Propulsion: VSP: Same Power, 9% More Bollard Pull

With the commissioning of the Norway's Bukser og Berging Voith Water Tractor Baut, the improved characteristics of the new Voith Schneider Propeller (VSP) blades were demonstrated. The bollard pull — as supervised by DNV — was improved by nine percent while using the same input power.

The VSP is designed to provide accurate, stepless and extremely swift thrust variations in accordance with XY coordinates. In order to improve the hydrodynamic characteristics of the VSP further, a new generation of blades has been developed. The basis for the successful development is the numeric simulation of the fluid dynamics (CFD = Computational Fluid Dynamics). The CFD method initially serves to optimize the shape of the propeller blade; it also provides the exact loads for the structural and mechanical optimization by using the Finite Element Method (FEM).

The new VSP blades for the propeller size 36R6/255-2 represent an important step towards the further improvement of the hydromechanics of Voith Schneider Propellers.

For new propellers, the new profiles will be standard; any further improvements can be realized with immediate effect. Voith, founded in 1867, has a long history in the marine propulsion field. With 24,000 employees and annual sales of about $3 billion, it is one of the largest of Europe's family-owned companies.