water onto a constructed sub-surface ship component of the boundary layer test system further includes an enclosed linear testing channel having at least one test module and a separate extended entrance region directly preceding said at least one test module, wherein said extended entrance region defines an elongate rectangular channel having parallel horizontal top and bottom planar surfaces and parallel vertical planar sidewalls;
• and
• ii) a means of providing a layer of gas into the controlled water stream onto the submerged ship component to evaluate an effect of said layer of compressed gas on said submerged ship component, in real time.