At the Europort exhibition, which took place last week in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Wärtsilä launched the next-generation pre-swirl stator.
The new Wärtsilä EnergoFlow is the result of years of research and experimentation with hydrodynamics, energy-saving propulsion efficiency concepts and pre-swirl models. The system is said to return ship operators' investment in less than two years. By reducing the power losses which occur in the propeller's slipstream with an optimised inflow, the solution is said to improve fuel efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
EnergoFlow
The EnergoFlow's design guides one side of the stern flow in the opposite direction of the propeller rotation. The stator's multiple fins, which are attached to the ship's hull, optimise the flow into the propeller and prevent power losses. The curved fins minimise the viscous resistance while the ring connecting the fins at their tips decreases the peak stress of each fin.
The impact of the EnergoFlow on fuel consumption is the largest on bulk carriers, tankers, and other full form vessels. Bulk carriers, for instance, can see fuel savings in the 10 per cent range.
The video below shows some of the propulsion solutions Wärtsilä offers, including the EnergoFlow.
Picture: EnergoFlow in combination with an optimised fixed pitch propeller ensures better results (by Wärtsilä).
