Rolls-Royce has successfully completed a year of sea trials of its new Azimuth Permanent Magnet Thruster which it made available to customers for the first time at this year’s SMM exhibition.
The thruster has been in operation aboard the 31m long research vessel Gunnerus, owned by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) since April 2015 and has clocked up 3000 hours of operation.
Gunnar Johnsen, Rolls-Royce, Head of Electrical System R&T – Marine, said: “We expect to see a reduction of 50% on the maintenance costs and in case of any maintenance, our condition based monitoring system shows you the current health of the units and allows you to plan maintenance ahead.”
Over the course of the trial researchers found a high motor efficiency, 97% at nominal speed and high over the whole load range, an increase in bollard pull (+20%) and speed – approximately one knot over the range for the same input power – with airborne and structural noise readings lower or similar to previous performance. Hydro acoustic noise was also improved.
The thruster has fewer moving parts than conventional thrusters. It combines a ring-type permanent magnet for motors, propeller and nozzle in a tightly integrated propulsion unit. Simple bearings in the rotor hub carry all loads and only a small oil circulation pump is required.
This system carries less oil than conventional thrusters reducing the risk of environmental damage if spilled. The system uses biodegradable oil, which has the Vessel General Permit (VGP) for Environmental Acceptable Lubrications (EAL) approval.
The thruster has been in operation aboard the 31m long research vessel Gunnerus, owned by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) since April 2015 and has clocked up 3000 hours of operation.
Gunnar Johnsen, Rolls-Royce, Head of Electrical System R&T – Marine, said: “We expect to see a reduction of 50% on the maintenance costs and in case of any maintenance, our condition based monitoring system shows you the current health of the units and allows you to plan maintenance ahead.”
Over the course of the trial researchers found a high motor efficiency, 97% at nominal speed and high over the whole load range, an increase in bollard pull (+20%) and speed – approximately one knot over the range for the same input power – with airborne and structural noise readings lower or similar to previous performance. Hydro acoustic noise was also improved.
The thruster has fewer moving parts than conventional thrusters. It combines a ring-type permanent magnet for motors, propeller and nozzle in a tightly integrated propulsion unit. Simple bearings in the rotor hub carry all loads and only a small oil circulation pump is required.
This system carries less oil than conventional thrusters reducing the risk of environmental damage if spilled. The system uses biodegradable oil, which has the Vessel General Permit (VGP) for Environmental Acceptable Lubrications (EAL) approval.
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