How to optimize an engine cooling system by 38%
A system consisting of nozzles and a manifold optimizes the cooling of a yacht engine exhaust tank
How to optimize an engine cooling system by 38%
A system consisting of nozzles and a manifold optimizes the cooling of a yacht engine exhaust tank
INDUSTRY
Shipbuilding industry
APPLICATION
Cooling and washing of fumes and gases
PROBLEM
Excessive heating of a vessel’s engine exhaust system
SOLUTION
Manifold with spray nozzles
THE PROBLEM
Our customer is a manufacturer of exhaust lines and cooling systems for yacht engines. He needed to redesign the cooling system of the exhaust line of a machine.
The customer had a non-performing cooling system in which the cooling water could not mix effectively with the exhaust gases, remaining adherent to the external walls. The result was hot exhaust gases and an extremely high temperature on the walls of the exhaust line, damaging the paint and resin of the yacht’s hull.
The technical department of PNR Italia has decided to address the problem by relying on the calculation of CFD (computational fluid dynamics). We analyzed the cooling system in place to understand the critical issues and design a new one.
The customer had a non-performing cooling system in which the cooling water could not mix effectively with the exhaust gases, remaining adherent to the external walls. The result was hot exhaust gases and an extremely high temperature on the walls of the exhaust line.
The thermal photos show how in some points of the exhaust system the temperature exceeds 130 ºC.
In this phase, we did a CFD simulation of the existing cooling system to understand its strengths and weaknesses. In this phase, we did a CFD simulation of the existing cooling system to understand its strengths and weaknesses.
The result was that the water flow takes on a unique feature due to the tangential injection in the cylindrical mixer: it enters the mixer, expands along the walls for the imprinted vorticity, and retains this vorticity along the discharge line up to the case changing axis and always adhering to the walls. Since the water remains 'centrifuged’ on the outer walls, a 'core of hot gases follows the current lines. (image 1)
The result of all these factors is a temperature over 130°C on the walls of the exhaust tank.
GAS COOLING SYSTEM BEFORE OUR INTERVENTION
A portion of the exhaust line of the yacht’s engine. Since the cooling water stays on the walls, the gas flow remains hot in the center
IMAGE 1
1 | HOT GAS INLET
2 | COOLING WATER INLETS
3 | HOT GAS CORE
4 | HOT WASTE WATER TANK
5 | COOLING WATER ADHERING TO THE WALLS
6 | HOT GAS OUTLET
TEMPERATURE LEGEND
1 | 2
CFD ANALYSIS OF THE GAS COOLING SYSTEM BEFORE OUR INTERVENTION
IMAGE 2
CFD ANALYSIS OF THE GAS COOLING SYSTEM DEVELOPED BY PNR ITALIA
Manifold and spray nozzles
IMAGE 3
I VANTAGGI
The system developed by PNR Italia effectively reduces the temperature of the outgoing gases and the walls of the exhaust system.
Before our intervention, the outgoing gases and the case were respectively at a temperature of 155 °C and 105 °C. With our cooling system, the temperatures settled at 95 °C and 65 °C. (images 2 and 3). The cooling system improved by 38%.
The cooling system improved by 38%.
FOCUS ON THE PRODUCT
