The maritime industry is in a mindset to save fuel and reduce emissions. How one achieves this end, however, can be a matter of some debate. While substantial industry effort is being placed on things that can be optimized, to achieve real benefit and financial return one must first understand the details about how the vessel consumes propulsive energy during its mission. This paper discusses a rational, simple, and effective systems engineering approach to identify power and fuel demands via computational propulsion analysis of the individual operating modes of a vessel’s duty cycle. It explains sensible consumption metrics that can be used to evaluate and compare different physical systems, strategic plans, or helm decisions. A duty cycle operating mode analysis calculation for a tugboat in multi-role service (as a harbor tug and in long haul ocean barge towing) is demonstrated using COTS software, including examples of design-side and shipboard decision options and consequences.
Design and operating mode analysis of hybrid actuation system based on EHA/SHA
