Energy efficiency is nowadays the key element of low-emission technologies applied on both the retrofit and newbuild ships. The focus of the project NorSingProp was primarily on the implications of using and practical design of the Pre-swirl and Post-swirl Propulsion Improving Energy Saving Devices (ESD), and High-Efficiency Wake Adapted Propellers for deep-sea vessels. The main objectives of the project were to provide the ship owners and operators of such vessels with decision support data regarding the power savings achievable with Propulsion Improving ESD, and to develop simulation driven design tools for ESD customization to a given retrofit case, targeting operation conditions in full-scale. To solve these problems, the methods of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were employed. The project produced the design of a Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS), Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) and a high-efficiency wake-adapted Kappel type propeller as retrofit ESD solutions for a 56000 (t) product/chemical tanker. The design verification was performed through dedicated model tests and full-scale self-propulsion analyses. The existing full-scale trials data were used as the reference for ESD performance evaluation.
Power reduction achieved with the designed Pre-Swirl Stator (PSS) ESD and a high-efficiency wake-adapted propeller in full scale and model scale conditions.
Power reduction achieved with the designed Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCF) ESD in full scale conditions.
Validation of CFD methodology against experimental data in full scale. Ship without ESD. Influence of turbulence model (n – propeller rate of revolution, TB – propeller thrust behind hull, PD – shaft delivered power, ETAD – propulsive efficiency).