Current Measurement and Velocity Spatial Distribution of Deep Ocean Engineering Basin

Abstract

To ensure the international competitiveness of the domestic offshore plant industry, a consensus has been formed regarding the requirement for large offshore basins for performing offshore plant performance verification. Accordingly, the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering has built the world's largest deep ocean engineering basin (DOEB). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of velocity distribution under various conditions of the DOEB. An independent measuring jig is designed and manufactured to measure the current velocities of many locations within a short time. The measurement jig is a 15-m-high triangular-truss structure, and the measurement sensors can move 15 m vertically through an electric motor-wire device. The current speed is measured under various impeller revolutions per minute and locations of the DOEB using the jig. The spatial distribution characteristics of the current velocity in the DOEB and the performance of the current generator are analyzed. The maximum speed is 0.56 m/s in the center of the DOEB water surface, thereby confirming sufficient current velocity distribution uniformity for model testing.