1
The principle behind the rotor sail is called the Magnus effect. When wind passes the spinning rotor sail, the air flow accelerates on one side and decelerates on the opposite side
2
This creates a thrust force that is perpendicular to the wind flow direction. This effect is also seen when a spinning ball, such as a football, curves in flight
3
Electricity is used to turn the rotor sail and its thrust allows a ship’s engines to be significantly throttled back, cutting fuel consumption on global shipping routes by an estimated 7-10%
2
High wind speed -
lower pressure
Thrust
3
Wind
1
Wind
Rotor
sail
Low wind speed -
higher pressure
Position of the two rotor
sails on a vessel’s deck
The 30-metre-high
rotor sails rotate
around their vertical
axis
Thrust
Wind
Person
to scale
1
The principle behind the rotor sail is called the Magnus effect. When wind passes the spinning rotor sail, the air flow accelerates on one side and decelerates on the opposite side
2
This creates a thrust force that is perpendicular to the wind flow direction. This effect is also seen when a spinning ball, such as a football, curves in flight
3
Electricity is used to turn the rotor sail and its thrust allows a ship’s engines to be significantly throttled back, cutting fuel consumption on global shipping routes by an estimated 7-10%
High wind speed -
lower pressure
2
Thrust
Thrust
Wind
Wind
1
3
Rotor
sail
Person
to scale
Low wind speed -
higher pressure
Position of the two rotor
sails on a vessel’s deck
The 30-metre-high
rotor sails rotate
around their vertical
axis