Floating vessel with appendages for reduced vibration and increased thruster capacity
A floating vessel having a hull, at least one thruster tube, at least one water moving device and at least one power supply in the thruster tube. At least one appendage partially surrounds the thruster tube and encircles the thruster tube from 30 percent to 40. A plurality of supports secures the at least one appendage to the hull. At least one fairing plate is installed between a tangent of the appendage and the hull for following a circumference of the thruster tube and encircling the thruster tube from 30 percent to 40 percent, wherein the fairing plate is configured to transition water flow from the hull over the appendage and into the thruster tube to reduce water turbulent flow across an opening of the thruster tube.
1. A floating vessel configured to move through water at a speed of up to 15 knots, the floating vessel comprising:
a. a hull;
b. at least one thruster tube formed in the hull, wherein the at least one thruster tube has an opening;
c. at least one water moving device disposed in the at least one thruster tube;
d. at least one power supply connected to the at least one water moving device;
e. at least one appendage partially surrounding the at least one thruster tube and encircling the at least one thruster tube from 30 percent to 40 percent of the at least one thruster tube;
f. a plurality of supports securing the at least one appendage to the hull; and
g. at least one fairing plate installed between a tangent of the at least one appendage and the hull, the at least one fairing plate installed following a circumference of the at least one thruster tube and encircling the at least one thruster tube from 30 percent to 40 percent of the at least one thruster tube, the at least one fairing plate configured to transition water flow from the hull over the at least one appendage and into the at least one thruster tube to reduce water turbulent flow across the opening of the at least one thruster tube as water is moved by the at least one water moving device creating at least a 2 percent improvement in thrust capacity of the at least one water moving device than without the at least one appendage.
2. The floating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thruster tube is mounted proximate to a bow or a stern.
3. The floating vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a fairing transition plate for connecting a first fairing plate around a first thruster tube to a second fairing plate around a second thruster tube.
4. The floating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one appendage is a half-pipe.
5. The floating vessel of claim 4 , wherein the half-pipe comprises at least one of: fiberglass, carbon fiber, steel, and stainless steel.
6. The floating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the at least one thruster tube is in a shape of an ellipse at a water/hull interface.
7. The floating vessel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one thruster tube has a diameter from 0.3 meters to 5 meters.
8. The floating vessel of claim 4 , wherein the half-pipe comprises a plurality of segments joined to form a one piece integral half-pipe.
9. The floating vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a dual fuel propulsion system, wherein the dual fuel propulsion system is automatically switchable between natural gas and diesel fuel.
10. The floating vessel of claim 9 , comprising a relief gas line vent trap installed in a main relief line connected to a liquefied natural gas storage tank or a liquefied natural gas bunker station, the relief gas line vent trap comprising:
a. a gas inlet pipe with an angle of declination from the main relief line to prevent back up of water into the main relief line; and
b. a body with a top, wherein the body is fluidly connected to the gas inlet pipe, the body comprising:
(i) a reservoir for receiving fluid from the gas inlet pipe;
(ii) a hinged balanced lid secured to the body opposite the reservoir with the hinged balanced lid configured to minimize gas escaping from the body and to simultaneously reduce back pressure caused by gas; and
(iii) a drain fluidly connected to the reservoir to allow fluid from the gas inlet pipe to exit the body.
11. The floating vessel of claim 10 , wherein the angle of declination is from 40 degrees to 50 degrees from a central axis of the main relief line to prevent back up of water into the main relief line.
12. The floating vessel of claim 10 , wherein the body and the gas inlet pipe comprise stainless steel and are configured to enable cryogenic fluids to pass through the body and the gas inlet pipe without the body or the gas inlet pipe cracking or rupturing.
13. The floating vessel of claim 10 , comprising a stop to prevent the hinged balanced lid from opening more than 90 degrees from a plane of the top.
14. The floating vessel of claim 13 , further comprising a screen secured in the body.
15. The floating vessel of claim 1 , comprising a dynamic positioning controller connected to a global positioning system network and a plurality of gyroscopes mounted in the hull, wherein the dynamic positioning controller is in communication with the at least one water moving device enabling dynamic positioning of the floating vessel using the at least one water moving device continuously to maintain station while simultaneously reducing fatigue and increasing comfort for onboard crew during operation of each water moving device.
16. The floating vessel of claim 1 , further comprising a bow tapered plate and a stern tapered plate connected on opposite ends of the at least one appendage.
17. The floating vessel of claim 16 , comprising a knuckle plate secured between a first appendage and a second appendage for reducing vibration.