WALLENIUS Marine has revealed it is currently conducting advanced wind tunnel tests for the design of a wind-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).
The tests are being carried out in Gothenburg at one of Europe’s most advanced wind tunnels, with wind speeds of up to 250 km/h.
WM is gathered in the Swedish city with experts from Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), KTH, and Oceanbird for a series of crucial tests to validate the latest design for a wind-powered PCTC vessels, which the company is calling the world’s first.
The Swedish ship design and management company says the tests will not only confirm the design but also contribute to the development of new data simulation models for wind-powered ships.
The interaction between the vessel’s hull and six high-tech wing sails, the optimal distance between hull and wing for maximum performance, and testing three different types of command bridges and their impact on the vessel’s performance, are just some of the test areas for the design.
The tests are being conducted by the RISE (formerly SSPA) maritime department, which has also constructed a 5 x 2 metre model of a PCTC, which weighs 1.2 tons and is used to simulate the full aerodynamic performance of the ship in the wind tunnel
Previously, wing sails have been tested independently without a hull, but this combination of hull and multiple wings in a large tunnel with a full-scale model makes this test unique.
Carl Fagergren, senior project manager at Wallenius Marine said, “We are currently at a central stage in the design process where we want to ensure that our design meets all technical and operational requirements before we finalise the tender design”.
WM confirmed that also present in Gothenburg are representatives from KTH, RISE, and Oceanbird, who are contributing expertise and technical knowledge to the project.
