Analysis of Operating Principles and Flow Field Characteristics for a Diving Ballast Tank

Operating principle and flow field characteristics of a diving ballast tank for application in submerged vehicles were investigated in the present study. As understanding the complex changes in the interior air-water two-phase flow field of the ballast tank during the diving process is difficult, this study specifically performed a ballast tank diving experiment. Experimental and numerical simulations to analyse the diving motions of the ballast tank were conducted. Authors comprehensively evaluated the flow field changes in the ballast tank and its surroundings. The experimental and numerical results were compared in terms of the observed displacements and velocities during diving. Both the results indicated similar motion trajectories and velocities. Authors effectively observed the air-water two-phase flow field change inside the ballast tank using this numerical method. Therefore, the numerical model constructed in this study can be useful for analysing the diving motions of ballast tanks and can effectively predict the interior flow field characteristics of a ballast tank.