Numerical study on a potential of the rotating cylinder in the auxiliary propulsion of ships.

Faced with environmental and economic challenges, the transition to renewable energies is a priority, particularly in the maritime transport sector, which is subject to increasingly strict regulations. For ships, this adaptation remains complex due to space constraints and the rapid pace of technological advances, sometimes making certain solutions quickly obsolete and generating losses for shipowners. This work explores the use of rotating cylinders, based on the Magnus effect, as an auxiliary propulsion solution for ships. This effect occurs when air circulating around a rotating object creates a pressure difference, generating a force perpendicular to the airflow and the cylinder's axis of rotation. Compared to other wind technologies, this method has promising potential to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. The results of this study highlight the economic and environmental benefits of rotating cylinders, positioning them as a clean and renewable energy for ship propulsion. These findings, consistent with previous work, highlight the rationale of this technology, already adopted by some modern commercial vessels, such as bulk carriers, oil tankers and cruise ships, which seek to optimize their energy efficiency. Thus, despite the challenges, the benefits related to fuel savings and reduced emissions make Flettner cylinders a promising solution for the future of maritime transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]