Experimental investigation of bubble formation and motion mechanism near the moonpool

When a research ship sails at a high speed, there is relative motion between the ship and fluid. The ship is slammed by the fluid. To reduce the direct impact of the fluid, sonar is installed in the moonpool, and acoustic detection equipment is installed along the research ship bottom behind the moonpool. However, during high-speed sailing, a large number of bubbles form in the moonpool. Some bubbles escape from the moonpool and flow backward along the bottom of the ship. When a large number of bubbles are around the sonar and acoustic detection equipment, the equipment malfunctions. However, there have been few studies on bubble formation in the moonpool with sonar and distribution along the ship bottom behind the moonpool. Therefore, a related model was developed and prototype tests were carried out in this study. The appropriate similarity criteria were selected and verified to ensure the reliability of the experiment. Considering the influences of speed, sonar, moonpool shape, and draft, the reason and mechanism of bubble formation in a sonar moonpool were studied. An artificial ventilation method was used to simulate a real navigation environment. Because the bubbles are in a bright state under laser irradiation, the bubbles can be used as tracer particles. A high-speed camera captured illuminated bubbles. The distribution mechanism of bubbles along the ship bottom behind the moonpool was investigated using particle image velocimetry under the influence of the moonpool shape and sailing speed. The model experimental results agreed well with those of the prototype test. The air sucked into the water was the dominant factor in bubble formation in the moonpool. The bubbles were distributed in a W shape under the ship bottom.