Wind assisted propulsion in motion: BAR Technologies WindWings system put in on a bulk service. [Image courtesy BAR Technologies]
Classification society DNV sees what most of us would name sails — it phrases them Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) — as probably the most promising measures to help the decarbonization of transport at present.
“Wind is an inexhaustible, free, zero carbon energy source, and a combination of advanced aerodynamics, automation, computer modeling, and new materials are unlocking a new generation of innovative wind systems,” says DNV.
The society has launched a significant replace to its Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) technical normal (ST-0511). It introduces new strategies for evaluating WAPS fatigue energy and the efficiency of the programs in excessive circumstances.
While expertise in utilizing the programs continues to be growing, WAPS have already been applied on industrial vessels and may allow gas financial savings of as much as 20%. The new updates to the DNV technical normal will assist the rising curiosity in WAP programs because the trade appears to be like to boost sustainability and cut back gas consumption in a tightening regulatory and financial local weather.
“As we continue to build experience on WAP systems, and as new systems come onto the market, the case for owners who are looking at these systems as part of their efficiency and sustainability strategies grows stronger,” mentioned Hasso Hoffmeister, senior principal engineer at DNV Maritime. “Our clients are extraordinarily targeted on sustaining compliance with the incoming GHG discount targets and are seeing that WAPS could make a useful contribution on this respect.
The interplay of WAPS with the construction of a vessel’s hull will be fairly advanced, so the replace encompasses a complete new part on fatigue energy, together with calculations that provide a very new method to deriving the load combos from the wind and inertia forces on WAP programs. In addition, the usual units out a brand new method to assessing how WAPS carry out underneath excessive wind circumstances. Finally, the documentation necessities have been adjusted to streamline the method.
“We have recently seen the announcement of several lighthouse projects, which are taking WAPS further and will further showcase the potential of the wind as both primary and additional propulsion for a modern cargo vessel. This is why it is vital for us at DNV to use our technical expertise to continue innovating and enhancing our rules and technical standards and ensure that our customers can reap the benefits of these exciting new developments with confidence,” mentioned Hoffmeister.
The WAPS ST-0511 normal gives a framework for the verification and certification of wind help propulsion programs. It will be utilized in acquiring a DNV approval in precept, a design approval or a kind approval. These verifications and certifications will also be obtained as a part of the mixing right into a vessel or independently.
The ST-0511 technical normal is a complement to the DNV WAPS class notation, which is concentrated on the mixing of programs onboard vessels, whether or not retrofitted or as a part of a newbuilding.
