The paper analyses some advantages of the hybrid ship propulsion, enhanced by the use of some energy recovery technologies. The concept design of a power plant for a Ro-Ro ferry is presented as a case study, since this particular ship can best take advantage of the operational flexibility of this propulsion type. As an element of innovation, the hybrid propulsion flexibility is analysed taking into account the installation onboard of dual fuel engines. This leads to examine the influence of natural gas, being rather different from traditional diesel oil in performance and price, on the propulsion system efficiency and fuel cost saving. Moreover, technical solutions as the waste heat recovery from the exhaust gas of the engine, equipped with innovative hybrid turbochargers, are also considered to produce additional electric energy, improving the overall efficiency of the vessel.
The harvesting of wind energy and its transformation into a thrust force for ship propulsion are gaining in popularity due to the expected benefit in fuel consumption and emission reductions. To exploit these benefits, a proper matching between the conventional diesel engine-screw propeller propulsion plant and the wind-assisted plant is key. This paper aims to present a method and a code for the preliminary sizing of a ship propulsion plant based on a diesel engine, a controllable pitch propeller, and one or more Flettner rotors. A mathematical model describing the behaviour of the rotor in terms of propulsive thrust and power is proposed. The rotor model has been integrated into an existing diesel propulsion model in order to evaluate the ship’s fuel consumption. The ship’s propulsion model is written in a parametric form with respect to the following design parameters: ship dimensions and resistance-speed curve, propeller diameter, engine power, rotor geometry, and true wind conditions. The methodology helps in evaluating the engine–propeller working points and eventually the total ship propulsive power, including the power required to spin the rotor. It provides a way to compare wind-assisted propulsive solutions in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. A 3000-ton Ro-Ro/Pax ferry has been selected as a case study. Results on the parametric analysis of rotor dimensions and propeller pitch optimization are presented.
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