Transducer installation using drop keel
If your vessel is fitted with a drop keel, this is a superior platform for the ES18 transducer.
Drop keels are often used on larger research vessels. A drop keel will frequently protrude as far as three meters below the hull. At that depth, the water is free of air bubbles up, even during very high sea states. The vessel is then able to do reliable acoustic measurements in open sea a larger part of the year.
At the bottom of the drop keel, the ES18 can be installed with the transducer face flushed with the horizontal plating. A protective tank may not be necessary, since the drop keel will normally offer adequate protection.
The drop keel is normally used for several echo sounder transducers. When the ES18 is mounted externally, you must always place it aft of the remaining flush mounted transducers. This is necessary to avoid turbulence.
The transducer cable must be properly fastened at the bottom of the drop keel, and supported during the lowering and lifting the drop keel.
Image
A Tubular flow
B Laminar flow
C Air bubbles in the water
D Drop keel (extended)
E Several transducers can be installed at the bottom of the drop keel
Using the mounting ring
This large circular is transducer is designed to be mounted using the integrated flange and a mounting ring.The mounting ring is welded to the hole prepared for the transducer. Bolts through the transducer flange into the mounting ring will secure the transducer in place.
Note
Make sure that the "Forward" direction on transducer points in the forward direction of the vessel.
A suitable mounting ring can be provided by Kongsberg Maritime. A drawing is available for local manufacturing. End user manuals and source drawings (normally in AutoCad format) can be downloaded from our website.
Smooth surface is important
Make sure that the surface of the transducer face, as well as the plating and putty around the transducer is as even and smooth as possible.Obstructions on these surfaces will create problems with turbulent flow, and may cause noise.
Mounting screws or bolts must not be extruding from the transducer or the plating immediately around it.
Note
Obstructions on these surfaces will create problems with turbulent flow, and may cause noise.