• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.34-42
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• 2015

The development of an azimuth thruster which has the function of dynamic positioning and propulsion has been greatly required as the demand of vehicles with it increases. To develop or design a reliable azimuth thruster, it is appropriate that the performance and cavitation observation tests should be conducted in the regime of high Reynolds number. In the present study, to satisfy high Reynolds number condition new dynamometer for a large azimuth thruster is manufactured and arranged in the test section of the Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT). The test method composed of the open water and the cavitation observation tests is established successfully in LCT, considering the thruster design.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2024

In order to investigate cavitation performance for the azimuth thruster in Large Cavitation Tunnel (LCT), the cavitation test apparatus was designed and manufactured. Generally the model scale is determined by the pod dynamometer with about 70mm diameter. Recently as ships with azimuth thruster have become bigger, the problem of the model ship installation was occurred. The model ship with pod dynamometer couldn't be installed in the LCT test section. The cavitation test apparatus and technique which can conduct the cavitation test without pod dynamometer were developed. The cavitation tests were conducted in torque identity method instead of thrust identity method. The target ship with azimuth thruster is 18K LNG bunkering vessel. As the full-scale ship test was conducted, the model cavitation tests were conducted at the same operating conditions. The fluctuating pressure levels of the full-scale ship were compared to those of the model tests. Another model cavitation test was conducted in the foreign institute and the cavitation observation results were compared to those of LCT. Through the comparison with the existing results, it is thought that the cavitation test for the azimuth thruster can be conducted in torque identity method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2013.04a
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• pp.555-558
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• 2013

A type of electric propulsion employed by specialized purpose vessels or offshore is the azimuth thruster. Azimuth thruster application had been increasing recently and resulted to excellent vessel maneuverability. However, this system is very complex and some of its major component being exposed under the seawater level presents difficulty in sealing design. For Polar class icebreaker operating in extreme sea condition, this requires a high level of reliability and safety. In this study, the characteristics of lubricating orifice pipe structural vibration installed at the lower reduction gear were investigated and analyzed through beam analysis theory and comparison of experiments. Propeller excitation and the resonant modes of vibration causing excessive vibration and suitable countermeasures to prevent damage due to vibration fatigue on the pipe are presented.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.149-158
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• 2023

With the global paradigm shift towards climate change, the shipbuilding industry is also considering propulsion systems that utilize eco-friendly fuels various propulsion systems are gaining attention as a result. In conventional propulsion systems, typically consisting of propellers and rudders, have evolved into a diverse range of systems due to the development of a special propulsion system known as the azimuth thruster. While azimuth thrusters were previously commonly installed on tugboats, they are now extensively used on offshore plant operation ships equipped with dynamic positioning systems. However, these azimuth thrusters require different steering methods compared to conventional propulsion systems, leading to a significant learning curve for the crew members boarding such vessels. Furthermore the availability of education related to these special propulsion systems is limited. This study aims to analyze accidents caused by inadequate control of vessels equipped with azimuth thrusters using the STAMP technique. And it proposes the necessity of standard steering commands for the safe operation of vessels equipped with special propellers.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2013

To research and develop an azimuth thruster, the new type of open water test dynamometers to measure thrust, torque, total thrust and duct force are designed and manufactured by Samsung Ship Model Basin(SSMB). A compact servomotor to be accurately controlled is connected to precise spiral bevel gear through shafting system combined by couplings and main shafts. The dynamometers have shown excellent linearity and repeatability for all components of forces and a torque. Also, the open water tests have been successfully performed to show the performance of the system. In near future, it is expected that the device can be used for the study of scale effects and development of azimuth thrusters.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.33-39
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• 2004

The performance of a deep water drillship, is investigated with the view of the characteristics of the thrusters and the resistance increasement due to moonpooi. The model tests have been performed to obtain the resistance of two drillships with the moonpooi open and closed including shape changes of moonpool step. To design the DP system, thrust forces of azimuth thrusters have been measured during azimuthing at zero speed condition. Thrusters, azimuthing under the bottom of ship, have the interactions of the other thrusters due to flow changes made by other thrusters, and the existence of ship hull makes the thrust deduction higher than when the thrust operates by itself. The resistance increasement due to the moonpooi is highly dependent on the step height of the moonpool and the draft. It is found that the height of moonpool step can reduce the resistance increasement by moonpool.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2018

Present paper shows the basic design procedure for platform support vessel operating in open sea, and hull form development process. General design concept considering the operating mission, operating sea condition and shipping freight, etc. is explained shortly. For the hull form design, the initial hull form was designed based on the reference PSVs. The resistance and propulsion test results for the initial hull form with twin Azimuth thruster were analyzed and a few items for improvement were derived. At the next stage, main parameters including Length, Cp-curve, Cb, Lcb, etc. were changed totally for the hull form improvement. Furthermore, 3 different bulbous bows for the fore-body design to reduce the wave resistance and after-body design to reduce the residual resistance were carried out. The best hull form among the 3 fore-bodies with same after-body was selected through the comparison of wave resistance calculation results. Twin ducted Azimuth thruster with the smaller propeller diameter than the former were adapted to increase the propulsive efficiency. The final hull form with the twin Azimuth thruster was evaluated to satisfy more than the target design speed 14 knots in sea condition with sea margin 15% at the 5,000kW BHP through the model test in KRISO.