ESD – Energy Saving Devices

The term “Energy Saving Device” (ESD) encompasses the measures and methods for saving energy in ship operation compared to “conventional” ships. ESDs include, among other things, the asymmetric after-body (“stern bulb” form), propeller, nozzles, guide fins, and the rudder, alone and in combination.
The development of ESDs has been worked on already since the 70s. The focus was on the influence of after-body forms and bulges, propulsion and vibration excitation, design and testing of contra-rotating and overlapping propellers, and developing inflow-improving nozzles [1], [2], [3].
Asymmetric after-bodies and guide fins were used in the context of propulsion optimisation of ships for generating a pre-swirl in the propeller inflow to reduce the rotational losses of the propeller. The research and development in this area led to the SVA guide fin systems. Model tests with different types of ships and full-scale measurements show a potential of 2 to 5 % power savings through the use of SVA guide fin systems [4], [5], [6]. Various R & D projects have been processed in order to improve the design of propellers and ESDs. Potential flow methods are used for the design and optimisation of propellers. Viscous calculation methods and experiments are used to verify the design, the prognosis of scale effects and applied to the design and optimisation of propulsion systems such as ducted propellers, thrusters and ESDs. To check the design of the propeller, speed measurements are performed on propeller boss cap fins and rudder. The SVA-developed HVV outlet cover (Hub Vortex Vane), leads to a reduction of the hub vortex and reduces the energy loss of the propeller in the hub area.Systematic CFD calculations are performed for analysis of the effectiveness of Costa Bulb on rudder and to derive design cues [7]. These works were continued in R & D project BossCEff – “Increasing the Effective Degree of Propulsion and Controlling Boss Vortex Cavitation Through Improved Consideration of the Interaction Between Propeller Wash and Boss Cover” [8], [9]. In cooperation with the project partners Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, The Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Ship Theory (FDS), and the Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH (MMG), special propeller flow caps were developed and studied for use in rudders with Costa Bulbs and propeller boss covers with fins.

The Mecklenburg Metallguss GmbH developed in the collaborative projects BossCEff a new energy-saving propeller cap, MMG ESCAP®.

The propeller caps improve propulsion characteristics of the vessel on existing propellers and on propeller redesign projects. The ESCAP®, among others, has also been successfully applied in newly designed propellers.

The following maximum power savings were achieved for ships with ESDs by investigations of SVA [11], [12]: