Configuration for reducing the propulsion force requirement of a ship

Abstract

In order to provide a configuration (20) having at least one rudder (21) and at least one accommodation space (22) for a propeller (30), which is formed in front of the rudder (21) in the direction of travel (F) of the ship (100) and allows a reduction in the propulsion requirements of a ship (100) having this configuration (20), it is proposed that at least one pre-stage nozzle (23) having at least one guide surface (24) and at least one side fin (25) is arranged on the rudder (21) in the direction of travel (F) forward of the accommodation space (22) of the propeller (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ship comprising at least one rudder and at least one accommodation space formed in the forward direction of the ship in the direction of travel of the ship for a propeller, in particular to a configuration for reducing the propulsion force requirement of the ship. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a ship having such a configuration.

Background Art

[0002] Various devices for reducing the propulsion force requirement of a ship are already known. For example, a ring nozzle located upstream of the propeller in the direction of travel of the ship can have a positive effect on the energy consumption of the ship by optimizing the inflow to the propeller. Also, according to Patent Document 1, a ring nozzle located upstream of a propeller having an internal guide surface is known, which also contributes to reducing the energy consumption of the ship.

[0003] Furthermore, active devices for reducing frictional losses between water and the hull are known. This device can generate bubbles through nozzles distributed along the hull to reduce the friction of the hull, enabling further energy savings.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved configuration for reducing the propulsion force requirement of a ship or for reducing the consumption of a ship.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, this object is achieved by a ship, in particular by a configuration for reducing the propulsion force requirement of the ship. This configuration is preferably designed as an energy-saving configuration and can be arranged at the stern of the hull.

[0007] This configuration includes at least one rudder and at least one accommodation space for a propeller located in front of the rudder when viewed from the direction of travel of the ship. Also, at least one front nozzle having at least one guide surface is arranged in front of the accommodation space of the propeller when viewed from the direction of travel of the ship, and at least one side fin is arranged on the rudder. By this measure, a plurality of energy-saving devices are combined with each other, which surprisingly leads to further improved propulsion force and thereby fuel savings.

[0008] Depending on the number of propellers provided at the stern, a plurality of front nozzles having guide surfaces and a plurality of rudders having side fins can be used. Preferably, one rudder and one front nozzle are assigned to each propeller.

[0009] This configuration can be used, in particular, for medium and large ships, such as container ships, general cargo ships, bulk carriers, ferries or tankers, in order to achieve fuel savings and thereby reduce the operating costs of the ship. In particular, the ship can have a maximum speed of at least 15 knots, preferably at least 20 knots, particularly preferably at least 24 knots.

[0010] At least one rudder of this configuration may be designed as a so-called full-spade rudder that is pivotally mounted to the hull only in the upper region. At least one rudder can be attached to the hull by a rudder stock. Furthermore, the rudder may optionally include a rudder valve.

[0011] Also preferably, a ladder, particularly a full-span ladder, can be configured as a so-called "twisted rudder". In this case, a portion of the upper ladder blade can have a different angle of attack with respect to a portion of the lower ladder blade in the region of the leading edge and / or the trailing edge of the ladder with respect to the propeller flow or the propeller flow direction. The angle of attack of the portions of the upper and lower ladder blades may be constant, or may be continuously or discontinuously different when viewed over the height of the portions of the respective ladder blades.

[0012] In the traveling direction of the ship in front of the ladder, an accommodation space for accommodating at least one propeller is provided. The front nozzle is located immediately in front of the accommodation space for the propeller in the traveling direction. Thus, the ladder and the front nozzle are spaced apart from each other such that there is sufficient space between them to provide the propeller (accommodation space). The propeller can preferably be a component of this configuration. The front nozzle having at least one guide surface can optimize the inflow to the propeller. In particular, this can generate an acceleration of the propeller inflow and / or vortices, particularly the vortices that counter-rotate with respect to the propeller vortices, in a specific region of the propeller inflow, which has a favorable effect on the thrust generated by the propeller.

[0013] The ladder is arranged in the wake of the propeller (the jet airflow trace of the propeller). The ladder converts a part of the energy in the wake into buoyancy, and its propulsive component assists in the propulsion of the ship. Due to the above-mentioned optimized propeller flow, the propeller increases the thrust, and as a result, generates a wake with greater energy. However, in some regions of the wake thus generated, surprisingly, an increase in turbulent flow occurs. By providing at least one side fin on the ladder, particularly in the region of the wake where the increase in turbulent flow occurs, the wake of the propeller can be further optimized. The side fin generates a counter-rotating vortex in the wake, thereby improving the thrust of the propeller. In addition, the side fin generates additional lift and thereby additional propulsive force. As a result, the thrust of the already optimized flowing propeller can be further improved, the fuel consumption can be further reduced, or the propulsive force can be further improved.

[0014] The accommodation space of the propeller is located in the traveling direction or flow direction between the front nozzle and the ladder having at least one side fin. The side fin is preferably attached laterally to the ladder. In particular, on the condition that the ladder is provided with a ladder valve, the side fin can be attached to or attached at the ladder valve of the ladder.

[0015] The front nozzle, the side fin of the front nozzle and / or the guide surface are preferably profiled, that is, provided with an airfoil profile, so as to act on the water flow.

[0016] In the case of a propeller disposed in an accommodation space, it can flow particularly optimally when the front nozzle is formed as a ring nozzle or at least as a part of the ring nozzle. The front nozzle at least partially circumferentially restricts the flow path. The ring nozzle is circumferentially closed, but a part of the ring nozzle is circumferentially open. The ring nozzle and the part of the ring nozzle may be rotationally symmetric or rotationally asymmetric. Thereby, the flow velocity of the flow in the flow path or behind the flow path increases. By adding at least one guide surface present in the front nozzle, additional twists, in particular, reverse-rotating vortices are generated at the propeller inflow. These measures can increase the efficiency of the propeller.

[0017] The front nozzle formed as a part of the ring nozzle may have a size corresponding to, for example, a circumferential range of the front nozzle designed as a full ring nozzle of 180 degrees, 90 degrees, or 45 degrees or more or less. The part of the ring nozzle can cover or tighten any angular range. Through the front nozzle formed as a part of the ring nozzle, the flow can be affected in a locally concentrated manner with a defined target.

[0018] According to a further exemplary embodiment, at least one guide surface of the front nozzle is designed in the form of fins and is disposed in the ring nozzle or at least in a part of the ring nozzle. In this case, the fins can preferably be arranged substantially perpendicular to the shell surface of the ring nozzle or the part of the ring nozzle, in particular. Depending on the embodiment, at least one guide surface can be arranged with respect to the traveling direction of the ship regardless of the presence or absence of an angle of attack.

[0019] At least one guide surface can be arranged inside and / or outside the flow path formed by the front nozzle. In particular, when the front nozzle has a plurality of guide surfaces, the guide surfaces may be provided inside and outside the flow path. Also, the guide surface can be arranged through the nozzle shell continuously, and thereby inside and outside the flow path. The guide surface can be arranged substantially in the radial direction with respect to the rotation axis of the front nozzle. The rotation axis of the front nozzle can coincide with the propeller shaft. However, preferably, the rotation axis may be shifted upward with respect to the propeller shaft, that is, arranged above the propeller shaft. The rotation axis of the front nozzle may be parallel to or inclined with respect to the propeller shaft.

[0020] When at least one fin protrudes from the outer shell surface of the ring nozzle or a part of the ring nozzle, it can act on the flow outside the flow path. By this measure, the flow outside the flow path that is not accelerated by the ring nozzle or a part of the ring nozzle can be induced into a vortex or a reverse swirling vortex. A smaller nozzle diameter can also be used, whereby the overall drag of the front nozzle is reduced.

[0021] In a more preferred embodiment of the front nozzle having a plurality of guide surfaces, these can be arranged asymmetrically distributed inside and / or outside the front nozzle.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, at least one guide surface is designed as a support strut of the front nozzle. As a result, in addition to the influence on the flow, at least one guide surface can perform the operation of attaching the front nozzle to the hull. The guide surface formed in such a way is preferably arranged in the flow path of the front nozzle, and in particular in the region of the stern tube, is attached to the hull by one end and the other end of the ring nozzle or a part of the ring nozzle.

[0023] Further optimization of the flow in the flow path can be achieved by having at least one guide surface disposed completely or partially in the flow path of the front nozzle. This measure can affect the water flow in the flow path in such a way that the propeller is flowed through the area near the axis of rotation with less turbulent flow.

[0024] According to a further exemplary embodiment, at least one guide surface extends radially from the axis of rotation of the front nozzle beyond the ring nozzle or a part of the ring nozzle. By this measure, a substantially symmetric front nozzle with a guide surface can be realized. At the same time, the guide surface acts as a fastening element of the front nozzle and enables a favorable influence on the overall flow of the propeller in the accommodation space. In particular, the guide surface is disposed both inside and outside the flow path of the front nozzle. More preferably, the length of the guide surface in this embodiment is greater than the length of at least one side fin.

[0025] Further control of the inflow of the propeller can be achieved by a front nozzle having a plurality of guide surfaces distributed uniformly or non-uniformly. In particular, a predetermined local area of the flow directed towards the propeller can be specifically affected and can be induced especially by reverse-rotating vortices.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the front nozzle having at least one guide surface and at least one side fin are arranged asymmetrically opposite the ladder in the following manner. In this manner, in the case of the non-deflected ladder position, at least one side fin is arranged on one side of the ladder and the front nozzle having at least one guide surface is arranged at least partially, preferably predominantly, particularly preferably completely on the other side of the ladder. Preferably, the front nozzle having at least one guide surface extends across the first outer surface of the ladder and at least one side fin extends on the second outer surface of the ladder. The non-deflected ladder position is the zero position where the angle of the ladder is zero (for example, when the ship is moving straight ahead). In particular, when viewed from the rear of this configuration or the ship, the asymmetric configuration results in the side fin being arranged on one side of the ladder and the front nozzle having at least one guide surface being arranged at least partially, preferably predominantly, particularly preferably completely on the other side of the ladder. Preferably, in this embodiment of the configuration, there is only one front nozzle and one or more side fins, and the one or more side fins are preferably all arranged on the same side of the ladder. In particular, no side fins are provided on the side of the ladder where the front nozzle is predominantly or completely arranged. In particular, most of the guide surface of the front nozzle, preferably the entire guide surface, is arranged on the side opposite the side fins of the ladder, i.e., on the other side of the ladder.

[0027] Furthermore, in a configuration having two or more ladders, in particular, the front nozzle is arranged at least partially, preferably predominantly, particularly preferably completely on one side of one ladder and the side fin can be arranged on one side of the other ladder such that the front nozzle and the side fin are arranged on opposite sides of the two ladders.

[0028] The asymmetric configuration of the front nozzle and the side fins has a particularly large hydrodynamic effect, further reducing the propulsion force requirements of the ship. Therefore, turbulence is likely to occur in the flow to the propeller in the same area, particularly in the range of approximately 8 o'clock to 12 o'clock in the rear view of the propeller in the case of a clockwise propeller. By arranging the front nozzle with at least one guide surface in this area, that is, at least partially, mostly or completely on one side of the ladder, a counter-rotating vortex is generated at the inflow at an appropriate point. This reduces the turbulence in the inflow against the impact at the propeller, increasing the efficiency of the propeller. Here, surprisingly, it has been shown in tests and simulations conducted by the applicant that when the front nozzle is provided in the wake of the propeller in the following manner, an increase in turbulence often occurs on the opposite (other) side of the ladder. In that manner, the side fins have a beneficial effect on the wake in the area of their strongest turbulence, particularly reducing the turbulence by generating counter-rotating vortices, so it is particularly suitable to provide at least one side fin on this side. In a clockwise rotating propeller, these turbulences often occur in the wake in the range of approximately 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock in the rear view of the propeller, so it may be particularly suitable to provide at least one side fin in this area.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the front nozzle having at least one guide surface and at least one side fin are arranged symmetrically with respect to the ladder such that the front nozzle and / or at least one guide surface are arranged on both one side of the ladder and the other side of the ladder. Therefore, the front nozzle and / or at least one guide surface preferably extend beyond the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the ladder. Still further, at least one side fin is arranged on the first outer surface, and at least one side fin is arranged on the second outer surface of the ladder. In such a configuration, the total of the propeller inflow and the propeller outflow can be optimized using the front nozzle and the side fins.

[0030] At least one side fin is preferably attached to the ladder on one side, particularly the outer side, of the ladder and / or the ladder valve. The other end of at least one side fin is preferably formed as a free end.

[0031] At least one side fin can be designed and attached to the ladder in a particularly simple technical manner if it is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first outer side and / or the second outer side of the ladder.

[0032] In a further embodiment, at least one side fin is arranged at an angle of less than 90°, preferably less than 75°, particularly preferably less than 60° with respect to the first outer side and / or the second outer side of the ladder.

[0033] In particular, by reducing the angle between the side fin and the outer side of the ladder, the width of the ladder can be reduced. As a result, the risk of damage to the side fin during the operation of the ship can be reduced and / or the resistance of this configuration can be reduced. A similar effect can be achieved by adjusting the length of the side fin.

[0034] If there are two or more side fins, they can be arranged exclusively on one outer side of the ladder or on both outer sides of the ladder.

[0035] If at least one side fin has a tapered sweep, further optimization of the flow generated by the propeller can be achieved. Furthermore, the tapered sweep of the side fin improves the sliding of floating objects and reduces the possibility of damage.

[0036] According to a further embodiment, at least one side fin attached to the ladder comprises a cap arranged on its face side or a winglet arranged on its face side. In particular, the cap or the winglet may be formed or attached to the free end or the edge of the side fin. This measure can simplify the separation of the flow from one edge of the side fin and reduce the hydrodynamic resistance of the side fin.

[0037] According to a further aspect of the present invention, a ship having the above-described configuration is provided. This configuration may include any of the defined embodiments. The ship may preferably be a ship comprising a hull having at least one ladder arranged at the stern.

[0038] The at least one ladder may be designed, for example, as a full spade ladder, whereby it can be connected to the hull along the ladder axis in a rotatable manner.

[0039] In the forward direction of travel of the ship in front of the ladder, an accommodation space and a propeller located within the accommodation space are provided. The accommodation space may extend across the forward direction over a plurality of ladders arranged in parallel and may accommodate one or more propellers.

[0040] By equipping the ship with this configuration, energy-saving devices that act in combination in the forward and backward directions of travel in front of and behind the propeller are used to increase the efficiency of the propeller and the ship. Preferably, a front nozzle having at least one guide surface may be positioned in front of the propeller and the accommodation space so as to promote the inflow of the propeller.

[0041] When a plurality of propellers are positioned within the accommodation space, a plurality of front nozzles having guide surfaces may also be optionally used.

[0042] In the forward direction of travel of the ship behind the propeller and the accommodation space, the wake of the propeller can be optimized by at least one side fin attached to the ladder.

[0043] One or more side fins may be used for each ladder and for each outer surface of the ladder. Through the side fins, for example, the thrust generated by the propeller can be arranged in the forward direction and thereby amplified.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0044]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0045] Hereinafter, a plurality of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail based on the drawings.

[0046] In the drawings, each of the same components has the same reference numeral.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the stern area 10 of a ship 100 having a configuration 20 according to the first embodiment. In particular, the stern area 10 of the hull 110 of the ship 100 is shown.

[0048] The configuration 20 is used to reduce the propulsion force requirement of the ship 100. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the ship 100 is designed as a ship. As an example, the configuration 20 includes only one ladder 21 that can rotate along the ladder axis R.

[0049] In the traveling direction F of the ship 100, the accommodation space 22 is provided in front of the ladder 21. A propeller 30 is positioned in the accommodation space 22 as an example.

[0050] The propeller 30 is used to drive the ship 100, is rotatable around the rotation axis P (propeller axis) of the propeller 30, and can be driven.

[0051] In the forward direction F of the ship 100 in front of the accommodation space 22 of the propeller 30, a front nozzle 23 having a plurality of guide surfaces 24 is arranged. According to the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the front nozzle 23 extends over an angular range of 180 degrees and thereby forms part of a substantially semi-circular ring nozzle.

[0052] Furthermore, the configuration 20 has two side fins 25 (only one side fin is shown in the side view of FIG. 1, and the side fins (not shown) are arranged in the same manner as the side fin shown on the side of the ladder (not shown)). The side fins 25 are attached to each outer surface 26, 27 of the ladder 21. Therefore, the configuration 20 is designed symmetrically.

[0053] The side fins 25 are connected to the ladder 21 at the height of the rotation axis P of the propeller 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the side fins are attached to the ladder 21 in the region of the ladder valve 211.

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the stern region 10 of the ship 100 having the configuration 20 according to the second embodiment. Contrary to the first exemplary embodiment, the configuration 20 is designed asymmetrically. In this case, the front nozzle 23 having a plurality of guide surfaces 24 projects laterally on the second outer surface 27. The front nozzle 23 is arranged such that in particular its dominant part is on one side of the illustrated ladder 21 (the left side (port side) of the ladder). Only a small small area projects beyond the other side (starboard side) of the ladder 21. The front nozzle 23 extends over an angular range of about 120 degrees. In this case, the front nozzle 23 is formed as part of a profiled ring nozzle.

[0055] The front nozzle 23 at least partially circumferentially restricts the flow path 40. The guide surfaces 24 also constitute a profile and project radially starting from the rotation axis of the front nozzle, which coincides with the rotation axis P of the propeller 30 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, through the flow path 40 and through the front nozzle 23. As an example, three guide surfaces 24 arranged along the rotation axis P of the propeller 30 at mutually uniform angles are provided.

[0056] The side fin 25 is attached to the first outer surface 26 of the ladder 21. Thus, the side fin 25 is disposed on the other side of the ladder 21 with respect to most of the front nozzle 23. No side fin is provided on the second outer surface 27. At the free end 28 of the side fin 25, a winglet 29 is disposed as an example. The winglet 29 may be designed integrally with the side fin 25 or may be connected to the side fin 25 later.

[0057] The winglet 29 may be oriented away from the hull 110 of the ship 100 and / or away from the hull 110.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the stern region 10 of a ship 100 having a configuration 20 according to a third embodiment. Different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the configuration 20 includes a side fin 25 that has a tapered sweep with respect to the traveling direction F and does not include a winglet. Otherwise, the third embodiment is the same as the second embodiment.

[0059] Furthermore, in FIG. 3, at least one guide surface 50 is designed as a support strut of the front nozzle 23 on the hull 110 of the ship 100.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a further perspective view of the stern region 10 of a ship 100 having a configuration 20 according to the third embodiment of FIG. 3. The asymmetric structure of the configuration 20 is shown. As an alternative to the front nozzle 23 designed as part of the ring nozzle, it can be formed as a ring nozzle that covers a 360 - degree angular range and is preferably positioned parallel to the propeller 30.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0061] 100 Ship 110 Hull 10 Stern region 20 Configuration / Energy - saving configuration 21 Ladder 211 Ladder valve 22 Accommodation space 23 Front nozzle 24 Guide surface 25 Side fin 26 First outer surface of the ladder 27 Second outer surface of the ladder 28 Free end / edge of the side fin 29 Winglet 30 Propeller 40 Flow path 50 Guide surface (designed as a support strut) F Forward direction P Rotation axis of the propeller R Ladder axis

Claims

1. A configuration (20) for reducing the propulsion force requirement of a ship (100), particularly a ship, comprising at least one ladder (21) and at least one accommodation space (22) for a propeller (30), wherein the accommodation space (22) is formed in the forward direction (F) of the ship (100) in front of the ladder (21). In the forward direction (F) in front of the accommodation space (22) of the propeller (30), at least one front nozzle (23) having at least one guide surface (24) is arranged. The front nozzle (23) is formed as a ring nozzle or as part of at least one ring nozzle. The at least one guide surface (24) of the front nozzle (23) is designed in the form of fins arranged on the ring nozzle or on the at least one ring nozzle. At least one side fin (25) is arranged on the ladder (21). The front nozzle (23) having the at least one guide surface (24) and the at least one side fin (25) are arranged asymmetrically opposite to the ladder (21) such that in the non-deflected ladder position, the at least one side fin (25) is arranged on one side of the ladder (21), and the front nozzle (23) and the at least one guide surface (24) of the front nozzle are arranged mostly or completely on the other side of the ladder (21), and no side fin (25) is provided on the side of the ladder (21) where the front nozzle (23) is mostly or completely arranged.

2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein the front nozzle (23) at least partially restricts a flow path (40) in the circumferential direction.

3. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide surface (24) designed as a fin protrudes from the outer shell surface of the front nozzle (23) designed as a ring nozzle or as part of a ring nozzle.

4. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one guide surface (24) is designed as a support strut (50) of the front nozzle (23).

5. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein the at least one guide surface (24) is designed in the flow path (40) of the front nozzle (23).

6. The configuration according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one guide surface (24) extends radially from the longitudinal axis of the front nozzle (23) beyond the ring nozzle or a part of the ring nozzle.

7. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front nozzle (23) comprises a plurality of guide surfaces (24, 50) distributed uniformly or non-uniformly.

8. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one side fin (25) is arranged perpendicular to the first outer surface (26) and / or the second outer surface (27) of the ladder (21).

9. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one side fin (25) is arranged at an angle of less than 90 degrees, preferably less than 75 degrees, particularly preferably less than 60 degrees with respect to the first outer surface (26) and / or the second outer surface (27) of the ladder (21).

10. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one side fin (25) has a tapered sweep.

11. The configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one side fin (25) attached to the ladder (21) comprises a cap arranged on its face side or a winglet (29) arranged on its face side.

12. A ship (100), particularly a ship, comprising the configuration (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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