Our Way 1
MILESTONES 3. THE POWER OF WIND A key to developi
ng wind-powered vessels is to understand how the wind behaves. There is little systematic measurement data to validate models of wind behavior in the atmospheric ground boundary layer (0–250 metres above water) over the open ocean. To understand the characteristics of the wind in this region, we conducted a series of experiments. For example, we installed laser measuring equipment on an ocean-going ship´s deck. This allowed us to measure both wind speed and wind direction from the ship deck up to 300 metres above deck, where the wings will operate. 5. TELESCOPIC WING RIGS We considered a folding rig earlier in the project, but a telescopic solution where you can adjust the height of the sails by pushing sections up and down has many advantages. The construction is more robust, it´s possible to quickly get rid of wind power, and it also saves space on deck. You don’t have to expose the whole sailing area if you just need a small amount of power. The telescopic solution is also more efficient from a sailing performance point of view. 4. HULL DURABILITY During the spring of 2020, SSPA performed a test of an Oceanbird model in their towing tank. Earlier, we had done a number of computer simulations and needed to confirm the results of the experiments. We were interested in the hydrodynamic performance, focusing on the hull, rudder and propeller. Once in the water, the model behaved very well. We saw a smooth wave pattern behind the model, which indicated that the resistance was low and the hull was efficient. 6. AERODYNAMIC DESIGN Designing Oceanbird, we had to pay much more attention to the aerodynamics than we normally would do. Not only do the wings have more in common with airplane wings than traditional sails, they also interact with the hull in a very complex way. This means that we can actually harness the power of wind in a very efficient way, where the different parts of the hull and wings are working closely together, boosting the vessel performance. OUR WAY 15