The EU-funded Optiwise project, to develop of advanced design tools for the Oceanwings wind propulsion system, has achieved several major milestones, delivering critical insights into aerodynamic and structural performance.
By integrating CFD and Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) methodologies, the project has significantly enhanced the ability to predict the aerodynamic behaviour and structural integrity of the OW363 wing under realistic operating conditions. The FSI analyses successfully captured the dynamic interplay between aerodynamic forces and structural deformations, enabling targeted design refinements that improve overall performance.
While the studies revealed changes in aerodynamic coefficients due to wing deformations, further investigation into localised pressure field variations could yield deeper insights into phenomena such as flow separation shifts and lift generation alterations. Such advanced analysis would further strengthen the understanding of the relationship between structural flexibility and aerodynamic efficiency.
Wind tunnel testing served as a critical validation step for CFD predictions. Although overall correlations were strong, discrepancies in stall behaviour indicated that further refinement of CFD models is required—particularly in capturing dynamic effects such as flow separation and post-stall conditions.
Future work will focus on integrating unsteady solvers and advanced turbulence models to address these challenges. These advances in design methodologies are considered to contribute to the overarching goal of sustainable maritime transport, with Oceanwings offering the potential for significant reductions in CO2 emissions by leveraging wind power for ship propulsion. The design tools developed through the Optiwise project are said to lay a strong foundation for optimising wind-assisted propulsion systems across diverse vessel types and operational scenarios.
Thanks to the insights gained from CFD simulations and wind tunnel validation, Oceanwings has significantly increased confidence in its design tools, particularly regarding the accurate prediction of aerodynamic performance. This progress is crucial as the team moves forward with the development of the next-generation Oceanwings systems, aiming for improved performance, reliability, and broader adoption within the maritime industry.
The work within Work Package 3 demonstrated the pivotal role of intelligent measurement and control solutions in enhancing the performance of the Oceanwings system. Two critical areas were explored:
- The impact of different Sail Control System configurations on energy savings and vessel manoeuvrability across a range of sailing scenarios.
- The influence of Propulsion Control Systems (PCS) on the energy savings enabled by Oceanwings.
Key findings include that filtering optimal sheet angle changes in the sail control system generally had a negative impact on energy savings, while PCS strategies, particularly constant-speed control, provided significant energy savings. These results underscore the importance of integrating control system behaviour into energy savings predictions, emphasising that hardware performance is highly influenced by the way it is used.
Additionally, the work enabled the development of a comprehensive software suite simulating both the Oceanwings proprietary hardware and ship sensors. This simulation platform allows extensive testing during the development of the Oceanwings User Interface (UI) and supervision software, facilitating early-stage verification in a virtual environment before shipboard deployment.
Using the simulated bridge environment to operate the Oceanwings supervision system provided valuable feedback, leading to user experience improvements and UI optimizations. Testing confirmed that the system is intuitive, requiring minimal training for mariners—a key factor in supporting broader adoption onboard commercial vessels.
The Optiwise roject, part of the EU’s Horizon Europe, was established to develop and employ holistic design and control methods for new ship concepts, using wind propulsion while considering realistic operational scenarios. Participants include Marin, Anemoi, Wartsila, OceanWings, RISE, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, University of Genoa and Euronav.
Image: Wind tunnel and CFD visualisations (source: Optiwise/Marin)
