Fuel and pollution reduction

摘要

UK company Shadotec is working closely with Wilhelmsen Marine Consultants and Petroleum Geo-Services AS (PGS) on a joint research project investigating the potential of Shadotec wingsail propulsion for commercial vessels, using energy from ocean winds. The consortium, backed by substantial funding from the Norwegian National Research Council, has commissioned CFD norway, to estimate the potential savings in fuel consumption (and pollution from exhaust gas emissions) achievable by employing Shadotec wingsail thrust units to assist in the propulsion of ocean-going vessels. Marintek Norway will contribute to evaluate manoeuvrability and seakeeping. The initial project aim has been to investigate the feasibility and potential of fitting two fully automatic computer-controlled Shadotec wingsail thrust units on a very high technology Ramform seismic exploration vessel owned by PGS, 102m long, fitted with 30,000bhp engine power needed to pull many kilometres of hydrophonic streamers.