CFD-based assessment of aerodynamic suitability for wind turbine integration on a ship model

Wind power offers a viable way to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in maritime operations. This study compares candidate regions for potential wind turbine installation on a ship model by analyzing local airflow characteristics using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A scaled Japan Bulk Carrier (JBC) model representing the above waterline geometry was used, with aerodynamically negligible components omitted. The forecastle deck, main deck, poop deck, and superstructure were assessed. Normalized velocity components were evaluated at 24 points, while velocity, pressure coefficient, and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) distributions were examined across longitudinal and transverse sections. Simulations were performed at a reference wind speed of 25 m/s for relative wind angles from 0° to 180° in 10° increments. The numerical approach was assessed against wind tunnel data using global longitudinal and lateral force coefficients. Results showed that flow conditions varied with position, elevation, and wake exposure. At several higher forecastle and main deck locations, normalized velocity magnitudes remained between 0.90 and 1.15, while forecastle generally showed lower turbulent kinetic energy than other regions. The poop deck showed stronger elevation dependence, while the superstructure exhibited the largest local velocity variations and maximum TKE. These findings support comparisons of candidate turbine locations based on local aerodynamic conditions.