Understanding and optimising flow conditions.

Improved manoeuvrability
Manoeuvrability can be improved by analysing the flow conditions around rudders or daggerboards. This is particularly important for large ships, which are more difficult to manoeuvre due to their size and inertia.

Reduction of the power requirement
Energy-saving devices improve propulsion. Rudders that are designed for efficiency reduce hydrodynamic resistance. This leads to a reduction in power requirements and therefore usually to reduced operating costs.

Optimisation of design and safety
A hydrodynamic analysis can help to avoid critical situations such as stalling of the flow at the rudder, which could lead to a reduction in steering ability. This is particularly important in narrow or heavily frequented waters. CFD simulations can also be used to test and optimise various designs without having to build physical models. This saves time and costs in the development phase.

Minimisation of cavitation
Cavitation, the appearance of vapour bubbles in a fluid can cause damage to the propeller and rudder and a loss of performance. CFD can help identify areas of high turbulence or flow separation that could lead to cavitation or other undesirable effects. By identifying such zones at an early stage, appropriate design changes can be made and cavitation minimised.

Prediction of behaviour in different conditions
CFD analyses make it possible to predict the behaviour of the ESD or rudder under different operating conditions, such as different speeds and flow directions.

CO2 and efficiency certificates for your ships
In order to provide proof of the increased efficiency of ships with installed energy-saving devices, Becker Marine Systems provides test reports or class-compliant CFD reports in co-operation with tank test institutes, which can be used for the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) or the Energy Efficiency Design Index for existing Vessels (EEXI), for example.