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  • New Hull Design Aims to Cut Fuel Use

    New Hull Design Aims to Cut Fuel Use

    MIT researchers found that wedge-shaped vortex generators can reduce ship drag by up to 7.5%, lowering fuel use and emissions, as presented at the 2025 SNAME Maritime Convention.
    Image Credits:The researchers tested multiple hulls through rapid prototyping to validate their results experi

    MIT researchers found that wedge-shaped vortex generators can reduce ship drag by up to 7.5%, lowering fuel use and emissions, as presented at the 2025 SNAME Maritime Convention.

    The study highlights a promising path to decarbonize shipping and meet the IMO’s 2030 target of a 40% reduction in carbon intensity, requiring hull, engine, and propeller redesign, new fuels, and improved operations.

    MIT Team Optimizes Vortex-Generator Design with CFD and AI

    MIT researchers, with collaborators from the Center for Bits and Atoms, used CFD and AI-guided experiments to optimize vortex-generator geometry.

    They began by mapping key parameter trends through extensive CFD simulations, then verified their findings with rapid-prototyped hull models. Scale models included a plain axisymmetric hull, one fitted with delta-wing vortex generators, and one with wedge-shaped generators. Their tests confirmed that the wedge configuration delivered the significant drag reduction observed.

    Using flow-visualization techniques, the team observed that the vortex generators cut drag by postponing turbulent flow separation. This extends hull water flow, shrinks the wake, and improves propeller and rudder efficiency.

    First Experimental Proof That Vortex Generators Reduce Ship Fuel Use

    Michael Triantafyllou: “We show for the first time that wedge-shaped vortex generators can reduce a ship’s fuel use.”

    Although vortex generators have been used for decades on aircraft wings to preserve lift and prevent stalling, this research is the first to show their effectiveness in reducing drag on commercial ships.

    Because the wedge-style generators are modular, they can be incorporated into many different hull designs, including tankers and bulk carriers. They can also complement—or in some cases replace—current systems such as pre-swirl stators, enhancing overall propulsion performance.

    As an illustrative example, the researchers estimate that fitting these devices to a 300-meter Newcastlemax bulk carrier traveling at 14.5 knots on a trans-Pacific route could substantially cut emissions and save roughly $750,000 in fuel annually.

    Read the original article on: Techxplore

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  • Engineers develop a more efficient burner to cut methane emissions.

    Engineers develop a more efficient burner to cut methane emissions.

    Researchers at Southwest Research Institute and the University of Michigan developed and tested an advanced methane flare burner using additive manufacturing and machine learning. A new study found that the new design eliminated 98% of methane vented during oil production. Credit: Southwest Research Institute

    Researchers from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the University of Michigan (U-M) have developed an advanced methane flare burner that eliminates 98% of methane vented during oil production. Designed by U-M engineers and tested at SwRI, the burner leverages additive manufacturing and machine learning to enhance efficiency. Their findings appear in the study “An Experimental Study of the Effects of Waste-Gas Composition and Crosswind on Non-assisted Flares Using a Novel Indoor Testing Approach,” published in Industrial & Chemical Engineering Research.

    During oil production, flare stacks typically burn off excess methane. However, strong crosswinds often reduce the effectiveness of conventional open-flame burners, allowing over 40% of methane to escape into the atmosphere. Over a 100-year period, methane has 28 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide—and over a 20-year period, it is 84 times more potent. While flaring reduces overall emissions, ineffective burning diminishes its environmental benefits.

    To address this issue, SwRI and U-M engineers applied machine learning, computational fluid dynamics, and additive manufacturing to develop a burner with superior combustion stability and high methane destruction efficiency, even under challenging field conditions.

    “We tested the burner at SwRI’s indoor facility, where we controlled crosswinds and measured efficiency under various conditions,” explained SwRI Principal Engineer Alex Schluneker, a co-author of the study.

    Innovative Burner Design Enhances Efficiency in Crosswind Conditions

    Their tests revealed that even minimal crosswinds significantly lowered the performance of most burners. However, the new burner’s internal fins played a crucial role in maintaining efficiency. “The U-M team designed it to significantly improve performance,” Schluneker added.

    The burner features a complex nozzle base that splits methane flow in three directions, while an impeller directs the gas toward the flame. This design ensures proper oxygen-methane mixing and extends combustion time before crosswinds can interfere, which is essential for its efficiency.

    “A precise oxygen-to-methane ratio is critical for combustion,” said SwRI Senior Research Engineer Justin Long. “The burner must capture and incorporate enough surrounding air to mix with the methane without over-diluting it. U-M researchers conducted extensive computational fluid dynamics modeling to achieve an optimal air-methane balance, even in high-crosswind conditions.”

    Looking ahead, SwRI and U-M teams continue to refine burner designs, aiming to develop an even more efficient and cost-effective prototype by 2025.

    Read Original Article: TechXplore

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