MAN China pushes new Kappel propeller

Save fuel and better EEDI index

In today's market, green technology, fuel economy, energy optimization and improved propulsion system efficiency are more important than ever in new shipbuilding designs and retrofit and upgrade solutions for existing ships. The energy-saving and efficiency-enhancing technology solutions mastered by MAN are more mature than ever and will be applied in more solutions for customers. These energy-saving synergies include integrated fluid dynamics rudder blade rectification caps, high-efficiency rudders, hull flow guides, and draft tubes.

Compared with the traditional design, the new KAPPEL propeller blade design will save fuel consumption by up to 6%. It is important to note that this 6% is only the independent effect of the blade design itself, and does not depend on other measures. For example, the rudder blade rectifying caps that incorporate the propeller and the rudder are not included. Optimized propeller and propulsion efficiency help to reduce the ship's EEDI index and the ship's energy consumption design index. Every gram of fuel saved through an efficient propulsion solution makes transportation more energy efficient, like saving more than 6% here.

Regarding the energy-saving technology that MAN now has, both new shipbuilding projects and old ship modification and upgrade projects can benefit from it. In the old ship retrofit installation project, especially when the ship is unable to run at full speed and full power, MAN can provide more energy efficient propulsion system solutions including KAPPEL propellers of today's most advanced design level.

The hull is subjected to pressure shock wave reduction and G -machine advantage

Compared to conventional designs, the new KAPPEL design paddle has a lower pressure pulse, which means less spacing between the hull and the propeller blade, which means that a larger size and more efficient propeller can be used. Combined with the MAN-G diesel engine, the propulsion efficiency will be further developed. This ultra-long stroke, low-speed two-stroke G-type diesel engine has a longer stroke and lower speed, and the machine efficiency is also higher. At the same time, it can be equipped with a larger, more efficient propeller, which will be the choice for the future optimization of ship energy consumption. With this combination, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by up to 10%.

MAN ALPHA propeller (fixed pitch model 1:28). The traditionally designed 4-blade paddle, the new KAPPEL leaf slightly fin-shaped design 5 blade paddle (as shown in the previous figure). Like the adjustable paddles, MAN ALPHA fixed-pitch power ranges from 4-40 MW and can be matched to MAN B&W G80ME-C9 series low-speed diesel engines.

MAN ALPHA KAPEEL propeller blade slightly fin design features and advantages: due to the difference between the drainage surface of the paddle and the pressure of the water absorption surface, the water will flow from the high pressure area to the low pressure area, thus generating eddy current at the tip end of the leaf. The result is that the pressure on both sides will be balanced near the tip of the blade, reducing the propulsive efficiency of the tip of the propeller blade. KAPPEL is designed to minimize the flow of water from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, while allowing the high pressure side water to flow outside the propeller area, thus maintaining the pressure difference between the two sides of the blade, thereby providing more thrust for the propeller. This improves the overall efficiency of the KAPPEL design propeller compared to conventional designs.