Pod designs the way forward for ship propulsion

摘要

Motors for ships can be fitted to conventional propellers, but much advantage can be obtained by fitting them inside pods under the stern of the ship. These can be rotated through 360° to improve manoeuvrability, particularly for cruise liners or, in the case of ice breaking ships, to pull them in reverse so they break the ice with their reinforced sterns.rnAzipod propellers are found to be more efficient if they pull, rather than push. The 158,000 tonne Royal Caribbean cruise liner Freedom of the Seas uses three 14MW Azipods. But this liner will soon be dwarfed by the 220,000 tonne Oasis of the Seas, due to be launched later this year by Finnish shipyard STX Europe. Her sister ship Allure of the Seasrnwill be launched in 2010.rnThese monsters, which will carry 5400 passengers and 3000 crew, will be powered by three 20MW Azipods withrnelectromagnet synchronous rotors and shaft mounted exciters. Power is delivered to the rotatable motor pods through slip rings. The motors run at between 100 and 180rpm.