Design and Implementation of Intelligent Control Algorithm for Sail-Assisted Propulsion System

As a clean energy technology that utilizes wind energy, the sail-assisted propulsion system can significantly reduce the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of ships. In order to solve the complex problem of sail-aided propulsion system, this paper presents a kind of smart controller which can increase the efficiency and response capability of the system. Firstly, the dynamical model is built for the propulsive system. A self-adaptive control algorithm is proposed which can be used for real-time adjustment of sail angle and power output based on the multi-sensor data of the vessel, the velocity, and the orientation of the vessel. Finally, the validity and robustness of this method are proved by several simulation results. Simulation results indicate that this method can efficiently utilize wind energy, save 15% of oil and 12% of CO2, and demonstrate its stability. This study provides an efficient basis for optimizing the SSRS, and provides theory basis for developing new marine energy saving and emission abatement techniques.