Optimization of module arrangement in ship engine room

This article presents a new approach for engine room design based on the modularization concept including the part arrangement optimization. The characteristics of the proposed methods are as follows. First, attention was paid to piping systems of multiple bulk carrier series of different sizes. The cost and length of the piping system as well as the similarity and the commonness of the modules and arrangements were considered. Second, to define an effective module that could be commonly used in different ships, a design structure matrix was adopted. Third, in the arrangement design, an optimization system was developed using a genetic algorithm to obtain a similar pattern for module arrangement in multiple series ships with specific consideration toward cost and similarity. Some examples using the proposed method are shown at the end of article.