Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) for Shipping
When reducing the CO2 footprint of your ship, hydrodynamics plays an important role. Discover the Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) from our partner VICUSdt for the shipping industry, specifically designed to reduce hull resistance and improve propeller thrust. The selection includes a Pre-Duct, Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), Twisted Rudder, and Rudder Bulb, allowing you to propel your vessel more efficiently in a cost-effective way.
Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) for Shipping
Discover the Energy Saving Devices (ESDs) from our partner VICUSdt: Pre-Duct, Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), Twisted Rudder and Rudder Bulb.
Design Methodology
For the selection and detailed design of your Energy Saving Device (ESD), a design methodology based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is utilized. This method is developed from extensive, validated expertise with ship propellers and nozzles. As a result, it is possible to design and deliver the most optimal ESD that fits your current propeller or propeller-and-nozzle configuration. Additionally, it allows for the creation, design, and delivery of the most efficient propulsion configuration for new ship designs.
Finite Element Method (FEM) analyses are used to ensure that the ESD designs remain stable under both static and dynamic forces during normal operation.
Pre-Duct
The Pre-Duct, a carefully designed nozzle placed in front of the propeller, offers significant benefits for maritime propulsion systems. This innovative component is designed to improve the inflow to the propeller, resulting in optimized overall performance. Additionally, its simplicity and structural robustness provide important advantages. As an integral part of the ship’s hull, this Energy Saving Device (ESD) enhances strength, resulting in reduced vibrations. Particularly for full-bodied ships operating at low speeds, such as tankers and bulk carriers, the Pre-Duct proves its value in terms of energy efficiency. With this practical solution, you can achieve efficiency improvements of between 2% and 6%.
Pre-Duct
The Pre-Duct, a carefully designed nozzle placed in front of the propeller, offers significant benefits for maritime propulsion systems.
Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS)
Pre-Swirl Stators, equipped with carefully placed fins ahead of the propeller, are an advanced addition to ship propulsion systems. They create a controlled rotating flow counter to the propeller’s direction of rotation, which increases thrust per unit of power. This Energy Saving Device (ESD) focuses on reducing the kinetic rotational energy directly behind the propeller, thereby optimizing the overall efficiency of the system for more effective propulsion of the ship. With a Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), an energy efficiency improvement of between 4% and 8% can be achieved.
Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS)
Pre-Swirl Stators, equipped with carefully placed fins ahead of the propeller, are an advanced addition to ship propulsion systems. They create a controlled rotating flow counter to the propeller’s direction of rotation, which increases thrust per unit of power. This Energy Saving Device (ESD) focuses on reducing the kinetic rotational energy directly behind the propeller, thereby optimizing the overall efficiency of the system for more effective propulsion of the ship. With a Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), an energy efficiency improvement of between 4% and 8% can be achieved.
Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF)
A Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), a fin-like cap on the ship’s propeller, is an enhancement designed to increase overall efficiency. While a standard boss cap is typically present on ship propellers, integrating a PBCF offers notable benefits. This Energy Saving Device (ESD) is specifically designed to optimize the flow around the propeller boss (hub), reducing vibrations, blade tip vortex, and noise production. This leads to more efficient control of the flow generated during propeller rotation. With a PBCF, the expected efficiency improvements typically range between 0.5% and 2%.
PBCF
A Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), a fin-like cap on the ship’s propeller, is an enhancement designed to increase overall efficiency.
Twisted Rudder and Rudder Bulb
This combination results in an overall performance improvement ranging from 1.5 to 5%.
Twisted Rudder and Rudder Bulb
The Rudder Bulb is crucial for recovering rotational energy generated by the interaction of the ship’s propeller with the hub vortex, a swirling flow that leads to energy loss. The Rudder Bulb reduces this loss by weakening the hub vortex and optimizing the velocity distribution on the rudder, thereby recapturing some of the otherwise lost energy. In combination with a Twisted Rudder, which features a curvature on the leading edge of the rudder, further improvements are possible. This results in an overall performance improvement ranging between 1.5% and 5%.
In Practice
For instance, a ship management firm installed a Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS) on two existing coastal vessels.
Design Methodology
For the selection and detailed design of your Energy Saving Device (ESD), a design methodology based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is utilized.
Pre-Duct
The Pre-Duct, a carefully designed nozzle placed in front of the propeller, offers significant benefits for maritime propulsion systems.
Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS)
Pre-Swirl Stators, equipped with carefully placed fins ahead of the propeller, are an advanced addition to ship propulsion systems.
Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF)
A Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), a fin-like cap on the ship’s propeller, is an enhancement designed to increase overall efficiency.
Twisted Rudder and Rudder Bulb
The combination of a Rudder Bulb and a Twisted Rudder on a ship offers possibilities for improving efficiency.
In Practice
For instance, a ship management firm installed a Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS) on two existing coastal vessels.
Frequently Asked Questions
For which types of vessels are these Energy Saving Devices developed?
These Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), such as the Pre-Duct, Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), Propeller Boss Cap Fin (PBCF), Twisted Rudder, and Rudder Bulb, are primarily designed for ocean-going and coastal vessels. These innovative additions are intended to comply with maritime environmental regulations for more energy-efficient navigation. This includes compliance with environmental requirements such as the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
How can I, besides using Energy Saving Devices, further contribute to reducing my ship's CO2 footprint?
In addition to implementing Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), there are other technologies you can consider, such as wind-assisted propulsion. A wind-assisted propulsion system has the potential to significantly reduce your ship’s CO2 footprint. The suitability of this technique for your specific situation depends on various factors, including the type of ship, the sailing profile – including the sailing area – and other unique characteristics.