A new research project aims to reduce the energy consumption
of container ships by 10-20 percent. This will result in considerable
environmental and economic benefits. The Danish National Advanced
Technology Foundation (Højteknologifonden) has just invested DKK 5
million in a project which is a collaboration between MAN Diesel &
Turbo, Maersk Line and DTU Mekanik (The Technical University of
Denmark’s Mechanical Technology Department).Increasing oil prices have resulted in the massive container ships
that carry cargo to the four corners of the world having to sail at a
slower speed in order to save fuel. However, the slower speed has
implications for the performance of the engine and wear and tear of
components, and result in neither engines nor propellers working
optimally. As a consequence, the existing fleet has to be fitted with
new technology that is energy-optimised for lower speeds and, at the
same time, has a lower level of emissions than is the case today.New ships can be designed with highly energy-efficient engine systems but there is no solution for the countless ships already sailing around the world. Therefore, MAN Diesel & Turbo, Maersk Line and DTU
Mekanik have pooled their efforts to develop new technology and design
new propellers that are adapted for existing container ships. It is the
equivalent of renovating an old house for the purpose of saving energy:
fitting a new boiler, replacing windows, re-insulation etc.The target group is the 500 ships that were built for a world with
lower energy prices and fewer environmental requirements. The project
has the potential to ensure economic gains running to an amount in the
double-digit million range per ship.The engine system of a container ship entails advanced interplay
between the hull, propeller and the engine itself. Therefore, you can’t
just replace the old engine with a new, more energy-efficient one. DTU
Mekanik has, along with MAN Diesel & Turbo – who design two-stroke
engines and propellers – developed a tool that is able to calculate the
interaction between the three components so that it is possible to
customise the optimal solution for each series of ships.”In order to re-design propellers and engines, it is crucial that you know the precise conditions relating to the individual ship.
Consequently, we have to modify the calculation tools we already have so that they are more capable of modelling the interaction between the
ship and its propellers and we can go to the limits in the design of the propellers for the existing ships,” says Poul Andersen from DTU Mekanik.If the project is a success, the ambition is to test a prototype at
sea in order to obtain further knowledge. Commercial and operational
considerations permitting, this may be done on one of Maersk Line’s
ships.”We are constantly challenging our ships in terms of operation
and are seeking ways of making the existing fleet more efficient and
environmentally friendly. This project is unique in its holistic
approach to propeller design and engine performance optimised for lower
speeds. With ambitions of saving 10-20% in energy, the project is, at
the same time, an excellent opportunity to strengthen our cooperation on innovation with one of our core suppliers,” says Niels H. Bruus, Head of Global Optimisation and Innovation at Maersk Line.“We expect to be able to cultivate an entirely new area of
business entailing comprehensive upgrading and streamlining and that
will benefit both the industry and the environment,” adds Niels Freese from MAN Diesel & Turbo.
WORLD SHIPPING
03 June 2013 - 20:11
Maersk Participates in Energy Saving Research Project
A new research project aims to reduce the energy consumption of container ships by 10-20 percent.
WORLD SHIPPING
03 June 2013 - 20:11
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