A systematic design method for fully submerged hydrofoil wing systems with longitudinal flight control

The maritime industry is looking for ways to decarbonize rapidly through design strategies, and technologies, also developing solutions for eco-friendly boating. The hydrofoil technology is one of the most promising due to its high efficiency compared to traditional planing or displacing vessels. The research was focused on the development of a systematic design method for fully submerged hydrofoil wing system with a longitudinal flight control. Starting from a reference hull model, five alternative wing configurations were designed based on geometric, hydrodynamic, and dynamic criteria. A preliminary hydrodynamic model was developed to determine the dimensions and positions of the wing systems in five different configurations. The equations of the motion were numerically implemented, and a longitudinal double PID flight control for the wing systems was developed. The configurations were designed benefiting from a parametric CAD model and simulated through transient CFD analysis at different speeds. In terms of drag, the lowest values were found for R4 (62 N) and R3 (64 N) during cruise. R1 and R0.75 were the best configurations in terms of following the flight pattern. Furthermore, at the same speed and displacement condition, the drag estimated for R4 was more than halved, if compared to the original model (130 N).