TECHNOLOGY INFO

Steerprop
AZIMUTH PROPULSION

STEERPROP BASIC FEATURES

Some of the basic features included in the design and engineering of all Steerprop propulsors are presented in this leaflet. Some of the shown elements are optional, but most are belong to the basic characteristics.

Electric Steering Motors

Steerprop propulsors are equipped with a modern frequency converter controlled steering system, comprising direct electric steering motors - hydraulic motors are available as an option. The use of electric motors offer the following advantages: - constant steering speed - less power required - less power loss / better efficiency - less heat generation -> less cooling - less piping - less noise - less maintenance

One of the corner stones in the Steerprop basic design is to use commercially available parts in the assembly to a maximum extent. The number of proprietary parts is kept as small as possible. Using standard parts of wellknown manufacturers, reliability is improved and spare parts are available anywhere to facilitate maintenance and possible repair. Steerprop propulsors are equipped with a multi-disc clutch with slipping facility. As an option this facility may be utilised by electronic control and increased cooling to provide a controlled propeller speed between zero and prime mover idle speed.

Few Proprietary Parts

Pressurised Lubrication System

The gears and bearings in the upper gearbox are pressure lubricated, combined with an ejector based oil level control, keeping the oil level constant irrespective of oil temeprature. This enables a better control of the lubrication as well as improves the efficency of the unit thanks to smaller friction, resulting in less power loss and heat generation. The steering tube is sealed using triple lip seals, installed with stainless steel liners to minimize wear. The outermost seal is turned downwards to minimize collection of dirt that may wear out the seals. The triple seal assembly enables the facility to flush the seal chamber of propeller shaft seals

Speed Control Clutch

Triple Steeringtube Seals

All joints in the power train are either conical or cylindrical shrink fit joints. There are no keyways to deteriorate the integrity of the shafts, nor keys that may wear and break.

Keyless Shrink-fit Joints

Fabricated Steel Structure

The Steerprop Propulsor housing is made of fabricated steel. Utilising the properties of the steel a precise strength control as well as a constant quality is achieved. It also allows for faster delivery times and size flexibility. Fabricated steel is easy to maintain and repair, in case of an accident to the unit. The propeller shaft is sealed using either triple or quadruple ring-type, seals. The space between the seals is filled with a seal fluid under pressure against sea water / lubrication oil . The pressure is provided with either a header tank or a pressurized tank. The sealing fluid can be monitored and flushed.

The Steerprop R&D engineers have succeeded to minimize the amount of parts in the construction of Steerprop propulsors. This simplified and more reliable construction leads to easier maintenance and less spare parts. The Steerprop propulsors have been designed to be as compact as possible. This enables azimuth propulsors also to be used on vessel designs with low main decks, with little space beneath.

Number of Parts Minimized Compact Propulsor Size Sequential Strength Principle

FlushFluid Shaft Seals

SHAFTS GEAR WHEELS INTERNAL SHAFT COUPLINGS SHRINK-FIT JOINTS CLUTCH PROPELLER
200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Steerprop propulsors are engineered with an in-built security in both the housing and the power train. This comprises a sequential strength principle, where the weakest parts are either cheap or easily replaced - important in case of an accident. In the power transmission the weakest component is a blade of the propeller, thus protecting valuable and hard to access components of the power train. Within the overall strength of the housing structures attention is also paid to safety: the bolted flange in the steering tube above the propeller is dimensioned to break in a controlled manner in case of an overwhelming impact, e.g. grounding

High Performance Nozzle

Steerprop uses its own in-house designed high-performance nozzle, the HJ3. The nozzle is designed to provide an 8-10% increase in bollard pull, but also an increase in maximum efficiency of 10-15% compared to standard type nozzles. The propeller is situated in the diffusor part of the nozzle, comparably far aft, enabling the nozzle to be installed close to the pivoting axis of the propulsor, thus, minimizing steering torque.

Percentage of nominal torque

STEERPROP CONTRA-ROTATING PROPELLERS

Dual End CRP
The new dual-end CRP - developed by Steerprop - combines the well-recognized benefits of CRP with those of a pulling propulsion unit. There are basically two physical features behind the efficiency gain offered by a propulsion unit with contra-rotating propellers: First, and most well known, is the aft propeller recovering the swirl energy left behind by the forward propeller !
Second is the splitting of the power not only between two propellers but also between two gear-sets. This makes it possible to reduce the propeller RPM and have two large propellers with light load and low speed of rotation. A combination that yields a very high propeller efficiency. Additionally, also the frictional losses are reduced because of the low RPM.

STEERPROP CONTROL SYSTEM

Instead of designing and manufacturing a control system containing proprietary components and software, Steerprop has chosen to use contemporary industrial automation system technology and standard components and software. This solution enables fast and flexible local procurement of spare parts as well as service and maintenance by any local automation expert.

Modern Automation System

! ! !

A propulsion unit with a pulling propeller offers an undisturbed flow to the propeller. This means:

Less noise and vibrations due to better cavitation behaviour and lower pressure pulses Tip clearance can be reduced enabling a larger propeller to be used and thus higher efficiency The presence of the pod behind the propeller offers an additional gain: The pod geometry may be designed to create a pressure wave in front of it, which acts like an additional wake for the forward propeller. The increase in propeller thrust due to this unique interaction between pod and pulling propeller practically cancels the pod drag.

Equipped with Several Levels of Redundancy The Steerprop control system is provided with back-up on several levels, ensuring that the control of the vessel is never lost. In case of failure in the main control system, an indicator shows the failure and the back-up system is manually switched on. Hydraulic Steering The control system for a vessel with direct driven diesel engines the redundancy is provided on up to five levels: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Wheelhouse main control Wheelhouse back-up control Close-by control Direct hydraulic control Handpump for maintenance steering

SCU
FC

Features

Pulling propeller for high efficiency and smooth wake

Wheelhouse Instruments
S = Steering setting potentiometer R = Prime mover rpm setting B = Back-up selection (off)

Optimal power split: 60% forward - 40% aft

D
F I

Inverters
D = Inverter

Electric Steering

Built-on Instruments

Optimal aft propeller diameter 80% of forward propeller diameter

! ! Aft propeller clear of forward propeller tip vortices Larger tip clearance for aft propeller

The control system for a vessel with dieselelectric drive and an electric motor prime mover the redundancy is provided on up to four levels: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Wheelhouse main control Wheelhouse back-up control Close-by control Direct electric control Manual device

M
Steering Gear

M
Brake

M = Steering motor F = Feedback potentiometer I = Secondary feedback potentiometer N = Input rpm O = Propeller rpm

Steerpop Control Unit - SCU

Prime Mover L = Local / Remote selection FC = Follow-up Control

Steerprop Azimuth Propulsor

Efficiency gain offered by CRP !

! ! Contra-rotating aft propeller - Swirl recovery Large, slow propellers - Increased ideal efficiency Low RPM - Reduced frictional losses

The flexibility in the system structure and application software makes it possible to tailor-make the azimuth propulsor control system for
- According to Vessel Type and Operation Profile different kind of applications and operating profiles.

Pulling propeller - pod interaction overcomes pod drag

- According to Prime Mover Type The Steerprop control system can easily be connected to different types of prime movers, e.g. direct diesel drive with either wide or narrow rpm control area, electric drive or speed modulating clutch.

Taylored System Structure

Advantages

Cavitation-free operation in free running conditions Low noise and vibrations due to clean inflow to the pulling forward propeller Higher efficiency than any other propulsor ! ! ! 3-5% higher than pushing CRP 12-15% higher than tandem propellers 20-25% higher than single propeller

Advanced Service and Maintenance Technology One great advantage is remote service assistance. The basic system provide the possibility to connect a remote expert via a mobile phone directly to the control system. Of course it is also possible to send software updates and records via email - or snailmail as memory units - from experts to local service and vice versa. Advanced System Monitoring The control system comprises a data log for a lot of different data in order to e.g. help building and following a preventive maintenance programme. Amongst logged data is running hours, load distribution, steering and clutch operation. All alarms and last alarms with time labels are also continuously recorded. Simple and Informative Operator Interface The operator interface is the main source of information in both normal and abnormal situations. Steerprop has thus put a lot of emphasis to make it as easy and informative as possible. The different indications are simple and easy to enable the operator as well as service and maintenance personnel to maintain the system.

Sequential Strength Principle

FACTORY ACCEPTANCE TEST

Maximum Input Power [kW]
The prior-to-dispatch factory acceptance tests FAT - are done in the specific Steerprop test facility that functions also as a laboratory for the R&D. Every propulsion unit is subjected to test program before departing the factory.
6000 5500 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000
SP 10

POWER RANGE
Steerprop

Full Torque Test

The full torque test is comprehensive method to reveal and eliminate the flaws and faults in the structure, bearing assemblies and the gearing. The prime factors to make the test effective on Steerprop Azimuth Propulsors are ! ! Precise roller bearings Welded body structures having accurately calculable deflection pattern under load

In the full torque test the power train is submitted to torque against the brake corresponding to that of full power. Every teeth in the gear sets are tested.

SP 50

SP 25

SP 60

SP 18

SP 20

SP 35

SP 14

SP 40

SP 30

SP 45

SP 70

Steerprop Type
NOTE: The power shown in this graph is maximum continuous input power. However, the maximum input power recommended and accepted by Steerprop Ltd. may be lower, depending on thruster type, application, classification (e.g. ice class), vessel operational profile etc. Please contact Steerprop Ltd. or the nearest representative for actual project data. The data given above is for information only. Steerprop reserves the right to make changes and alterations to all or any of above give data without prior notice

Running Test

The propulsors are run at full speed whereupon times, pressures, temperatures, leaks, noise and vibrations are observed and measured on the following functions: ! ! ! Lubrication Seals Steering speed

INSTALLATION OPTIONS

The steering and clutch functions are adjusted and tested by connecting the control system to propulsors.

Control System Test

All the controls, main controls, back-up controls and local controls are connected according to relevant cable diagrams and tested together with the propulsors. During these tests tuning and adjustments of the software and hardware are made. Reaction times, ramps, temperatures etc. are measured and monitored. The alarms are checked and tested as are possible actuators, inverters and motors. The through tests ensures that the total control system and all it's components is working faultlessly and that custommade cabling diagrams are correct. Small mounting adapter Weld-in Large mounting adapter

The Steerprop propulsors are available with three basic installation modes: with small mounting adapter for easy bolt-in installation in two parts or in one part from below; with a large mounting adapter for installation as one complete lift-in unit and as a weld-in installation, where special care has bee taken to prevent possible heat distortions due to welding. Other custom made - installation modes are also available if required.

SP 80

500

Steerprop Ltd. is a company dedicated to producing superior quality azimuth propulsors. The company is concentrating on one single product line only, to be able to offer the customer the quality and lifetime economy he expects and deserves. No nonsense, hocus-pocus or extra packaging - just azimuth propulsors. For the maritime industry and for the offshore oil and gas industries.
Steerprop Technology Info v. 1.0 - November 2002 - Steerprop Ltd. 2002

Steerprop
Steerprop Ltd.
P.O. Box 217 FIN-26101 RAUMA Finland e-mail: steerprop@steerprop.com phone: +358 2 8387 7900 fax: +358 2 8387 7910

www.steerprop.com