Numerical Study on Air-Intake Louver for Polar Ships

Because of global warming, the sea ice in the Arctic is rapidly decreasing, thus resulting in the formation of new shipping routes. In this study, we investigate the design of an anti-icing structure for air-intake louvers on ships operating in polar waters, with emphasis on energy efficiency. The louver, which is composed of multiple blades mounted on a ship’s outer plating, is heated with a heat-transfer fluid to prevent ice formation. Numerical techniques were employed to design the louvers for efficient energy use and consistent heating. To assess the risk of icing, a steady-state thermal analysis was performed with a safety margin, with emphasis on the blade with the lowest heat-transfer fluid temperature. The piping size for the fluid in each blade was optimized to ensure uniform heat distribution. The results indicate that icing is unlikely to occur in the moisture-separation section of the louver due to heat transferred from the heat-transfer fluid. In conclusion, polar ships equipped with the optimally designed air-intake louvers is expected to prevent energy losses caused by excessive supply and ensure safe navigation without the occurrence of icing.