Numéro : 2057 - Year : 1988
Active and passive lift system of surface effect ships
Ph. GOUBAULT, Ingénieur sous contrat, Département Bâtiments de Surface, Sous -Direction Navires du Service Technique des Constructions et Armes Navales
P. SALMON, Ingénieurs sous contrat, Département Bâtiments de Surface, Sous -Direction Navires du Service Technique des Constructions et Armes Navales
The Surface Effect Ships have a great potential for development in the world, in large part due to their ability to reach high speeds with a reasonable amount of installed power but also to their seakeeping qualities.
The air cushion provides a kind of filter to reduce the swell efforts, this reducing significantly the effect of the waves on the ship's motions. Nevertheless, some specific heave motions due to variations in cushion pressure appear.
To reduce these motions, two lift system concepts can be envisaged. The first one, developed in the USA cuts off the maximum of pressure by opening vent valves controlled by the cushion pressure. It can be considered as an active system. The second one, the original solution developed and patented by the DCN, consists in choosing the components of the lift system so as to obtain in a passive way the stabilisation of the cushion pressure despite great variations of air flow rate.
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