Propeller design ekes out fuel efficiency
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
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With bunker prices reaching all-time highs, increasing fuel efficiency has taken on a greater importance. If a ship's bunker bill runs to $15,000 per day, even a 1% saving can add up over time. In particular, slowing down sailing speeds has been extensively explored and adopted by shipping companies. Engine and propeller makers, however, have been exploring the technological possibilities of achieving greater efficiency without affecting vessel speed.
Propulsion company Wärtsilä has recently made a number of improvements to its design of fixed-pitch propellers for ships and has focused on design parameters such as propeller size, the number of blades, and the revolutions-per-minute that it is run at.
Wärtsilä found that in could increase efficiency and fuel savings by 7.3% through a design optimisation process.
"Changing the design point of a propeller can achieve significant improvements in fuel consumption," it said.
Last year the company started a new production joint venture in China, Wartsila CME Zhenjiang Propeller Co Ltd., which will double its propeller production capacity.
The company expected significant demand for its products as, according to Wärtsilä, around 80% of newbuilds on the books will use fixed-pitch propellers of the type made at its production facility.
Late last year, it reported that it had received orders for 72 propellers from six Chinese shipbuilders for vessels due to be delivered between 2009 and 2011.
Bunker prices in major ports were headed higher today, according to Bunkerworld price information, making fuel bills for shipowners even higher.
Source: Sustainable Shipping
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