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Swirl Energy News

05 Apr 2016

Pioneering Container Feeder Vessel Designs

ECX-3800 3800 TEU Feeder Vessel (Image: KNUD E. HANSEN)

The Danish naval architect company KNUD E. HANSEN has recently been developing a number of container feeder vessel designs. Each of the designs presents a series of innovations as part of a solution tailored to specific requirements. The first in the series of three designs relates to a 2000 TEU vessel that was conceived of to specialise in calling at small, narrow, up-river ports, for example the Port of Bangkok, Thailand. Navigating such harbours requires a vessel to have a shallow draught – in the case of Bangkok, not more than 8.2 metres.

05 Jun 2013

Promas With Nozzle Offers Imporved Fuel Efficiency

Promas is a Rolls-Royce propulsion system that integrates the open-water propeller and rudder of a conventional shaftline into a hydrodynamically-efficient entity. A tapered hubcap is fitted to the hub of the propeller and leads the water flow on to a bulb which forms part of the spade rudder. The rudder has a twisted leading edge, optimized for the flow from the propeller, which converts into additional forward thrust some of the swirl energy in the slipstream that is normally lost.

02 Feb 2006

Rolls-Roycce Debuts Integrated Prop, Bulb, Rudder Design

For several years Rolls-Royce has been using its design and test facilities to study the interactions between hull, propeller and rudder. The result is an innovative Rolls-Royce propulsion system, which is initially being promoted for single screw vessels operating at up to 17 knots. The system comprises a bulb, hubcap and twisted rudder used in combination to smooth the flow of water from the propeller as it passes over the rudder, improving the propulsive efficiency and reducing fuel consumption. As the illustration shows, a tapered hubcap is fitted to the hub of the propeller and this leads the water flow on to a bulb which forms part of the spade rudder. Propeller slipstream does not run straight aft; it has a swirl component because of propeller rotation.

12 Feb 2003

Podded Propulsion: A 360°

The evolution of podded propulsion systems has gained steam in recent years, as a number of notable new systems have entered the market with new options. The era of podded propulsion is here and now, and despite some technical glitches with the systems - notably faster than anticipated bearing wear - it is safe to assume that the system's popularity will only grow with experience. Pods, obviously, are not the single solution for every marine application. As with any other technology, limitations exist. However, podded propulsion solutions have opened more marine technological avenues than they have closed as Harri Kulovaara, senior vice president of fleet operations and newbuilding…