Thruster and Hull Interaction

Abstract

A hybrid method which couples a vortexlattice method (VLM) solver and a ReynoldsAveraged Navier–Stokes (RANS) solver is applied to simulate the interaction between a dynamic positioning (DP) thruster and a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) hull. The hybrid method can significantly reduce the number of cells to fifth of that in a fullblown RANS simulation and thus greatly enhance the computational efficiency. The numerical results are first validated with available experimental data, and then used to assess the significance of the thruster/hull interaction in DP systems.