TOKYO - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Kunio Suzuki) today announced the start of practical tests of a new wind power generator aboard the wood chip carrier Taiho Maru. MOL, the Tokai University Research Institute of Science and Technology, and Nishishiba Electric Co., Ltd. began developing the system in 2002 and successfully produced a prototype model.
The generator was installed on the Taiho Maru at Shin Kasado Dockyard Co., Ltd. ( Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Pref.) on March 5. The ship sets out on a voyage for Australia on March 10. During its test voyage, the electricity generated by this new system will power the bridge air conditioning. This is the world's first trial of a wind power generator on board a vessel.
The wind power generator is a straight wing vertical axis type developed by Professor Kazuichi Seki of the Tokai University Research Institute of Science and Technology. Its compact shape and omnidirectional nature, which allow it to generate power no matter what the wind direction, makes it the optimum design for a vessel. What's more, it can be made larger. Thus, it is adaptable to various types of vessels, which makes it more practical for future use.
The generator is installed where it is exposed to the strongest winds on the vessel. The electricity it generates will be used in an isolated system so it will not affect the operation of other systems on the ship.
The system includes a generator that receives wind to generate electricity; an accumulator battery that stores the generated electricity; a control system that controls the output and braking according to the wind speed; and a data collection device that will be utilized for future development. The electricity generated is stored in the accumulator battery and then supplied to the air conditioner installed on the bridge for this test. The output of the generator and other data will be automatically recorded in the data collection device. The generator may produce an estimated 7,000-9,000 kWh a year, according to on-land test data based on the wind velocity a ship is subjected to while under way.
MOL has examined ways to utilize the natural energy of wind power as part of its approach to enhance the environmental friendliness of its vessels - specifically, reducing emissions of CO2, NOx, SOx, and other pollutants.
Under Professor Seki's guidance, MOL worked with Nishishiba Electric, a specialist in marine electric equipment, to develop a system that would withstand the harsh operating environment at sea.
The system reached the practical testing stage thanks to the cooperation of Oshima Shipbuilding Co, Ltd., which built the Taiho Maru, and acceptance of the ship's charterer, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. In addition, MOL received approval from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) to use the wind generator as ship machinery on an actual vessel.
Starting with this test voyage, MOL will collect and analyze data on the system's generating capacity, and then look for ways to apply the technology to a wider range of vessels, positioning it as a supplemental power source for the crew quarters and so on in the future.
The generator will be exhibited in public as follows:
During 2004, the company will announce the test results to research groups such as the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan.
For further information, please contact:
Masaaki Yutani
Manager, Ship Planning and Development Group, Technical Division
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
Tel: +81-3-3587-7206
Fax: +81-3-3587-7722
E-mail: spdmo@mail.mol.co.jp