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Reducing the fuel consumption of ships

Georgeb

We could greatly reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of ships if we used the energy of waves. This could done by adding a pipe all the way around the ship above sea level. Water enters the pipe at the bow and exits at the stern to push the ship forward. The pipe is higher and wider at the bow than the stern. Waves force water into one way openings at the bow to give pressurised water with potential energy. This pressurised water forces jets of water out at the stern.

All the pipework is above sea level so ships could be retroftted without the need to go into dry docks. There is no change to the laminar flow of water below sea level.

The motion of the ship adds to the kinetic energy of waves. By diverting this energy around the ship we can reduce drag and fuel consumption. This would be a low cost way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions without the need for people to reduce their standards of living.

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    Georgeb: 
     

    We could greatly reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of ships if we used the energy of waves…... 

    There is no change to the laminar flow of water below sea level.

    This is contradictory. If the pipe is able to take in water at the bow, it must be below the level of the water, and therefore affecting the flow of water round the hull. The amount of energy available from this would be minimal, bearing in mind the engine power required to propel the ship (for a large ship we are talking of tens of MW) and the drag would cause more losses than would be gained.

    For a small ship, the bow would pitch up with the waves and the system might not take on any water anyway.

    I think if you want to reduce fuel consumption on ships it can be done by utilising wind power. There is, after all, a correlation between the height of the waves and the power of the wind. If we were to fit tall masts on the ships with horizontal bars and hang large squares of canvas to be driven by the wind, this might work……. 

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    Georgeb: 
     

    We could greatly reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of ships if we used the energy of waves…... 

    There is no change to the laminar flow of water below sea level.

    This is contradictory. If the pipe is able to take in water at the bow, it must be below the level of the water, and therefore affecting the flow of water round the hull. The amount of energy available from this would be minimal, bearing in mind the engine power required to propel the ship (for a large ship we are talking of tens of MW) and the drag would cause more losses than would be gained.

    For a small ship, the bow would pitch up with the waves and the system might not take on any water anyway.

    I think if you want to reduce fuel consumption on ships it can be done by utilising wind power. There is, after all, a correlation between the height of the waves and the power of the wind. If we were to fit tall masts on the ships with horizontal bars and hang large squares of canvas to be driven by the wind, this might work……. 

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