SPEED LOGS

Speed measurement
 Introduction:-
Ship speed measurement is very important to the
navigator
The speed of any object must be measured relative to
.some other point

At sea, speed may be measured

relative to the seabed (ground reference speed)
or to the water flowing past hull
)water reference speed(
 Speed measurement
 Introduction:-

According the principle of operation we have three

:types of speed measurement devices (Speed LOGS)

.The Pressure Tube (Hydrodynamic) speed Logs-1

.Electromagnetic speed LOG -2
.Doppler speed LOG -3
Speed Logs
The pressure tube log and the Electromagnetic log, is
often used on smaller vessels.

It's recommended to use the Doppler speed log with the

large ship.
Because it gives high accuracy with low speed and
athwart ship speed.

The popular Doppler speed log is to be found

everywhere.
Speed Logs

PRESSURE TUBE (PITOT'S TUBE) CONCEPT

If the tube is held stationary the pressure remains constant

.and is termed ' static ' pressure

If the tube is now moved through the water, whilst keeping

the depth to which it is submerged constant, a second
.pressure called ' dynamic ' pressure is developed

The total pressure in the tube, called a pilot tube, is therefore

.the sum of both the static and dynamic pressures
PRESSURE TUBE (HYDRODYNAMIC) SPEED LOG
 Speed Logs
PRESSURE TUBE (HYDRODYNAMIC) SPEED LOG
 Pitot's law states that
This pressure (p) is proportional to the square of the ship's speed (v)
.multiplied by the coefficient(k)

P = K x V²

 Where, the constant “K” is derived from:

 the vessels tonnage,

 shape of hull,
 speed of the ship,
 and the length of the protruding part of the pitot's tube
(distance d).
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)

Faraday / Maxwell’s Induction Low

The E.M.L based on Faraday / Maxwell's induction law

The operation principle that any conductor moved across a magnetic

.field will produced a small electromotive force (e.m.f) in it

The e.m.f will also be induced if the conductor remains stationary

.and the magnetic field is moved with respect to it
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
The amplitude of the e.m.f. proportion to the rate of
cutting the magnetic field (speed of conductor)

e.m.f = BLV
Where B: magnetic field (constant)
L: the length of the conductor
(constant)
V: speed of cutting the magnetic
filed by the conductor. (Measured by log)
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
 Theory of operation of the E.M.L
The E.M.L measures the speed of the vessel by putting a coil inside
rod meter (sensor) and put two small electrodes set into the outer
.casing of the sensor as in Fig

By supplying an ac (alternating current) to the coil, the current flows

through the coil and magnetic field is produced around the
.sensor

If the vessel moved, the sea water (the conductor) will cut the
.magnetic field then a small e.m.f will be induced in it
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
Theory of operation of the E.M.L
 The amplitude of the e.m.f (signal) proportional to
the rate of cutting the sea water to the magnetic
field this rate is proportional to the speed of vessel,

 If the speed of the vessel increase the induce e.m.f

increased and vice versa as in Fig. (6.3)
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
Theory of operation of the E.M.L
The induced e.m.f will be detected by the two
electrodes and supplied to the electronic unit which
amplify this signal and converts it to a reading
value represent the speed of the vessel and display it
.on indicators

The E.M.L measures both forward and astern

. % speed with high accuracy equal ± 1.0
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)

The Components of the E.M.L Device

 Rod meter (Sensor)
The sensing unit which protrudes from the ship hull and provides an
.a.c signal that is proportional to the ship's speed
There are two type of E.M.L one type uses a removable rodmeter
(with sea valve) and the other type uses a fixed rod meter (with
.flash mounting)

 Sea Valve (Gate Valve)

Mounted in the hull of the ship, the sea valve assembly provides a
.watertight support for the rod meter
.It also used to seal the hull of the ship when the rodmeter is removed
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
The Components of the E.M.L Device
ELECTROMAGNETIC SPEED LOG(E.M.L)
The Components of the E.M.L Device
 Electronic Unit
Receive a signal from the rod meters and converts it to speed
,reading and transmit it to the speed indicators
It is also calculate the distance travel by the vessel and transmit it to
a distance indicator units, and also provides
additional output lines for using by other ship board systems
.(ECDIS, Radar, AIS, VDR, ….)

 Speed/Distance Indicators
The speed / distance indicators gives a visual of ship's speed on
.knots
It is also indicate the total distance travelled by the vessel (Nautical
Miles).
 DOPPLER SPEED LOG
. Introduction

The Doppler speed Log is an electronic navigation device use the

Doppler phenomenon to measure the speed of the ship and also the
traveling distance, so it called speed/ distance log.
 Doppler Shift
The definition of the Doppler Effect is:
The difference between the frequency of the
transmitting waves and the frequency of receiving
the same waves, due to the moving of the source of
.wave or the receivers or moving both of them

)This difference called Doppler shift (

fd=fr–ft
 If, as in Doppler log, both the transmitter (sound source) and the
observer (receiver) are moving towards reflecting plane, the received
frequency is:

Doppler formula

Fd = 2V f t
C
 Where:
f d = Doppler shift, v = relative speed in the direction of the transmitted
wave, f t = transmitted frequency, and c = velocity of waves.
Doppler Speed Logs
Principles of Speed Measurement using the Doppler Effect
(Theory of Operation of Doppler Speed Log)
 The phenomenon of Doppler frequency shift is often used to
measure the speed of moving object.

 A modern speed log uses this principle to measure the vessel's

speed, with respect to seabed, or the mass of water, with an
accuracy approaching 0.1%

 If a sound beam is transmitted ahead of a vessel, the reflected

energy wave will have suffered a frequency shift, the amount of
which depends upon:
- The transmitted frequency
- The velocity of wave
- The velocity of the transmitter (the ship)
)Theory of Operation of Doppler Speed Log(

The frequency shift, in hertz, of the returned wave is:

f d=fr–ft
Where f t = the transmitted wave frequency, and
f r = the received wave frequency.
The Doppler shift formula, is given as:
Fd = 2V f t
C
Where f d = Doppler shift, v = the velocity of the ship,
f t = transmitted frequency, and c = the velocity of
the sound wave (1500 m/s in seawater)
)Theory of Operation of Doppler Speed Log(
Practically there can no object directly ahead of a
vessel from which sound wave may be reflected.
The wave is therefore transmitted towards the
seabed, not vertically as with echo sounder, but
ahead at an angle of 60 degree to the horizontal
as in Fig. (4.6)
 (Theory of Operation of Doppler Speed Log)
 This angle has been founded to be the optimum angle
of incidence with the seabed, which will reflect a
signal of sufficient energy to be received by the
transducers.

 The transmitting angle (Ө) must be applied to the basic

Doppler formula:

The device calculates the Doppler shift (f d) it could measure the speed of the ship (v):
 Janus configuration
•To cancel the pitching effect,
two acoustic beams are transmitted; one ahead and one astern.
this type of transmission is called a ‘Janus Configuration’.
The Doppler frequency shift formula now became

In heavy weather one angle increases as the other decreases effectively

cancelling the effects of pitching on the speed indication.
 Janus configuration
•To cancel the rolling effect
two acoustic beams are transmitted; one Starboard and one Port,
at right angles (90⁰) to the first one, cancelling the effects of
rolling on the speed indication (dual axis speed)
V = fd C
Fd = 2V f t
2ft
C
The advantages of " Janus' configuration

 Measure the longitudinal speed (a head and astern).

 Measure the thwart ship speed (port & star board).

 Cancelling the effect of the pitching and rolling error.

Choice of frequency / transducer

Frequency used in speed logging systems varies widely and

are usually in the range 100 KHz to 1 MHz
The Using (applications) of the
:Doppler Speed Log
 It's recommended to use the Doppler speed log with the large
ship. Because it gives high accuracy with low speed and athwart
ship speed.

 It's used while the entrance to the dry dock.

 The output from it interfaced with the modern navigation

equipment (ECDIS – Radar/ ARPA – AIS - ……..)

 It is used during ship arrival at specific ports which has

ascertained condition such as approaching by slow speed.

 It is used by the large ships during berthing and light buoy

berths.