R & D

Project BEST+ Proves Holistic Design Approach

BEST+ tanker

The prime interest of utilizing the FRIENDSHIP-Framework has been shape design and optimization in hydro- and aerodynamics. Functional surfaces such as ship hulls, propellers, compressors, volutes and pipes are developed by simulation-driven design, leading to substantial improvements in both product quality and process speed. Naturally, an intriguing further step is to investigate several multi-disciplinary objectives at the same time. With Germanischer Lloyd (GL) in the lead, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and FRIENDSHIP SYSTEMS and GL joined forces to establish an holistic approach in which all key aspects of early ship design were considered in parallel. The R&D project was called BEST+ (Better Economics with a Safer Tanker).

Contrary to the traditional, even though idealized, view of design as a sequential process (below, left side) an extended synthesis model was set up (below, right side) and applied to establish an innovative Aframax tanker concept. The FRIENDSHIP-Framework was used for parametric modeling, mainly of the outer hull form and the inner tank arrangement, for tool integration and, very importantly, for design assessment and post-processing. During the course of the optimizations the most favorable main dimensions, the actual lines, structures, powering and attainable speeds at various drafts, weights, probabilistic oil outflow in damage condition and economic performance were determined.

Traditional design spiral (left) vs. integrated approach (right)

Flow chart of integrated Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)

The tools integrated within the FRIENDSHIP-Framework were NAPA for oil outflow analysis as prescribed by relevant IMO Resolutions, GL's POSEIDON for structural optimization according to the Common Structural Rules and SHIPFLOW XPAN and XCHAP for flow simulations. The figure above illustrates the flow of information and call sequence to compute the performance of each design variant.

More than two thousand design variants were investigated. The figure below presents selected results by plotting the normalized required freight rate (RFR) as a function of deadweight (DWT). Several designs are highlighted: "Best OOI" is the design with the lowest oil outflow index (OOI) while "Best EEDI" yields the lowest Energy Efficiency Design Index. "Best RFR" is the most favorable design with regard to economics. The "Reference design" was a very competitive baseline taken from preceding design work and, hence, used for normalization.

Depending on the preferences of the prospective owner and the design team, different variants can be identified as best for a particular scenario: One may choose a more conservative design, being a balanced all-rounder, or deliberately decide to favor a more extreme solution, featuring excellence in one prioritized objective. The BEST+ tanker was considered to be the design with minimum RFR, bringing highest return-on-investment while still yielding higher safety than required by IMO regulations.

Selected results

BEST+ tanker with parts of the deck and side shell cut away to picture structures

For further reading please refer to the documents "An Integrated Approach for Simulation in the Early Ship Design of a Tanker" (COMPIT 2011) and "Better Economics with a Safer Tanker" (RINA 2011) in our papers section. For an animation of the BEST+ tanker see our video on our YouTube channel FRIENDSHIP-Framework.

For a thorough discussion please get in touch with Dr. Stefan Harries.

Read more about R&D projects here.

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