Rotating Sail for Commercial Ships

[Steadman Uhlich]

I saw an interesting video and article that mentioned the recent development of rotor sails to be used on commercial ships, including one of the largest ships existing today.

While the ship is not a "sailboat" I do like that wind is being used and the rotor sail is an interesting technology.

On the larger ships, the rotor sails are 30 meters tall!

The rotor sail works on the same principle of standard sails, producing "lift" that translates to thrust to move the boat forward.

Some may not think it is a sail, but I do, and this design certainly gives the term "sail" a new spin (pun intended).

"A sail by any other name is..."

NOTE! Rotor sails are an idea that uses what is called the "MAGNUS Effect" and is a concept that has been around for decades. According to the video, the first rotor sails were built in the 1920s!

Watch the video before commenting.

EXCERPT:
“the world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, is installing it on one of its ships, the Pelican, the Wall Street Journal reports:

Danish giant Maersk Tankers said Thursday it has installed 100-foot-tall rotating cylinders on one of its product tankers, adding devices that are effectively high-tech sails that could cut the vessel’s fuel bill by up to 10%. If the system proves out during testing, Maersk could use the technology on dozens of ships in its 164-tanker fleet.

The WSJ notes that Maersk spends over $3 billion on fuel a year, so a 10 percent reduction fleet-wide could result in massive savings, more than enough to cover the cost of up to €2 million of installing rotor-sails on a ship.”
___________

This video describes how the new sail design works to reduce fuel consumption and carbon/gas emissions, thus providing cost savings to the ship owner and a reduction in greenhouse gasses, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZoE_BKizxI

https://youtu.be/kDyBrSW1_Og

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDyB...ature=youtu.be

___________

The photo shows the Maersk PELICAN with the rotating sails installed (see the tal white cylinders).

[Steadman Uhlich]

Here is another video showing a Magnus Effect sail (rotor sail) on a much smaller boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao8RfUermdw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz81mF-3S9o

[Steadman Uhlich]

And here is another rotor sail concept for commercial ships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQXp75Qt99M

[Steadman Uhlich]

Here is the Magnus Effect demonstrated with a ship model.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__8-QSXgupA

[mglonnro]

They installed one of those on the Viking Grace cruise ship that docks just right next to where we live (Turku).

Here someone is filming it entering Mariehamn. The rotor sail is rotating like crazy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP49OMNzN_E

[jms9]

Google Cousteau Turbosail. Cousteau and others invented this related technology.

[Juho]

Originally Posted by jms9

Google Cousteau Turbosail. Cousteau and others invented this related technology.

Check also savonius turbine driven boats. (if you really want to have some towers in your boat )

[SV Bacchus]

So if this technology is ever used on a cruising yacht could it be used to generate electricity while at anchor?

Can it generate electricity without trying to move the vessel forward? Maybe not, I may have answered my own question.

[Juho]

Originally Posted by SV Bacchus

So if this technology is ever used on a cruising yacht could it be used to generate electricity while at anchor?

Can it generate electricity without trying to move the vessel forward? Maybe not, I may have answered my own question.

The Magnus effect based Norsepower sails are just cylinders that are rotated by a motor. They just generate push from wind.

But maybe you could build a cylinder that can change its form to a Savonius rotor, and then produce electricity from wind. Maybe not practical, but possible in theory.

[RaymondR]

Gimic, those things travel at 20 or so knots and unlike a normal sail which can be furled or taken down would generate a lot of drag when the wind is not blowing in the right direction.

[ArmyDaveNY]

I saw some photos a while ago of a few ships that were built in the 1920's with these.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotor_ship


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B...LOC_37764u.jpg


They had the disadvantage of being relatively inefficient contrasted to their screw driven competition. I would hope that with today's materials and technology that the efficiency has improved.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Gimic, those things travel at 20 or so knots and unlike a normal sail which can be furled or taken down would generate a lot of drag when the wind is not blowing in the right direction.

No gimmick, it works.
Last I remember it being seriously used was the oil crisis of the 70's.
Then oil got cheap again and the expense of fitting and maintaining them wasn't deemed to be cost effective, cheaper to buy cheap oil.

I'd love to see a modern Clipper ship, never happen of course but they were capable of 400+ mile days.
Did Not carry much, their role is accomplished by aircraft now.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by ArmyDaveNY

I saw some photos a while ago of a few ships that were built in the 1920's with these.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotor_ship


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:B...LOC_37764u.jpg


They had the disadvantage of being relatively inefficient contrasted to their screw driven competition. I would hope that with today's materials and technology that the efficiency has improved.

Thanks for posting the link.

I was in a hurry late last night when posting this thread content and did not get around to adding the photo (and links) to the BUCKAU (ship) from 1925. I am glad to see you and others have added some nice additional content while I was off CF while working.

It must have seemed so strange back then (as it does now), and it was truly "ahead of its time."

[ArmyDaveNY]

I hope that they can make this cost effective. It will be interesting to see what the maintenance is like on these especially after extensive time at sea.

[a64pilot]

I would like to know If they stabilize the ship and if so to what degree.
These things have to be good sized gyroscopes, and if so, how does that wear the bearings and how much does it contribute to the force require to drive them?