Numerical analysis of the impact of ship airwake on the effectiveness of an air sampling mast

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to analyze the flow around a modern research ship to ensure that exhaust gases would not adversely impact the air sampling mast. The air sampling mast measures and records the air to understand the environment that the vessel is operating in. There are operational situations where the wind speed and direction are such that the engine exhaust gases can be near the air sampling mast. The results showed that for most of conditions examined the exhaust gases would not reach the air sampling mast. The stern to bow wind was the only direction that had an interaction between the air sampling mast and exhaust gases. The lower the relative wind speed the more likely that interaction. The wind speeds and directions that do have an interaction with the air sampling mast can be used to help the operator set guidelines on when to use the air sampling mast.