Design and operational concerns for podded propulsion

摘要

Following the introduction of podded propulsors the marine market demanded a rapid increase in size to in excess of 20MW. This increase led Lloyd's Register (LR) to undertake a major research programme into the loadings experienced by these propulsors and the way in which they are reacted by the individual components. Much emphasis was given to the practical problems of achieving the design intent both at the time of building and subsequently through life. The results of this work were used to update the Rules, originally published in July 2003, and in developing a system of survey procedures which embraced the practical problems of initial manufacture and assembly as well as dry-docking maintenance activities. Podded propulsors have only recently been introduced into the marine industry and derive from the concept of azimuthing thrusters which have been in common use for many years, the first application being in 1878. Indeed, many of the early design principles for podded propulsors were derived from azimuthing thruster practice. However, the demand for ever bigger pods occurred very rapidly during the latter half of the 1990s with units rising from a few megawatts in size to the largest which are now in excess of 20MW.