Smart control of fast ships
PhD-project Alex van Deyzen
Objective
The research and design of an advanced control system for the control of the response of fast vessels in waves
Problem domain
Sailing with high forward speeds is very demanding to both the crew and passengers as the construction of the ship.
The operability in waves of fast vessels is restricted due to the low level of acceptance of the crew and passengers to large motions and especially large vertical accelerations. These problems increase with decreasing ship's size.
The last years, a solution was found by increasing the ship's size. This is called the enlarged ship concept. But this is not a possible or desired solution for all planing vessels. A new challenge can be found by increasing the operability of small fast ships, like interceptors, patrol vessels, search and rescue vessels (SAR) and rigid inflatable boats (RIB's).
Research carried out in the past at the Ship Hydromechanics Laboratory showed that the operability of fast ships can be increased by the use of wings, foils, fins and/or flaps, which yield better seakeeping behaviour. These controllable appendages can be controlled actively. The active control of the forward speed, the so called thrust control, plays a significantly large role as well.
Approach
In this research project an anticipating control system for the reduction of the response of smaller fast vessel in waves will be developed. Two issues are essential:
• the instantaneous wave around and in front of the vessel on real time basis and
• a control system that controls the appendages and the thrust on these incoming waves, in order to reduce the ship's response
A relatively accurate mathematical model, which describes the response of planing vessel in waves, is needed in order to be able to control the thrust and appendages on the incoming waves (pro active control). This ship response simulation model must include the thrust and appendages.
At the same time, this model (a time domain solution) must have less calculation time than the real time behaviour of the ship, otherwise pro active control will not be possible. Therefore the model is based on nonlinear strip theory, which decreases the calculation time considerably.
Results
The development of this mathematical simulation model and the algorithm for controlling the thrust and appendages are the key subjects of this research.
Contact
A.F.J. van Deyzen, MSc.
Tel: +31 15 2786603
Fax: +31 15 2781836
Email: a.f.j.vandeyzen@tudelft.nl
