CAPE HORN ASSISTS WITH ECOCLIPPER DESIGN
HOMENEWSINDUSTRY NEWSCAPE HORN ASSISTS WITH ECOCLIPPER DESIGN
01 Jul 2021
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Cape Horn Engineering is using its CFD expertise to assist with the hull design for a fleet of EcoClippers Photo: Cape Horn Engineering
INDUSTRY DATABASE
CAPE HORN ENGINEERING
Marine technology consultant Cape Horn Engineering is to assist with the design of the first EcoClipper ship, which will use the power of the wind to propel cargo, passengers and trainees around the world’s oceans.
The EcoClipper500 will be built in steel and is based on the design of the Dutch clipper Noach, launched in 1857. Its development will use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology to optimise critical elements such as weight saving, performance predictions and emissions reduction.
Cape Horn Engineering, which has been at the forefront of America’s Cup and Ocean Racing design campaigns for more than 15 years, was chosen by EcoClipper to provide the CFD analysis for the design of the first hull shape. Chief executive, Dr Rodrigo Azcueta, said the company was delighted to be involved in the project. “We are dedicated to reducing shipping emissions and improving air pollution, and we have a strong desire to contribute to such developments, to help protect our planet,” he said.
CFD design optimisation
With such a complex sail plan, consisting of three square rigged masts and 29 sails with an area of around 1,580m2, the generation of a full aerodynamic model was not possible. Therefore, sail coefficients for similar sailing vessels found in literature had to be used to enable accurate calculations to be made for the hydrodynamic performance of the hull candidates.
Another detailed investigation was aimed at finding the best possible position to install the hydro-generators that will provide the electricity requirements of the vessel.
via Boating Business | Cape Horn assists with EcoClipper design.