Suction Wing AiP

Jointly developed by CRAIN (Centre de Recherche pour l’Architecture et l’Industrie Nautiques) Technologies and its partner REEL (Rationnel Economique Esthétique Léger), the SW270 Suction Wing uses suction forces to draw air around the wind section, reducing drag.

“Suction Wing SW270 is an innovative wind assisted propulsion solution that is suited for a large range of cargo ships,” said Philippe Pallu De Barriere, chief executive of CRAIN.

“Developed using technologies already widely used by the naval industry, it delivers great power proportionally to its surface, and is easy to install and use on ships.”

Fitted with a rear flap, the solid wing has grids located on both sides of the wing section to create a suction force that draws the air stream around the wing section from the outside to the inside of the wing. The wing is mounted on a structural foundation which contains the suction fan.

Based on the principle of boundary layer suction, the Suction Wing is reported to deliver a very high lift coefficient, which reduces the size of the device needed to achieve a given pull force and keeps drag to a minimum.

This lift-to-drag ratio is said to provide good performance in upwind conditions and for ships sailing at relatively high speeds, using the wind to propel the ship in combination with the main engine. The wing section can also rotate around the vertical to adjust to wind direction and optimise performance.

The AiP was delivered in accordance with BV’s Rule Note for Wind Propulsion Systems (WPS) – NR 206. The conceptual design, risk analysis, wind tunnel report, preliminary stability, loadings and the general arrangement were all assessed. While the Suction Wing concept can be derived in a range of sizes, the device considered in this AiP had a wing span of 27 metres.