Study on Flow Phenomenon inside a Nozzle in Ship Propulsion Equipment Directly Driven by High Pressure Air

Abstract

An experimental study was conducted by performing pressure measurements and flow visualization to investigate unsteady flows inside a two-dimensional semi-open-type nozzle in a ship propulsion equipment directly driven by high-pressure gas. We found that the ejected gas phase and water-flow phase are separated clearly, and the interface between these phases behaves like waves. It was clarified by flow visualization with a high-speed motion camera and a circulating water channel that these interfacial waves change their shapes according to the water-flow velocity. The interfacial wavelength increases as a result of increasing water-flow velocity, and the mechanism that produces thrust on the nozzle wall changes. The thrust and flow patterns for intermittent gas ejection according to water-flow velocity were also clarified.

Keywords

• ship propulsion
• water jet
• interfacial wave
• unsteady flow
• flow visualization