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Energy savings for ship propulsion in waves based on real-time optimal control of propeller pitch and electric propulsion

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Abstract

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships as required by international environmental regulations, we propose herein an energy-saving method for ships sailing on wavy seas. The effect of applying this method is investigated by a numerical study of a bulk carrier self-propelled in regular head and following waves. The method requires that the ship be equipped with a controllable-pitch propeller (CPP) and an electric propulsion motor, which are controlled in an optimal manner to anticipate impending waves, thereby minimizing energy consumption. Optimal control is implemented using a nonlinear model predictive control method that uses information within a receding horizon to calculate the adjustments, which in turn control actuators that vary the propeller-pitch angle and the drive frequency of the motor. To implement this real-time application, we use a fast algorithm for solving the model predictive control problem. As a result, for a wave steepness of 0.01 and a unity ratio of wavelength to ship length, the energy required to propel a bulk carrier without optimal control is reduced by about 10% with the optimal-control system proposed herein.

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the Japan’s Ministry of Transport Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) and Kamome Propeller Co., Ltd. as a research and development project for the next generation marine technology. This project launched with the initiative of Mr. Michikazu Sebe from the Ministry. Dr. Atsuo Maki, Mr. Yuta Sugihara, Mr. Yasunori Matsunaga, and Mr. Ryoma Kushida contributed to the numerical work described here. The authors express their sincere appreciation to these organizations and individuals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Hidenari Makino, Naoya Umeda & Shoji Ikejima

  2. Department of Systems Science, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, Yoshida-honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8531, Japan

    Toshiyuki Ohtsuka

  3. National Maritime Research Institute, 2-1, 6-38-1, Shinkawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo, 181-0004, Japan

    Hidenori Sekiguchi & Katsuji Tanizawa

  4. Kamome Propeller Co., Ltd., 690 Kamiyabe-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, 245-8542, Japan

    Junichi Suzuki & Masaki Fukazawa

Authors
  1. Hidenari Makino
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  2. Naoya Umeda
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  3. Toshiyuki Ohtsuka
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  4. Shoji Ikejima
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  5. Hidenori Sekiguchi
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  6. Katsuji Tanizawa
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  7. Junichi Suzuki
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  8. Masaki Fukazawa
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Correspondence to Hidenari Makino.

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Makino, H., Umeda, N., Ohtsuka, T. et al. Energy savings for ship propulsion in waves based on real-time optimal control of propeller pitch and electric propulsion. J Mar Sci Technol 22, 546–558 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-017-0434-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00773-017-0434-1

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