RETROFITTING OF FLETTNER ROTORS – RESULTS FROM SEA TRIALS OF THE GENERAL CARGO SHIP 'FEHN POLLUX'

摘要

In 2018, a German- Dutch project consortium under the scientific direction of the Emden/Leer University of AppliedSciences retrofitted and commissioned the latest rotor development of the Eco-Flettner type on the test ship Fehn Polluxof the Leer-based shipping company Fehn Ship Management. Main design features are both upper and lower endplateswith large diameter for improved aerodynamic performance and modular manufacturing. The retrofitting concept isgroundbreaking in terms of easy transferability to other ships. Upscaling to a significant share of the world merchantfleet could make a substantial and realizable contribution to climate protection in the short term and potentially reducedtransport costs in the long term. The most frequently asked question in connection with modern sail drives is about theperformance potential and the associated fuel savings. Transparent performance data is required to enable an economicprognosis for the use of Flettner rotors on ships. The Faculty of Maritime Sciences at Emden/ Leer University ofApplied Sciences has developed an automatic control and monitoring system for Flettner rotors that also recordsextensive operating and environmental data. The data shows that all previous assumptions and model calculations arebasically correct. With regard to the performance potential, the first series of measurements show even higher rotorforces compared with model calculations. This is a further benefit for Flettner rotor efficiency and could help thetechnology achieve a breakthrough as a building block for low-emission shipping.