Yucong Ma has researched dynamic analysis and design of subsea shuttle tanker systems.
His thesis topic was Design and Dynamic Analysis of a Novel Subsea Shuttle Tanker.
The subsea shuttle tanker (SST) system was proposed as a versatile alternative for offshore liquid carbon dioxide transportation. This is interesting as the traditional methods of transporting fluids face limitations— underwater pipelines are expensive to install and maintain, while tanker ships and liquefied gas carriers are weather-dependent, making them impractical in rough seas.
The PhD project unfolds in two phases: design and dynamic analysis. The design phase formulated a comprehensive baseline design encompassing critical aspects of SST design, operational scenarios, and CO2 transportation challenges. This included exploring cargo sizing, material selection, and energy consumption.
The second phase focused on dynamic analysis, constructing a manoeuvring model and evaluating the SST's capability to maintain position during offloading, even in extreme currents. It established safety operating envelopes (SOE) for malfunction scenarios, reducing collapse depth and enhancing operational safety. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis predicted forces affecting the SST, including near-wall voyages and hovering.
In sum, this thesis contributes original work in conceptual design, control systems application, and dynamic analysis of the SST, offering potential avenues for commercial submarine development and innovative ocean space utilization strategies.
Congratulations to Yucong Ma on this academic achievement!