Ship Propulsion System Lecture 4

Dr: Aly Hassan Elbatran

 Transmission System
The transmission system is located between the prime mover and the propulsor. Its main function is to convert
or transmit mechanical energy. The transmission system transmits
- The torque generated by the prime mover to the propulsor,
- The thrust generated by the propulsor to the hull.

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 Transmission System

The following components can be summarized as:

- One or multiple line shafts transmit the torque generated by the engine, and they transmit thrust if located
behind the thrust bearing. The shaft sections are connected to each other with flange couplings.
- The thrust bearing and the thrust shaft (with thrust collar) transmit the thrust, generated by the propeller, to the
hull.
- The thrust bearing may be independent of the engine, but mostly is integrated in the engine.
- The shaft bearings support the weight of the shafts.
- bulkhead stuffing box assures that the bulkhead stays watertight.
- The propeller shaft connects the shafting system inside the ship with the propeller.
- The stern tube guides the propeller shaft through the hull. In the stern tube, the shaft is supported by one or
two oil lubricated bearings: the aft and forward bearing. These bearings carry the shaft and propeller weight,
and also the transverse hydrodynamic load acting on the propeller.
- The forward stern tube seal assures that the lubrication oil stays within the stern tube.
- The aft stern tube seal has two functions: to keep the lubrication oil in and to keep sea water out.
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 Transmission System

In more complex power

plant configuration such as
in geared drive with one or
more prime mover, some
additional components may
be encountered.

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 Transmission System

- The gearbox is installed in order to reduce the speed of the engine to the speed required for
efficient operation of the propeller. Reduction can be achieved in one or two steps: in one step
for medium and high speed diesel engines (1:2 to 1:6) and in two steps for gas turbines and
high speed diesel engines (1:10 to 1:35). The thrust bearing is usually integrated with the
gearbox or installed close to the gearbox.
- A clutch is used to connect or disconnect the engines to the shaft line. It is often included in the
gearbox, but sometimes it is integrated with an elastic coupling.
- The elastic coupling has two functions:
- (1) it improves the torsional behavior of the installation, and
- (2) it accommodates inaccuracies of shaft alignment and movements of the engine relative
to the gearbox.

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 Transmission System

- The stern tube bearing may be water lubricated instead of oil lubricated. In that case, only one
stern tube seal will be necessary to prevent sea water from entering the ship.
- The propeller shaft is situated behind the ship in the water. It is supported by the strut and
water lubricated strut bearing just before the propeller. Due to its shape this strut is often
referred to as an A-bracket.
- A muff coupling connects the propeller shaft and the stern tube shaft. This coupling does not
require flanges at the end of the shaft, so it enables removal of the shafts through the strut
bearing or the stern tube.

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 Transmission System
Propeller shaft
In general shaft are made of forged (mild steel). Sometimes high tensile steel, or alloys such
as stainless steel are used and may be of composite materials. Most often shafts are solid,
but they may also be hollow for example when light shafts are required in passenger vessels
or naval vessels or when CPPs are used.

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 Transmission System
Shaft bearings
Shaft bearings support the shafts.
Sleeve bearings
In sleeve bearings the shaft is supported in a
lubricating film in a bearing that is usually
lined with white metal (babbit). The oil is
added to the bearing through a ring that is
mounted on the shaft, and distributed by the
rotation of the shaft. The bearing capacity of
these bearings lies in the range of 0.3 to 0.5
N/mm2 on the projected bearing surface.
The length-diameter ratio of sleeve bearings
lies in the range of 0.8 to 1.

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Transmission System

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 Transmission System
The roller bearing may be used as an alternative for the sleeve bearing. It is sometimes applied in
shaft and thrust bearings.
In compared to the sleeve bearing it has the following
advantages:
- It is smaller (lower weight)
- Friction losses are less
- There is no clearance
- It is well suited for low shaft speeds
However, the disadvantages need to be considered as
well:
- More sensitive to dirt and impulse loads
- It offers hardly any to no damping for vibrations in the
shaft
- Less reliable
- Higher maintenance costs
- Applicable for shaft diameters up to 600 mm

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Transmission System

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