Session: 15-07-01 Ship Manoeuvring, Resistance and Propulsion

Submission Number: 182278

Propeller-Motor Matching Optimized Selection for an All-Electric Navy Ship 

Despite advancements in propeller design, integrating propeller characteristics with electric motor performance remains a challenge, especially in early-stage ship design where operational parameters are uncertain. This study presents an optimization framework for matching marine propellers with electric motors in all-electric Navy ships, aiming to minimize the propulsion motor’s shaft power while satisfying critical design constraints.

The proposed method utilizes a differential evolution algorithm to optimize propeller parameters—diameter, pitch ratio, expanded area ratio, and blade count—within the Wageningen B-screw series. Constraints related to cavitation, blade strength, tip velocity, and resonance are applied to ensure feasible and efficient designs. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations using OpenFOAM are employed to calculate still-water resistance, replacing traditional empirical methods for improved accuracy.

A case study involving a U.S. Navy vessel demonstrates the methodology’s effectiveness. Two design speeds, 19 knots and 30 knots, were selected based on the ship’s operational speed profile and energy consumption analysis. Optimization runs revealed that feasible propeller designs for 30 knots were significantly harder to achieve, requiring relaxation of multiple constraints. In contrast, the 19-knot design yielded a 22% reduction in brake power, while the 30-knot design achieved an 11% reduction.

Motor-propeller matching was conducted using synchronous motors from WEG Industries, considering both direct-drive and geared configurations. The study found that direct-drive systems with 32-pole motors were suitable for both optimized propeller designs, although minor speed overshoots occurred. Geared drives with 16-pole motors offered marginal energy benefits but introduced complexity and cost, making them less favorable unless strict speed requirements are imposed.

Overall, the optimization framework proved robust and adaptable, offering valuable insights for the early-stage design of electric propulsion systems. Future work will focus on refining constraint modeling, optimizing across full speed profiles, and integrating motor and gearbox design selection into the optimization process.

Presenting Author: Cristofer Hood Marques Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)

Presenting Author Biography: Crístofer Hood Marques is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Brazil, and a former research collaborator at Florida State University’s Center for Advanced Power Systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Ocean Engineering from COPPE/UFRJ and specializes in ship propulsion, marine energy systems, and decarbonization strategies for maritime transport. Dr. Marques has published extensively on ship energy efficiency and LNG carrier optimization and holds a patent application for a novel marine propulsion device.

Authors:

Cristofer Hood Marques Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)
Juan Carlos Ordonez FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
Jeferson Souza Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG)
Jean-David Caprace Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)