PODS IN SERVICE - Safety and reliability of podded propulsors under service conditions
Overview
Background & policy context:
The innovation of podded propulsors has developed fast both technically and in commercial acceptance in the shipping industry. The concept of an azimuthing submerged electrically driven pull propeller provides various economic, safety and comfort advantages. Vessel layout, assembly, propulsion efficiency increase, safer navigation in restricted waters and a significant increase in comfort on board due to vibration and noise reduction have all contributed to a swift acceptance of the podded propulsors by the maritime industry.
Developments in this field so far, are concentrated at European propulsion system manufacturers and European yards, which are the market leaders in the design, construction and operation of large cruise liners and ferries. Podded propulsors are considered as key technology for these ship types as well as various others.
Objectives:
Starting with cruise liners and ferries operating in fairly mild conditions, it is expected that podded propellers will be applied on various other ship types such as sea-river ships, coastal vessels and navy ships in the near future. To realize such applications and to incorporate this key technology in a competitive industry, the improvement of structural integrity and reliability of podded propulsor and ship hull is essential.
PODS IN SERVICE has been aiming to:
- Assess and evaluate the reliability and integrity of podded propulsors under operational conditions, comprising extreme loads during harsh conditions such as imposed by severe waves and manoeuvres, cumulative fatigue loads and 'incident loads and responses', such as originating from emergency manoeuvres and crash stops; and
- provide computational methods for determining these loads in the design and engineering stage.
Methodology:
To achieve the above objectives the following tasks were identified:
- Concurrent measurement campaign on-board four pod-driven ships, namely two cruise liners, a ropax ferry and a supply vessel;
- data analysis;
- modelling;
- computational methods; and
- evaluation.
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