Propellers

Propellers

Provides the most important source of force on a ship.

(Usually) makes ship go forward.
Most ships have 2 propellers.
Aircraft carriers / Patrol Craft have 4.
Frigates have 1.

Propeller parts

A. Blade Tip
The maximum reach of the blade from the center of the propeller hub. It separates the
leading edge from the trailing edge.
B. Leading Edge
That part of the blade nearest the boat, which first cuts through the water. It extends
from the hub to the tip.
C. Trailing Edge
That part of the blade farthest from the boat. The edge from which the water leaves the
blade. It extends from the tip to the hub (near the diffuser ring on through-hub exhaust
propellers)
D. Cup
A small curve or lip on the trailing edge of the blade, permitting the propeller to hold
water better and normally
E. Blade Face
That side of the blade facing away from the boat, known as the positive pressure side of
the blade.
F. Blade Back
The side of the blade facing the boat, known as the negative pressure (or suction) side of
the blade.
G. Blade Root
The point in which the blade attaches to the hub.
H. Inner Hub
This contains the shock absorbing hub (described below). The forward end of the inner
hub is the metal surface which generally transmits the propeller thrust through the forward
thrust hub to the propeller shaft and in turn, eventually to the boat.

I.

Outer Hub
For through-hub exhaust propellers. The exterior surface is in direct contact
with the water. The blades are attached to the exterior surface. Its inner
surface is in contact with the exhaust passage and with the ribs which attach
the outer hub to the inner hub
J. Ribs
For through-hub exhaust propellers. The connections between the inner and
outer hub. There are usually three ribs, occasionally two, four, or five. The ribs
are usually either parallel to the propeller shaft ("straight"), or parallel to the
blades ("helical").
K. Flo-Torq Shock-Absorbing Rubber Hub
Rubber molded to an inner splined hub to protect the propeller drive system
from impact damage and to flex when shifting the engine, to relieve the
normal shift shock that occurs between the gear and clutch mechanism.
L. Diffuser Ring
Aids in reducing exhaust back pressure and in preventing exhaust gas from
feeding back into propeller blades.
M. Exhaust Passage
For through-hub exhaust propellers. The hollow area between the inner hub
and the outer hub through which engine exhaust gases are discharged into
the water. In some sterndrive installations using a through-transom exhaust
system, this passage carries air.

 Diameter is the distance across the circle made by the blade tips as the propeller
rotates
Diameter is determined primarily by the RPM at which the propeller will be turning and
the amount of power that will be delivered to the propeller through the shafts and gears.
The degree to which the propeller may operate in a partially surfaced condition, as well
as the intended forward velocity, will also play a role in determining the most desirable
diameter.

Pitch (*)
Pitch is the distance that a propeller would move in one revolution if it
were moving through a soft solid, like a screw in wood
measured on the face of the blade

Propellers
Forces resulting from the use of the propellers:
-Forward (or reverse) thrust
-Side Force
Side Force
Causes stern to move sideways in the direction of
propeller rotation.

Propeller Thrust
A result of the propeller spinning on its shaft.
Caused by a pressure differential between the opposite sides of the
propeller blade.

Resulting
Thrust
Low
Pressure
Propelle
r
Blade
High
Pressure

Water
Flow
Rotation of
propeller blade

Controlling Propeller Thrust

Depends on type of propellers
Fixed Pitch Propellers
Controllable Pitch Propellers

Fixed Pitch Propellers (*)

Found on diesel and steam ships especially on seagoing ship.
Cannot change pitch of propeller
Thrust (speed) controlled by changing speed of the shaft
To go backwards, must stop shaft and spin the shaft in the opposite
direction.

Controllable Pitch Propellers (*)

Found on all gas turbine ships and diesel ship especially warship.
0 - 12 kts:
I. shaft rotates at 55 RPM
II. thrust (speed) controlled by changing the pitch of the propeller blade
>12 kts
I. thrust controlled by changing the speed (RPM) of the shaft.

The shaft always spins in same direction whether going forward or backward.

Can change the position of the blades relative to the hub hence the pitch of
the propeller.

More flexible because you do not have to change shaft direction to change
ship direction

How Propellers Work

The "Push/Pull" Concept

right-hand rotation propeller

blade is rotating from top to bottom and is moving from left to
right.

At the time, water must rush in behind the blade to fill the space left by
the downward moving blade.
This results in a pressure differential between the two sides of the blade:
a positive pressure, or pushing effect, on the underside and a negative
pressure, or pulling effect, on the top side. This action, of course,
occurs on all the blades around the fall circle of rotation as the engine
rotates the propeller.