Hardware in the loop experiments with ship propulsion systems in the towing tank: Scale effects, corrections and demonstration. (15th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huijgens, Lode; Vrijdag, Arthur; Hopman, Hans
• Is Part Of: Ocean engineering. Volume 226(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-15
• Subjects: Hybrid testing -- Hardware in the loop -- Open water test -- Scale model -- Towing tank -- Marine propulsion; Ocean engineering -- Periodicals; Ocean engineering; Periodicals; 620.4162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oceaneng.2021.108789
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-8018

Abstract

Abstract: Standards for environmental impact, safety and operational performance of ships are becoming increasingly strict. In order to meet these standards, the performance of new ship designs must be predicted with an increasing level of detail and confidence. As present prediction methods lack realistic, dynamic behaviour of the ship's propulsion plant, there is a need for more advanced methods. In this paper, an open water test with Hardware in the Loop (HIL) functionality is proposed. HIL open water tests combine software and hardware components to emulate realistic behaviour of the ship's propulsion plant in the towing tank. It is known, however, that experiments in the towing tank are subject to viscous scale effects. In addition to this, shaft dynamics are distorted by a number of scale effects occurring inside the scale model propulsion system. In this paper, it is demonstrated with measurements that if corrections for these scale effects are applied, the dynamic interaction between the propeller and simulated engine system can be accurately emulated in the ship model basin. Highlights for review: (HIL) experiments with scale models have the potential to can predict the performance of ship propulsion systems in complex, dynamic situations. The Dynamic behaviour is subject to scale effects related to the electric propulsion drive, friction and moment of inertia. By mathematical analysis, these scale effects can be identified and illustrated. The mathematical analysis allows to propose and demonstrate solutions for these scale effects. With the proposed corrections, HIL experiments in the model basin can accurately emulate full scale ship propulsion systems.