Dynamic Enery Modelling

While energy efficiency has long been a major driver in ship design and operation, rising energy costs combined with political and social pressure from environmental concerns is forcing all in the marine industry to re-examine ways to reduce their energy consumption. Currently design and operational decisions are made on simple “energy balances” which often only consider worse case design conditions which bare no relation to how the vessel is operated or much of the physical processes involved. The focus of this work is to incorporate dynamic energy modelling techniques into design and operational decision making processes to, as closely as possible, reflect changes to the total energy consumption. The aim of this technique is to simulate the vessel’s energy consumption through its entire lifetime considering all relevant factors (speed, wind/wave conditions, irradiation, humidity, temperature, occupancy, hull condition, machinery performance, etc). In this way design and operational decisions can be made on the basis of lifetime cost and environmental impact which are as close as possible to reality as possible.

The ESP-r method

ESP-r is an integrated computer simulation tool which can model the flows and transfer of energy and fluids in a ship environment.

Using this tool, the comfort properties of environments such as restaurants and other public spaces in terms of air quality, temperature and acoustics can be assessed and optimised through effective analysis and design.

Problems such as solar glare and condensation can be addressed and minimised using models developed in the ESP-r environment.

The performance of control systems and strategies may be simulated and problem areas within these addressed.

The sensitivity of a ship’s internal environment to design parameters such as geometry and materials can be evaluated and used to drive the design process. ESP-r analysis can direct ship design towards lower energy requirements and carbon emissions.