White Paper: Reliable Wind Sensing in WASP applications
Finocean has contributed considerably to the development of a White Paper issued together with INSENSYS UK for highlighting and explaining the importance of utilizing reliable wind sensing systems on board when WASP (Wind-assisted propulsion / wind propulsion) systems are installed.
The delivery of thrust from WASP / wind-assisted / wind propulsion technologies currently relies on the shipyard installed bridge anemometers which cannot capture accurately the actively and dynamically incoming non-homogenous and unstable wind conditions under which the WASP Sails are called to develop their optimally designed configuration.
The incoming wind properties (direction, intensity and flow vectors) onto each WASP mechanical sail are primarily affected by:
- Interaction effects between adjacent and surrounding WASP units,
- Interaction effects between each mechanical sail and the deck structure/superstructures (i.e. deck housings, hatch coamings, mechanical sail foundations, etc),
- Interaction effects to the WASP mechanical sail due to the ship’s freeboard (distance of main deck level from waterline level),
- The impact the incoming wind gradient (speed and direction varying from the sea level up to the maximum installation height of each mechanical sail),
- Flow vortices around the ship deck, superstructures and mechanical sails tip vortices,
- Turbulence and dynamic forces due to Gust winds,
- Water spray (green seas) causing flow disruptions and air density variations.
Mechanical sails fitted into WASP / wind-assisted / wind propulsion will always work in a continuously changing Apparent Wind incoming field, which cannot be captured effectively by conventional anemometers, not even a LIDAR, which can provide much more accurate figures compared to anemometers, as neither can measure the in-real time exact vertical distribution of incoming wind conditions to the WASP mechanical sail across its full height.
The use of fibre optic sensor technology fitted on each such installed WASP / wind-assisted &/ wind propulsion Sail mast can boost wind propulsion performance and savings with a low capex add-on, while such sensors can further become a beneficial source of data for load and stress monitoring, hence optimizing operability and prolonging the WASP system lifetime.
Fibre optic sensors have already been installed in wind-propelled ships and have proven their benefits for more than 15 years of operations, thus they are suggested as a ‘must-have’ feature on all WASP applications.
Link to download the White Paper:
