Please wait a minute...
工程设计学报
Chinese Journal of Engineering Design  2026, Vol. 33 Issue (3): 426-434    DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1006-754X.2026.05.180
Optimization Design     
Design and optimization of ultrasonic anti-fouling device for ship sea chests
Zhaozheng XU1(),Tingxin SONG1(),Ruihan WANG2
1.School of Mechanical Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
2.School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Download: HTML     PDF(3136KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  

To address the blockage issue of ship sea chests caused by marine biofouling, an active preventive control technology based on the 20 kHz ultrasonic cavitation effect is proposed. An ultrasonic anti-fouling device consisting of a transducer, an amplitude transformer and a vibration rod is designed, aiming to replace the traditional passive cleaning mode for mature biofilms and inhibit biofouling at the source. To further enhance the biofouling prevention performance, a barbell-shaped vibration rod composed of 18 serially connected units was developed. The synergistic vibration of these units expanded the sound field range and improved the uniformity and effective coverage of the sound field within the sea chest. Subsequently, an equivalent circuit method was employed to construct a full-link impedance matching model, and the mechanical impedances of the sandwich transducer, the stepped amplitude transformer and the barbell-shaped vibration rod were derived segment by segment. By designing parameters such as the cross-sectional ratio of the amplitude transformer and the unit length of the vibration rod, the impedances of all components were coupled and adapted through boundary conditions, which reduced energy reflection loss and realized the longitudinal resonance of the ultrasonic anti-fouling device, thereby improving the energy transmission efficiency. The multi-physics field coupling simulation results showed that the single-stage vibration rod generated a sound field with strong central intensity, weak edge intensity and obvious blind zones, while the barbell-shaped vibration rod formed a symmetric standing wave sound field with effective acoustic pressure at the edges. Its cavitation effect could disrupt the cell membranes of marine bio-eggs and planktonic larvae, thus blocking biofilm formation. Three groups of anti-fouling comparative experiments under simulated marine environments verified that the entire bottom of the chest in the blank control group was covered by organisms; the single-stage vibration rod group had a limited anti-fouling coverage, with obvious organism attachment at the edges of the chest bottom; more than 90% of the chest bottom area remained clean in the barbell-shaped vibration rod group, with only a small number of larvae attached in the corners. The designed ultrasonic anti-fouling device can realize non-contact and eco-friendly cleaning, which provides a new approach for the prevention of biofouling in ocean engineering equipment.

Key words： ultrasonic wave      sea chest      cavitation effect      multi-physics field coupling simulation      active prevention     
Received: 02 September 2025      Published: 27 June 2026
CLC:  TB 559  
Corresponding Authors: Tingxin SONG     E-mail: 18572757311@163.com;stx@hbut.edu.cn
Service
E-mail this article
Add to my bookshelf
Add to citation manager
E-mail Alert
RSS
Articles by authors
Zhaozheng XU
Tingxin SONG
Ruihan WANG
Cite this article:

Zhaozheng XU,Tingxin SONG,Ruihan WANG. Design and optimization of ultrasonic anti-fouling device for ship sea chests. Chinese Journal of Engineering Design, 2026, 33(3): 426-434.

URL:

https://www.zjujournals.com/gcsjxb/10.3785/j.issn.1006-754X.2026.05.180     OR     https://www.zjujournals.com/gcsjxb/Y2026/V33/I3/426


船舶通海阀箱超声防污装置的设计与优化

针对船舶通海阀箱因海洋生物附着而产生的淤堵问题，提出了基于20 kHz超声波空化效应的主动预防性防控技术，并设计了一款由换能器、变幅杆和振动棒组成的超声防污装置，旨在取代传统被动清理成熟生物膜的模式，从源头抑制生物污损。为进一步提升生物污损预防效能，设计了由18个单元串联组成的杠铃式振动棒，通过单元协同振动拓宽声场范围，以提升通海阀箱内声场的均匀性和有效覆盖率；随后，采用等效电路法构建全链路阻抗匹配模型，分段推导夹心式换能器、阶梯型变幅杆、杠铃式振动棒的机械阻抗，通过设计变幅杆截面比、振动棒单元长度等参数，使各部件阻抗通过边界条件耦合适配，减少能量反射损耗，实现超声防污装置的纵向共振，从而提升能量传输效率。多物理场耦合仿真结果表明：单级振动棒的声场中心强、边缘弱且存在盲区，而杠铃式振动棒可形成对称驻波声场，边缘声压达到有效水平，其空化效应能破坏海洋生物卵及浮游幼虫的细胞膜，阻断生物膜形成。经3组模拟海洋环境的防污对比实验验证：空白对照组阀箱底部全域被生物覆盖；单级振动棒组防污范围有限，阀箱底部边缘生物附着明显；杠铃式振动棒组阀箱底部90%以上的区域保持洁净，仅角落附着少量幼虫。所设计的超声防污装置可实现非接触式环保清理，为海洋工程装备的生物污损防治提供了新思路。


关键词： 超声波,  通海阀箱,  空化效应,  多物理场耦合仿真,  主动预防 
Fig.1 Schematic diagram of ultrasonic anti-fouling device for sea chest
Fig.2 Schematic diagram of sandwich transducer structure
Fig.3 Electromechanical equivalent circuit of sandwich transducer
Fig.4 Schematic diagram of stepped amplitude transformer structure
Fig.5 Mechanical equivalent circuit of stepped amplitude transformer
Fig.6 Schematic diagram of single-stage vibration rod structure
Fig.7 Schematic diagram of barbell-shaped vibration rod structure
Fig.8 Mechanical equivalent circuit of barbell-shaped vibration rod
Fig.9 Comparison of sound field in sea chest under action of single-stage and barbell-shaped vibration rods
与换能器的纵向距离/mm与换能器的横向距离/mm
01 500
1 20013 152.78 457.4
1 50011 172.86 789.4
3 0007 782.93 554.9
Table 1 Simulated sound pressure values under action of barbell-shaped vibration rod
与换能器的纵向距离/mm与换能器的横向距离/mm
01 500
1 20011 473.36 732.8
1 5008 758.24 732.6
3 0005 742.91 749.4
Table 2 Simulated sound pressure values under action of single-stage vibration rod
Fig.10 Experimental platform simulating marine environment
Fig.11 Comparison of biological attachment at the bottom of sea chest
 
[[1]]   陈炯延， 王钊， 郭晋汉， 等. 海水冷却管道防污技术研究进展［J］. 涂料工业， 2023， 53（9）： 77-84.
CHEN J Y， WANG Z， GUO J H， et al. Research progress in antifouling methods of seawater cooling system［J］. Paint & Coatings Industry， 2023， 53（9）： 77-84.
[[2]]   DIXIT N， SINGH S P. Water disinfection via controlled release of biocides for reduced toxicity and extended shelf life： a review［J］. Environmental Science： Water Research & Technology， 2025， 11（4）： 809-829.
[[3]]   SAJJADI B， RAMAN A A A， IBRAHIM S. Influence of ultrasound power on acoustic streaming and micro-bubbles formations in a low frequency sono-reactor： mathematical and 3D computational simulation［J］. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry， 2015， 24： 193-203.
[[4]]   林基艳， 林书玉. 基于声子晶体异质位错结结构的大尺寸楔形变幅杆的优化设计［J］. 陕西师范大学学报（自然科学版）， 2022， 50（1）： 117-124.
LIN J Y， LIN S Y. Optimization design of ultrasonic vibration system of large-dimension wedge horn with phononic crystal heterojunction dislocation structure［J］. Journal of Shaanxi Normal University （Natural Science Edition）， 2022， 50（1）： 117-124.
[[5]]   郑晓涛， 王丹， 陈景峰. 超声波防海生物技术试验研究［J］. 声学技术， 2015， 34（6）： 525-528.
ZHENG X T， WANG D， CHEN J F. Experimental study of ultrasonic marine anti-biofouling technique［J］. Technical Acoustics， 2015， 34（6）： 525-528.
[[6]]   孔亚广， 席维， 郑松. 超声波防除海洋污损生物研究［C］//2013年全国功率超声学术会议论文集. 北京： 中国声学学会， 2013： 38-41．
KONG Y G， XI W， ZHENG S. The research about ultrasonic in controlling marine fouling organisms［C］// Proceedings of 2013 National Power Ultrasonic Conference. Beijing： Acoustical Society of China， 2013： 38-41.
[[7]]   LEGG M， YÜCEL M K， GARCIA DE CARELLAN I， et al. Acoustic methods for biofouling control： a review［J］. Ocean Engineering， 2015， 103： 237-247.
[[8]]   PESHKOVSKY S L， PESHKOVSKY A S. Matching a transducer to water at cavitation： acoustic horn design principles［J］. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry， 2007， 14（3）： 314-322.
[[9]]   PESHKOVSKY A S， BYSTRYAK S. Continuous-flow production of a pharmaceutical nanoemulsion by high-amplitude ultrasound： process scale-up［J］. Chemical Engineering and Processing： Process Intensification， 2014， 82： 132-136.
[[10]]   PESHKOVSKY A S， PESHKOVSKY S L， BYSTRYAK S. Scalable high-power ultrasonic technology for the production of translucent nanoemulsions［J］. Chemical Engineering and Processing： Process Intensification， 2013， 69： 77-82.
[[11]]   WEI Z S， KOSTERMAN J A， XIAO R Y， et al. Designing and characterizing a multi-stepped ultrasonic horn for enhanced sonochemical performance［J］. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry， 2015， 27： 325-333.
[[12]]   杨宇， 杨昌群， 赵勃. 基于超声导波的螺栓轴向应力测量方法［J］. 工程设计学报， 2024， 31（3）： 280-291.
YANG Y， YANG C Q， ZHAO B. Measurement method of bolt axial stress based on ultrasonic guided waves［J］. Chinese Journal of Engineering Design， 2024， 31（3）： 280-291.
[[13]]   NIAZI S， HASHEMABADI S H， RAZI M M. CFD simulation of acoustic cavitation in a crude oil upgrading sonoreactor and prediction of collapse temperature and pressure of a cavitation bubble［J］. Chemical Engineering Research and Design， 2014， 92（1）： 166-173.
[[14]]   王晨青， 马建敏. 大功率夹心式压电换能器结构参数计算分析及设计［J］. 振动与冲击， 2021， 40（4）： 130-137， 220.
WANG C Q， MA J M. Design and structural parameters calculation analysis of a high power sandwich piezoelectric transducer［J］. Journal of Vibration and Shock， 2021， 40（4）： 130-137， 220.
[[15]]   许龙， 张丹， 陈一博. 四激励二维正交复合夹心式压电超声换能器的设计［J］. 声学学报， 2023， 48（4）： 882-889.
XU L， ZHANG D， CHEN Y B. Design of 2D orthogonal composite sandwich piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer excited by four piezoelectric stacks［J］. Acta Acustica， 2023， 48（4）： 882-889.
[[16]]   张敏， 修坤皓， 孙敬尧， 等. 柔性可穿戴压电超声传感器研究进展［J］. 计测技术， 2024， 44（3）： 72-83.
ZHANG M， XIU K H， SUN J Y， et al. Research progress on flexible wearable piezoelectric ultrasound transducers［J］. Metrology & Measurement Technology， 2024， 44（3）： 72-83.
[[17]]   林书玉. 超声换能器的原理及设计［M］. 北京： 科学出版社， 2004： 89-112.
LIN S Y. Theory and design of ultrasonic transducers［M］. Beijing： Science Press， 2004： 89-112.
[[18]]   杨宇辉， 钟守炎， 谢春晓， 等. 纵扭复合超声换能器的频率灵敏度及其结构优化研究［J］. 机械科学与技术， 2021， 40（10）： 1567-1573.
YANG Y H， ZHONG S Y， XIE C X， et al. Study on frequency sensitivity and structure optimization of longitudinal-torsional composite ultrasonic transducer［J］. Mechanical Science and Technology for Aerospace Engineering， 2021， 40（10）： 1567-1573.
[[19]]   赵智豪， 王家胜， 杨丽丽. 超声波振动农业触土部件变幅杆性能分析与试验［J］. 农机化研究， 2024， 46（4）： 22-28.
ZHAO Z H， WANG J S， YANG L L. Performance analysis and experimental study on horn of ultrasonic vibration agricultural soil-engagement component［J］. Journal of Agricultural Mechanization Research， 2024， 46（4）： 22-28.
No related articles found!