Resistance of Idle Propellers in Marine Multi-propeller Propulsion Systems

The configuration of a marine propulsion system is selected with regard to the maximum power resulting from its maximum design speed and displacement. The propulsion systems of high speed vessels use three or even four propellers, and each propulsion unit may be multi-engine. High speed vessels are designed for maximum speeds, but their factual exploitation speed parameters are usually considerably lower partial speed. In such cases particular propulsion propellers and engines need to be shut down. The idle propellers are dragged by the hull and they work in the so-called turbine work mode; they transfer torque to the shaft and generate negative thrust, i.e. additional resistance. Additional resistance contributes to reducing estimated speed of a vessel and increasing fuel consumption. What is more, torque generated on a propeller is transferred to the shaft and when friction resistance torque in shaft stuffing-boxes and bearings, transmission and, possibly, the propulsion engine is exceeded, mobile components rotate as a result, reaching considerable rotational speed values. Torque and thrust on a propeller in this work mode may be estimated on the grounds of universal hydrodynamic characteristics of propellers. Universal hydrodynamic characteristics of propellers are used as reversion characteristics in evaluating the steering properties of a vessel, and may be useful in evaluating resistance of freewheeling and locked propellers in marine multi-shaft propulsion systems. This paper presents charts of universal hydrodynamic characteristics of propellers for the full range of their rotational speed, the methodology and an example of calculating resistance of freewheeling and locked propellers for the given marine propulsion system.