Effect of Container Stack Arrangements on the Power Optimization of a Container Ship

摘要

When considering the design of a ship, an important objective is to always try and develop one that allows for maximum cargo capacity with the lowest propulsion power requirement while providing a sufficient amount of strength and stability for its safe operation. The ship with the lowest propulsion power consumes the least amount of fuel and produces the lowest amount of exhaust gas that may be harmful to the environment. In some cases, the aerodynamic resistance can be neglected, but for a high speed vessel such as a modern containership, the air resistance can be in the range of 2% to 10% of the total resistance. Aerodynamic resistance can therefore have a significant effect on power requirements and is strongly influenced by the height, breadth, and the number of container stacks on the deck. The freeboard, beam of the ship, deck house design, ship speed, wind speed, and water flow direc tion will also contribute significantly to a ship's resistance and required propulsive power. This paper outlines the application of computational fluid dynamic simulation as a design tool to find a strategy for the optimal arrangement of the container stacks on deck so that the vessel uses the lowest effective propulsion power to achieve a fuel efficient ship. It is deduced that an optimal stack arrangement can reduce air resistance by about 30%.