FLETTNER ROTORS

The main focus of this article is the presentation of a new type of equipment for obtaining electrical energy, on ships, by using the wind energy, the Flettner Rotor. The main goal is the presentation of a type of wind turbine which can be used for the reduction of environmental pollution and of fossil fuels which are used for conventional propulsion systems on ships. I propose to show the principal components of the Flettner Rotor, his principal caracteristics, the power generated by the equipment at different ship and wind speeds. The main reason of this article is to try to show an equipment which can be used for reducing of ship pollution and the quantity of fuel used, increasing the energy efficiency, that means, to reduce the price of transportation and a method of saving money for the companies which own the ships.

As a result of my research I discovered that the Flattner Rotor, is an equipment which can successfully be used on ships, like an alternative source of energy, while passing the sea or oceans. In recent years, a lot of money had been invested in the development and research of security measures for eco- ships. In 2008 "Enercon" project had been launched and the first ship with Flettner Rotor had been built. This system saves about 30-40% of the fuel and the ship can touch a speed of 16 knots, of course in combination with the conventional propulsion engine.

One of the advantages of this system is that the rotors can be used to maneuver the ship, even when the ship is stopped without using the main engine propulsion. Flettner Rotors can be the future of eco- propulsion on ships.