Anemoi Marine Technologies, a leader in wind-assisted propulsion (WAPS) technology, has unveiled a new, more efficient, and accurate method for verifying the in-service performance of these systems. This development, validated by Lloyd’s Register Advisory (LR Advisory), aims to standardize the assessment of WAPS and accelerate decarbonization efforts in shipping.
Innovative Performance Verification Process
Anemoi’s newly developed process for in-service performance verification is designed to reduce costs and complexity for ship operators while significantly improving accuracy compared to existing practices. The core of this methodology involves:
- On-Off Testing: Measuring vessel data when the wind-assisted propulsion system is engaged and disengaged during regular commercial operations. This allows for real-time comparison under various encountered conditions.
- Data Calibration: The collected data is then used to calibrate predictions regarding the forces generated by the wind propulsion system (such as rotor sails) and their overall impact on the vessel’s performance.
- High-Confidence Fuel Savings Prediction: This calibrated model can then reliably predict voyage fuel savings with a high degree of confidence.
Luke McEwen, Technical Director at Anemoi, emphasized that the goal of this methodology is to bring greater transparency and consistency to the evaluation of WAPS. By detailing their performance assessment, Anemoi hopes to contribute to a unified standard that enables clear and comparable results across all WAPS technologies, which is crucial for informed decision-making and accelerating decarbonization in the shipping industry.
Overcoming Traditional Challenges
The methodology, detailed in the new report Performance Verification Of Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion Systems By On-Off Testing, is not limited to Anemoi’s own Rotor Sails; it is applicable to all types of wind-assisted propulsion solutions.
A key benefit of this approach is its ability to overcome the challenges associated with applying traditional methodologies, such as ISO 19030, to WAPS assessment. ISO 19030 typically outlines standards for measuring changes in hull and propeller performance, but its application to dynamic wind-assisted systems can be complex. Anemoi’s method also eliminates the need for costly operational changes, such as taking vessels off-hire for dedicated sea trials, which are often required by other standards. LR Advisory has confirmed that these advantages are achieved while simultaneously enhancing the accuracy of overall fuel saving predictions.
Dr. Santiago Suarez de la Fuente, Ship Performance Manager at LR Advisory, noted the current scarcity of robust and transparent standards for wind-assisted propulsion verification. He highlighted that Anemoi’s methodology addresses this gap, allowing for performance predictions to be applied across the entire range of conditions a vessel and its system might encounter, without requiring individual tests for every single condition.
Long-Term Benefits and Proven Results
The model developed using Anemoi’s process can be utilized throughout the entire lifespan of a vessel to generate accurate fuel savings values, either in real-time or on a voyage-by-voyage basis. It also facilitates the creation of advanced predictive tools that can estimate the power and fuel savings of WAPS-equipped vessels across a wide spectrum of operational conditions.
As a testament to the methodology’s effectiveness, LR Advisory and Anemoi recently released the results for the TR Lady, a Kamsarmax bulk carrier fitted with three of Anemoi’s 5m diameter, 24m tall Rotor Sails. Following a year-long, multi-voyage testing period, this robust approach demonstrated average net propulsion fuel savings of 9.1% and a reduction of 7 tonnes of CO2e per sailing day.
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Source: Lloyd’s Register
