Mechanism of the Shock Wave Generation and Energy Efficiency by Underwater Discharge

We are developing the rice powder manufacturing system using an underwater shock wave. The purpose of this study is to research a mechanism of the shock wave generation and energy efficiency by underwater discharge in order to increase energy of the underwater shock wave. We observed the shock wave generation using the visualization device with a high speed camera, and measured voltage current characteristics at the same time. As a result, it was clarified that countless underwater shock waves were generated at the time of water plasma expansion by discharge. But, the shock wave was not confirmed at the time of after a second peak of the damping oscillation. It was clarified that one part of charging energy was used to generation of the shock wave. Therefore, it was clarified that to release energy by the critical oscillation is desirable for efficient generation of the shock wave

Repellence Effect of the New Sound for Underwater Speaker of Hydrofoil

In order to prevent hydrofoil colliding with cetaceans, the underwater speaker (UWS) has been installed to repel cetaceans. Yamada et al. (2012) analyzed and devised the UWS sound as it fits the cetaceans' acoustic properties to prevent the collision furthermore. The new UWS sound was devised and synthesized by Yamada et al. (2015) with expectation of avoiding collision with large cetaceans (Patent applied for, JP2014-171411). In this research project, the new UWS sound was investigated by the playback experiment on humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and by sighting survey in the actual hydrofoil shipping service route. As a result, a physiological and behavioral change of the humpback whale was observed in the playback experiment of the new UWS sound, and the chance of hydrofoil encountering cetaceans of the new UWS sound was smaller than that of the previous UWS sound. Therefore, the improvement of the new UWS sound was confirmed. Lastly, we wish this research project would contribute toward the safer cruise of hydrofoil in the future