Fuel Efficency
Optimizing fuel efficiency is critically important for today’s ship owners. Doing this in practice is difficult, however. This is because the relations between the fuel efficiency and various conditions affecting that efficiency are complex. Further, these conditions change dynamically over time.
For example, the trim of a vessel is an important factor for propulsion resistance. But the effect of changing the trim depends on the current draft of the vessel. Increasing propeller RPM or pitch also changes the effect of any trim setting.
How does GreenSteam Optimizer solve these challenges?
Rather than ignoring the complications, GreenSteam exploits them
By “going on board” to collect a multitude of sensor readings over a prolonged period of time, the pattern of relationships between these dynamically changing conditions and changes in fuel efficiency can be learned.
When sufficient data has been collected, mathematical models are built that uncover the knowledge that is contained in the data, hidden to the naked eye. The relations between the ship’s speed and consumption as well as a range of internal and external factors are learned through the use of sophisticated, specially developed software. Obtained from this is a system that is able to provide continuously updated advice on optimal settings of controls.
GreenSteam is able to react dynamically to changes in the ship’s condition and environment, thereby making it possible to always operate with the greatest possible fuel efficiency. Every second, the current conditions are measured and input to GreenSteam Optimizer, which immediately finds a new setting for trim and propeller(s) that is optimal in the current situation. This advice is continuously supplied to the user interface on the bridge.
GreenSteam Optimizer has been shown to improve fuel efficiency by 4-5% on average in real-life conditions.