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Fluid Management

Motion Control

Ship Performance

U-Tank Stabilization System

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U-Tank Stabilization System

General Description
M

There are several types of roll damping systems that have

been developed to reduce a vessels roll motion during
operation at sea. Passive roll damping tanks, also referred
to as passive anti-roll tanks, use a hydro-dynamically
controlled flow of liquid within a specially designed tank,
filled with ballast water, to create a stabilizing moment
opposing the wave moment that is causing the ship to
roll. The amount of stabilizing moment created depends
on several factors, such as size and location of the roll
damping tank, as well as hull form and loading condition
of the ship. Generally with a passive roll damping tank
an average roll reduction between 40% to 60% can
be achieved.
The U-Tank Stabilization System is individually sized
for each specific application. Number of tanks, proper
dimensions, shape, location, internal structure and volume
are varied to match each type of vessel and operating

Wave moment

90

Time

Wave moment

Roll angle

Roll angle

=90

stab

Time of wave period

Time of roll period

Phase difference
between and M

stab

Tank moment

Tank stabilization moment

stab

90 180 270 360 450 540

Phase relationship
condition. When correctly designed the liquid flow within
the tank will naturally lag behind the resonant roll motion
of the ship by 90. This means the tank will create a
stabilizing force directly opposing the forces created
by the passing wave.

Passive Tanks by Hoppe Marine

Direction of roll

Direction of static couple

Direction of dynamic moment

Dynamic force
caused by mass
of moving water
and acceleration

FLUME Stabilization System

U-Tank Stabilization System

Static couple due to

instantaneous position
of liquid in tank

Center of rotation
CL Ship

Tank located above center of rotation

Direction of roll

Direction of static couple

Center of rotation

Dynamic force
caused by mass
of moving water
and acceleration

Direction of
dynamic moment
Static couple due to
instantaneous position
of liquid in tank

CL Ship
Tank located below center of rotation

Forces acting within a U-Tank Stabilization System

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Hoppe Marine is well-known as a leading supplier of

passive roll damping systems to the marine industry and
offers two basic kinds of passive free surface type roll
damping tanks:

With over 2,000 installations worldwide which have

been proven to be effective for more than 60 years,
we are the most experienced company in the design
and supply of passive roll stabilization systems and
associated monitoring and control equipment.
The stabilizers are installed on various types of vessels
from 20 m up to 400 m length:

Offshore Support (PSV, AHTS, DSV)

Offshore Construction
RORO / ROPAX
Container
Research
Pipe Lay
Buoy Tender
Fishing
Naval

Best Maritime Technology

U-Tank Stabilization System

A U-Tank Stabilization System is a passive U-tube type
anti-roll tank combined with a monitoring and an active
control system. The stabilizer consists of two wing tanks
interconnected via a crossover duct either through or
above the double bottom and an closed air duct system
including remote operated valves.
The fluid flow within the stabilizer is used to create a
stabilizing moment reducing the roll motion of the vessel,
hence decreasing roll angles and accelerations.
The stabilizers dimensions and structural boundaries
determine its natural response period which has to be
close to the expected shortest roll period of the vessel.
A change of the response period is achieved by restricting
the airflow. The system automatically controls the remote
operated valves to adapt the water oscillation period to the
measured actual roll period of the vessel.

Monitoring & Control System

The monitoring and control system has been developed
to operate the U-Tank stabilizer safe and with high
efficiency in all operation conditions. The control unit
HOMIP contains the software package for processing
of data from the roll sensor unit, tank pressure sensors,
level switches and valve positions. The system monitors
permanently the ship and tank movement as well pressure
and level inside tank to act accordingly roll damping
performance and safety. The actual system status is
displayed in 6 HOMIP touch screen and on larger touch
screens in control cabinet and bridge operation panel.

Hoppe Marine provides customized engineering for

sophisticated roll damping solutions:
Experienced naval architects design practical solutions
suitable for the concerning type of vessels
Validation of stabilizer design through scaled tank model
at our facilities
Investigation of the vessels roll behaviour without and
with the stabilizer by using proprietary in-house sea
keeping analysis programs
Precise monitoring & control systems ensuring optimum
roll damping performance and operational safety

U-Tank Operation Panel

Operation Panel

Control Unit
HOMIP

Substation
with I/O-Modules

Valves

Level
Switch

Level
Sensors
Hobus

Ship Inertial
Measuring
HOSIM

Brands of Hoppe Marine

Best Maritime Technology

U-Tank Stabilization System

Combined Anti-Heeling & Roll Damping Systems
The U-Tank Stabilization System can be combined with a
Blower Anti-Heeling System using the same tanks. During
loading operations, the Blower System provides heel angle
compensation. While at sea or during offshore operations,
the U-Tank Stabilization System works as a controlled
passive roll reduction system to minimize the vessels roll.

Pressure sensors and level switch

Blower Anti-Heeling with U-Tank Stabilizer

Fluid Management

Valve Remote Control

Tank Content Measuring
Bunker Management
Ballast Management
Water Ingress Detection

Pneumatic controlled valves

Motion Control

Anti-Heeling
Blower Anti-Heeling
Flume Stabilization
U-Tank Stabilization
Dynamic Floating Monitoring
Dynamic Trim and
Conning Measuring
Draught Measuring
Stabilty Test

Ship Performance

Maihak Shaft Power Meter

Torque Power Meter
Maihak Performance Meter
Maihak Performance
Monitoring
Maihak Performance
Optimization

Hoppe Marine GmbH

Hoppe China Co., Ltd.

Hoppe Korea Co., Ltd.

Kieler Strae 318

22525 Hamburg
Germany

German Center, Room 708, Tower 1

88 Keyuan Road
201203 Shanghai Pudong
China

No 485-3, Gu Pyeong-Dong, Sa Ha-Gu

604-866 Busan
Republic of Korea

Tel. +49-40-5619 49-0

info@hoppe-marine.com
www.hoppe-marine.com

Tel. +86-21-50 27 80 40
service@hoppe-china.com
www.hoppe-china.com

Tel. +82-51-40 35 851

hoppe@korea.com
www.hoppe-korea.com

www.hoppe-marine.com

Brands of Hoppe Marine