Numerical investigation into the two-phase convective heat transfer within the hold of an oil tanker subjected to a rolling motion

Abstract

Acrude oil tanker usually encounters a rolling motion during sea transportation, which leads to rotational movement and sometimes a sloshing of the liquid hold. This rolling-induced body motion seriously affects the thermal and hydraulic behavior of the liquid hold, which then affects the heating process and heat preservation of the tanker. Clarification of the involved thermal and hydraulic characteristics is the basic requirement for establishment of a scientific heating scheme and heat preservation method. A two-phase 3D model considering the free liquid surface and non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid was established for the thermal calculation of the liquid holds in oil tankers. The thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the liquid hold were investigated under different combinations of dimensionless parameters, and the combined effect of rolling and fluid non-Newtonian behavior was investigated. It was found that rolling intensifies the heat transfer based on the combination of the Richardson number (Ri) and the rotation-strength number (ω*), and non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid effectively affects the heat transfer in a rolling motion. This research is expected to provide a reference for design and optimization of the heating and heat preservation method for oil tanker operation.