On the Research and Development of Super Eco-Ship Project

摘要

The global warming problem is concerned in the world. ThernJapanese Government has formalized the acceptance of Kyoto Protocolrnon 4th of June 2002. Under the Protocol, Japan has an obligation ofrngreenhouse gas (CO2 etc.) emissions reduction of 6% below 1990rnlevels for the first commitment period of 2008-2012. The restrictionrnconcerning the exhaust of NOx and SOx by ships is discussed in thernInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Shipsrn(MARPOL). Under the Ministry's of Land Infrastructure and Transportrn(MLIT) national research project named the Super Eco-Ship Project,rnthe National Maritime Research Institute of Japan (NMRI) has beenrnplayed major role of it since April 2001. Super Eco-Ship wouldrnembody a technical breakthrough in meeting certain requirements ofrncoastal shipping such as reducing the burden on the environment andrnthe logistics costs and improving the living and working conditions onrnboard. Super eco-ship has highly efficient electrical propulsion systemrnfeaturing the podded propulsor with contra-rotating propeller (CRP).rnAdvanced concept and systems are applied in the research andrndevelopment of the Super Eco-Ship. Flexibility in the arrangement ofrnmain engine and in the hull form design is realized by the electricrnpropulsion system. New design tools based advanced concept andrnmethodology are applied. Hull form design method by means of CFDrnsimulation and CAD are performed to design optimum hull form forrnelectric propulsion system. The high propulsive efficiency due to therncombination with the optimum hull design and podded propulsorrnenables the reduction of CO2 compared with the conventional ship.rnThe podded propulsor with CRP enables drastically goodrnmaneuverability and flexible control system in ship operation as well asrnhigh propulsive efficiency. The pilot becomes easy operation inrnberthing time by the control system of the podded propulsor.rnIn August 2004, a reliability test run of a prototype of the propulsorrnincluding the motors and sealing/bearing was completed in a dock.Thernpracticality of poded propulsor with CRP was confirmed from thisrnresult. In this paper, the results of this test and environmentalrnassessment of super eco-ship is reported.