Novel fuel saving propulsion technologies for offshore and merchant vessels

En 200KWPMTT test thruster har blitt utviklet og kjørt verifisering av ny teknologi i mer enn 1500 timer. Forbedringer er gjennomført og nye 600 timer er gjort for å verifisere forbedringene. De to første PM Tunnel Thrustere ble levert til Hurtigruten i 2018. Thrusteren er testet i fabrikken med gode resultat. Vi har gjennomfører nå diverse kost-optimaliseringsaktiviteter på PM produktene. Vi har utviklet teknologi (TRL1-7) for magneter og innstøping og vi har laget beregningsverktøy for magnet-teknologi for PM thrustere og -vinsjer. Andre generasjons PM Thruster er under utvikling og planlagt gjennomført i 2019. Komposittpropell til PM test-thruster blir produsert i desember og monteres i løpet av februar 2019. Vi har også benyttet ervervet teknologi på eksisterende produkt for å redusere vekt, pris og øke effektivitet. Prototype av komponent vil bli ferdig for montering på eksisterende produkt i løpet av April 2019

- A composite propeller/rotor with improved performance - Validated encapsulation technology platform and ready to use. - POD design with PM technology and with overall improved performances. - PM Thruster with segmented magnets and yokes with new encapsulation - AZP-L including PM technology

The project implies development and demonstration of new propulsion concepts enabled by novel components for certain types of vessels from both Offshore and Merchant application areas, so that ship owners consider these concepts and components in their future investment plans. The innovations are anticipated to provide fuel savings in the range of 30-40% compared to widely used technologies and 10-20% compared to the best available technologies. Considerable emission reduction as well as additional benefits, e.g. maneuverability, are expected to be achieved. The project addresses: - Novel diesel-electric system topologies - Novel ouboard propulsors -- permanent magnet thruster concept suitable for scaling up to diameters of 2.5-4.5 m and powers of 2-5 MW, -- POD with contra-rotating propellers without mechanical gears, -- High-speed MiniPOD with better hydrodynamics. - Novel shaftline propulsor with contra-rotating propellers without mechanical gears and concentric shafts - New components -- composite propellers to be applied in all the novel propulsors, -- encapsulated segments - parts of electric machines, enabling automated production. - New materials and production methods, such as encapsulation, segmentation, VPI-free winding production. Heavy computing (FEA, CFD) and experiments are necessary for design and validation of all the mentioned technologies. Building and testing prototypes (down-scaled and full-scaled) of the propulsors in test tank, at MS Gunnerus and at a quay is considerable part of the project. The broad range of addressed concepts and technologies, calls for many partners with different competence and capability profiles - in total 9 partners from 3 countries.