Ship Propellers

• A component of a ship-propulsion power

plant
• Converts engine torque into propulsive
force or thrust
Screw Propeller
• The advantages of a screw propeller are
light weight, flexibility of application,
good efficiency at high rotative speed,
and relative insensitivity to ship motion.
Screw Propeller
 Paddle Wheels

• Wheel that carries paddles or “floats” at its

periphery
• Rotates about a transverse axis of the ship
well above the waterline
• The paddles accelerate the water and
experience a reactive thrust that is
transmitted to the ship
• Paddle wheel arrangements: Side Wheel
& Stern Wheel
Paddle Wheel
Feathering Paddle Wheel
Controllable Pitch Propeller
 Controllable Pitch Propeller

• The blades are not made integral with

the boss but are mounted on separate
spindles perpendicular to the propeller
shaft axis
• Thus pitch of the propeller blades can be
changed
• Astern thrust can be made without
changing the revolution rate or reversing
the direction of revolution of the propeller
• Since the pitch of the propeller determines the
amount of thrust generated by the propeller, a
change in the pitch angle can bring about a
change in the speed of the ship.
• So, a controllable pitch propeller is useful in
changing the speed of the ship without changing
the speed or rpm of the main engine.
• speed of the ship can be handled from the
navigation bridge directly. In case of fixed pitch
propellers, the marine engineer needs to be
intimidated in order to change the ship’s speed.
Therefore CPP technology is used for obtaining
faster response of speed change.
Blade sections shown in various
pitch orientations

F-Face
 CPP - Advantages
• The full power of the machinery can be utilised
in all loading conditions
• Provide better acceleration, stopping and
manoeuvring characteristics
• Optimum use of propulsion plant at different
operating conditions
• Non-reversing propulsion machinery can be
used
• speed of the ship may be varied without altering
the speed of the main engine
• The efficiency of astern condition in case of fixed
pitch propellers is less than that of controllable
pitch propeller in astern condition.
 CPP - Disadvantages
• The pitch control mechanism is very complicated
• High initial and maintenance costs
• Large propeller boss
• More vulnerable to damage
• Optimum at the design pitch
• Blade area limited to enable the pitch to be
reversed and hence requires thicker blade
• Thus greater cavitation and more noise
• Efficiency at its design point is lower than that of
an equivalent fixed pitch propeller
 Disadvantages
• The pitch control mechanism installed in the hub is
complicated enough to demand proper inspection at
regular intervals. The installation process is also more
complicated as compared to that of fixed pitch
propeller system.
• Controllable pitch propellers have a very high initial
cost. And this cost increases rapidly with increasing
diameter of the propeller.
• Due to pitch control mechanisms housed inside the
hub, the length and the diameter of the hub is also
high as compared to the fixed pitch propeller systems.
Nozzle Propeller
 Nozzle Propellers
• A screw propeller surrounded by nozzle
• Two types – Accelerating & Decelerating
• Accelerating ducts are used in heavily
loaded propellers
• The small clearance between the propeller
blade tips and the duct suppresses the
trailing free vortices shed by the blades
• Duct develops thrust and also drag, drag
substantially less than thrust
• Thrust of propeller + duct > an equivalent open propeller
(i.e. one without a duct) whereas the torque is smaller.
• The efficiency of the ducted propeller is therefore greater
than that of the open propeller at low speeds, producing
greater thrust in a smaller package.
• Tugboats and fishing trawlers are the most common
application for Kort nozzles as highly loaded propellers
on slow moving vessels benefit the most.
• Bollard pull can increase up to 30% with ducts
• With accelerating ducts, the inflow velocity and efficiency
of the propeller is increased. This is the type that is used
on heavily loaded propellers or propellers with limited
diameter.
• A decelerating duct decreases the inflow velocity into
the propeller. Therefore the pressure at the propeller
location increases and reducing cavitation.
• The efficiency of a ducted propeller with a decelerating
duct is lower than that of an equivalent open propeller,
but its cavitation properties are superior.
• Decelerating ducts are usually used for high speed
vessels where cavitation and underwater noise
reduction are vital like Warships.
• Kort nozzles (Accelerating duct) may be fixed, with
directional control coming from a rudder set in the water
flow, where their flow controls the vessel's steering.
• When towing, tugboats sail with low speed and heavily
loaded propellers, and are often fitted with ducts.
• The small clearance between the propeller and duct
reduces tip vortex, increasing efficiency.
Ducted/ Kort Nozzle Propeller
Contra-Rotating Propeller
 Contra-rotating Propellers
• Consists of two propellers rotating in
opposite directions on coaxial shafts, one
propeller being placed close behind the
other
• The aim is to reduce the rotational energy
losses in the slipstream
• The thrust load is distributed between two
propellers so that the efficiency is higher
than with an equivalent single
propeller, and the propeller diameter and
blade area ratio can be reduced
• Disadvantages: Greater weight, complexity
of the gearing and coaxial shafts, sealing of
the shafting against the ingress of water
from outside is also a major problem
• Improvements in efficiency of up to 15
percent can be obtained compared to single
screws
• The mechanical complications of fitting
contra-rotating propellers are not justified by
the increases in efficiency that can be
achieved
HYBRID - CONTRA-ROTATING
PROPULSION SYSTEM
 Why use hybrid contra-rotating propellers?

• Better propulsive efficiency (5~15% increase - recover

the slipstream rotational energy of the forward propeller)
• Reduced cavitation (lower propeller loading, propeller
diameter can be increased, blade area less and reduce
cavitation)
• Reduced hull resistance (When comparing with a
traditional twin-screw arrangement we observe that the
resistance of the appendages such as propeller,shafts,
brackets, skegs, rudders etc. is absent, stern shape
improved)
• Improved maneuvering (~ 2x rudder forces)
 Tandem Propellers
Two propellers on the same shaft and turning in the same direction
Podded Propeller
 Arrangements/Features

• The propeller is supported in a streamlined body of

revolution (pod) by a vertical strut extending downward
from the hull of the ship.
• The propeller is driven through a shaft from inside the hull
through bevel gears contained within the pod
• The propeller with its pod and supporting strut can be
rotated about a vertical axis through 360 degrees by a
separate mechanism so that the propeller thrust can be
directed at any angle in a horizontal plane (Azimuth Pods)
• In recent years, the Z-drive has been replaced by an
electric motor housed within the pod, and the power range
has been continuously extended
ADVANTAGES:
• Excellent manoeuvrability
• Very good backing performance
• Good speed control over the complete range
• The use of non-reversing machinery
DISADVANTAGES:
• Podded propeller units are available only upto a limited
power
 Waterjet Propulsion
1. SWIVELLING NOZZLE, 2. REVERSING SCOOP
3. STEERING AND REVERSING MECHANISM
4. STATOR VANES, 5. IMPELLER, 6. INSPECTION HATCH
7. IMPELLER SHAFT, 8. WATER INLET
 Waterjet Propulsion
Consists of a pump inside the ship which draws water from
outside, imparts an acceleration to it and discharges it in a jet
above the waterline at the stern. This jet reaction providing the
thrust to propel the ship
Advantages:

• There are no appendages and hence there is a reduction in

resistance
• Waterjet propulsion can be used in shallow water without
any limitation on the size of the pump
• Improved manoeuvrability, stopping and backing ability are
obtained
• There is no need to reverse the main engine, i.e. no
reversing gear is required in the propulsion plant
• The torque of the waterjet unit is constant over the complete
speed range, i.e. full power can be maintained at low
speeds without overloading the engine
• The speed of the ship from full ahead to full astern can be
controlled without altering the rpm of the engine
• A higher static thrust can be obtained permitting high
acceleration to full speed
• There is less noise and vibration
Disadvantages:
• The waterjet propulsion unit occupies considerable
space inside the ship, and the water passing through
causes a significant decrease in buoyancy
• It is necessary to provide a grating at the water inlet to
prevent debris from getting in and damaging the pump.
This grating decreases the efficiency of the system,
particularly as it gets clogged
• Waterjet propulsion is less efficient than conventional
screw propulsion at moderate speeds
• But for high speed craft, waterjets may have a higher
efficiency
• Waterjet propulsion should be considered for ships of
moderate size having speeds exceeding 25 knots
Bow Thrusters