PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR AQUATIC VESSELS

摘要

A propulsion system for an aquatic vessel is provided. The propulsion system includes one or more Magnus-type rotors that are operable to rotate about their respective substantially upright axes. The propulsion system also includes a drive arrangement for rotating the Magnus-type rotors, and a control arrangement for receiving one or more measured apparent wind speeds and for controlling the drive arrangement to vary a rate of rotations of each of the Magnus-type rotors, for example, as a function of the measured apparent wind speeds. Moreover, the control arrangement is additionally provided in operation with future route information for the aquatic vessel, together with weather forecast information for use in controlling the drive arrangement for improving propulsion provided by the Magnus-type rotors.

主权项

1. A propulsion system for an aquatic vessel, wherein the propulsion system includes one or more Magnus-type rotors that are operable to rotate about their respective substantially upright axes, a drive arrangement for rotating the one or more Magnus-type rotors, and a control arrangement for controlling the drive arrangement for varying a rate and/or a direction of rotations of each of the one or more Magnus-type rotors,
wherein the control arrangement is operable to receive one or more measured apparent wind speeds and/or one or more measured apparent wind directions, and is additionally provided in operation with one or more forecasted wind speeds and/or one or more forecasted wind directions, further wherein the control arrangement is supplemented with one or more predicted wind speeds and/or one or more predicted wind directions derived from one or more weather models for use in controlling the drive arrangement for improving propulsion provided by the one or more Magnus-type rotors, wherein the one or more weather models are operable to determine the one or more predicted wind speeds and/or the one or more predicted wind directions depending on the one or more measured apparent wind speeds and/or the one or more measured apparent wind directions and the one or more forecasted wind speeds and/or the one or more forecasted wind directions.