Comparative Analysis of Meteorological versus In Situ Variables in Ship Thermal Simulations

Area of Science:

• Energy Science
• Computational Modeling
• Naval Architecture

Background:

• Accurate thermal simulations are vital for assessing energy efficiency in structures.
• Calibration of these simulations requires understanding meteorological variable impacts.
• Ships present unique challenges for thermal behavior prediction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of meteorological variables on ship thermal simulations.
• To analyze the significance of incorporating meteorological data into TRNSYS simulations.
• To compare simulation accuracy using meteorological data versus in situ measurements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized TRNSYS (TRaNsient System Simulation) software (v17) for thermal modeling.
• Focused on a patrol vessel in Galicia, Spain, incorporating its dimensions.
• Collected real-time meteorological data via an onboard weather station and external sources (Meteonorm, MeteoGalicia).

Main Results:

• Evaluated the influence of meteorological variables on thermal simulation accuracy.
• Compared simulation outcomes derived from external meteorological data against those using only onboard temperature measurements.
• Quantified the enhancement in simulation fidelity when meteorological data is integrated.

Conclusions:

• Meteorological variables significantly influence the accuracy of ship thermal simulations.
• Integrating external meteorological data improves simulation fidelity compared to relying solely on in situ measurements.
• TRNSYS simulations benefit from comprehensive meteorological data for precise thermal behavior prediction in maritime structures.