The study of the internal component geometries (i.e. perforated elements) is relevant for the acoustic performance optimisation of a silencer. During the design phase, the evaluation of the properties of a silencer is performed by numerical analysis. In the literature, there is a lack of general guidelines and comparisons among different modelling strategies. So, in this study, the influence of grid type (i.e. trimmed vs tetrahedral) on the numerical prediction of the flow inside a reactive silencer is analysed. Moreover, using a porous baffle interface to model the perforated pipe is investigated, searching for a faster and easier way to model perforated elements. The simulations are carried out with the commercial CFD software STAR-CCM+. The comparison of the obtained axial velocity with a literature case study assesses the numerical model reliability. The analysis highlights that velocity and pressure predicted with both the mesh typologies does not significantly differ, but the trimmed mesh allows to save cells number, reducing the computational cost. Instead, obtain a reliable flow description using the porous baffle interface is strictly correlated to the settings of the resistance coefficient. This assumption does not provide accurate results for the analysed perforated pipe. On the other hand, using a simplified model allows to easily perform a comparison between different muffler geometries, as the holes have not to be drowned and meshed after each modification.

In recent years, green shipping becomes one of the fundamental challenges for the marine industry: the limits imposed on ship emissions by IMO (International Maritime Organization) are increasingly stringent, especially in terms of SOx (sulfur oxides). The installation on board of scrubbers has proved to be a helpful solution to SOx abetment, in particular for the ships already in navigation: it allows to respect the limits imposed by the IMO even with the use of HFOs (Heavy Fuel Oils), so without the need to carry out a complete refitting of the propulsion system. However, such systems, usually installed in the funnels, have large dimensions. The integration between components is the best method to optimize the spaces, facilitating the installation of the scrubbers on board. The present work investigates a combined CFD-FEM (Computational Fluid Dynamics-Finite Element Method) methodology to evaluate the acoustic performances of a model-scale scrubber. Some papers in the literature consider the acoustic properties of SCRs (Selective Catalytic Reduction systems) for marine applications, while a thorough study on scrubbers' performances is missing. Independent CFD or FEM calculations may evaluate the acoustic properties of the scrubber. However, the combined methodology reduces the computational burden by about 90% compared to the CFD modelling. Moreover, it gives the advantage of considering the influence of flow on acoustic properties, which is impossible for a fully FEM approach

Purpose: This study aims to analyze simplified methods for modelling the flow through perforated elements (i.e. porous baffle interface and porous region), searching for a faster and easier way to simulate these components. The numerical simulations refer to a muffler geometry available in literature as a case study. Design/methodology/approach: The installation of scrubber onboard ships to satisfy the International Maritime Organization emissions regulations is a reliable and efficient solution. However, scrubbers have considerable dimensions, interfering with other exhaust line components. Therefore, scrubber installation in the funnels requires integration with other elements, for example, silencers. Perforated pipes and plates represent the main elements of scrubber and silencers. The study of their layout is, therefore, necessary to reduce emissions and noise. Numerical simulations allow evaluating the efficiency of integrated components. Findings: The study highlights that velocity and pressure predicted by the simplified models have a strong correlation with the resistance coefficients. Even though the simplified models do not accurately reproduce the flow through the holes, the use of such models allows a fast and easy comparison between concurrent muffler geometries, giving aid in the early design phases. Originality/value: The lack of general guidelines and comparisons in the literature between different modelling strategies of perforated elements supports the novelty of the present work and its impact on design applications. Study the flow inside scrubbers and mufflers is fundamental to evaluate their performances. Therefore, having a simple numerical method is suited for industrial applications during the design process.

Scrubber systems abate the sulphur oxide emissions of engines when cheap fuel oils that are high in sulphur content are employed as combustibles. However, the ships with these voluminous devices installed on board is space demanding. This work analyses the feasibility of incorporating the acoustic abatement of the exhaust gas noise functionality into the scrubber design to provide a combined scrubber–silencer system. For this purpose, a finite element analysis is performed on a simple expansion chamber, which is assessed using both analytical and experimental data. The transmission loss is the acoustic parameter chosen in this work. The numerical model depicts a good correlation with the transmission loss measured on a model scale scrubber. Finally, scrubber geometry modifications alter the transmission loss, changing and/or enhancing its featuring. These abilities indicate the feasibility to confer to scrubber silencing effects.

Nowadays, fire-doors optimization is approached by using consolidated design guidelines and traditional materials, such as rock wool. Then, selected solution is directly tested in a mandatory fire-test. Unfortunately, few pieces of information could be retrieved either if the test succeeds or fails, which makes both improvements in the design and use of innovative materials difficult. Thus, in this work, a self-consistent finite element method (FEM) analysis is developed and assessed against experimental fire-test results, highlighting the critical parameters affecting the numerical simulations. Using this tool, a new fiberglass-containing foam, with improved acoustic and mechanical properties, as compared to the rock-wool, is studied as a potential insulating material for on-board fire-doors. The assessment of the performance of the new material demonstrates that, contrary to common believe, the effective thermal insulation capacity is not necessarily the critical factor in determining the fire-resistance of a fire-door. Using the validated FEM analysis, it has been proven that the reduction of the thermal bridges originated at the door edges allows, firstly, for the attainment of a fire-door 37% thinner and 61% lighter with respect to a traditional one, and, secondly, the use of new material as insulator in fire-doors that, even if less thermally capable, could improve other properties of the door, as an example its soundproofing.