Drag reduction of a deep submergence vehicle by electrolysis

Results of a previous model study of drag reduction by electrolysis conducted by the authors are applied to a prototype of a deep submergence hull form for which the model is tenth-scale. The prototype is assumed to operate in salt water where the electrical conductivity is two orders of magnitude greater than that of the fresh water of the model study. The results of the application show that the net power required to propel the 30-foot prototype operating at speeds up to 5 knots in salt water depths to 15,000 feet can be reduced by approximately 70% by using a 1 kw power supply in the drag reduction system.