ABB anticipates an unit of Azipod propulsion that it more offers of 2% than increment on the hydrodynamic efficiency



Helvetic group ABB has announced to have obtained, thanks to recent changes in the design of the unit of propulsion Azipod, an increment more of 2% on the total hydrodynamic efficiency of such system. The company has specified that such modifications include a newest form of the fin and a new structure of the advanced pointed hood, called X-tail. The structure so magazine of the fin - it has explained ABB - receives the flow of the water from the propeller towards a new angle-shot, less acute, and, thanks to its new bent design, reindirizza the flow in more efficient way. The new X-tail of the unit, installed for the structure of the advanced pointed hood, straightens the flow of the water on the emission of the Azipod propeller, reducing the vortices created from the water.

"The system of Azipod propulsion - Tomi Veikonheimo has remembered, head of the hydrodynamic section of Marine ABB - exists on the market gives about 20 years and, in all these years, many improvements to hydrodynamic level have been capacities. However, from this point of view, the system still has a large margin of potential: many new ideas are in phase of study, test and application, in order to increase the efficiency in I use it of the fuel of the ship".

The new type of Azipod is installed for the first time last May on the cruise ship Radiance of the Seas of property of Royal Caribbean International. Next navigations from May to september - it has emphasized ABB - of it have testified the benefits having recorded, in comparazione to its twin ship and its operating range, more of 2% of the hydrodynamic efficiency.

"The improvements measured in the efficiency of the use of fuels on the Radiance of the Seas - Anders Aasen has declared, associate vice-president for services Technical of Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Cruises - are an oxygen puff regarding the increase of the dear oil. Any improvement in the employment of fuels, will help us in future on the impact of the operating costs".

Being based on the positive results of the test, ABB will include these improvements in the new units Azipod XO and will supply the maintenance and the old substitution of Azipod VO and XO on the already existing ships.

Today beyond 100 ships they are equipped with Azipod propulsion and more than 240 units they are delivered or they are in order, for a total of about seven million hours/operating reliabilities in the naval applications more demanding as for example for the ships icebreaker, cruise ships of luxury, ships from exploration, ships from support for the operations offshore, platforms from drilling, ferry and megayacht.