Research on the Energy Balance in the Vessel Mounted The Wind-lens Turbine

Abstract

In this research, the energy balance of a vessel equipped with a wind-lens turbine (a high efficiency horizontal axis wind turbine with a diffuser) are investigated. The assumed vessel is the total length 180m width 30m width car carrier. Wind tunnel experiments are performed with 1/100 scale model, and the wind velocity distribution, the wind resistance and the power of the wind turbine is measured. In addition, the energy balance in the North Sea route connecting between St. Petersburg (Russia) and Sunderland (UK) is calculated by using the wind data. As a consequence, by coping effectively with a head-wind, it is shown to obtain a positive energy balance. Furthermore, by yawing parallel to the wind turbine, the energy balance is improved.