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Assignment 1

Propulsion systems generate force to move objects through different mediums. Marine propulsion specifically refers to mechanisms that generate thrust to move ships or boats through water. Common modern systems use mechanical power from engines or motors to turn propellers or impellers. There are many types of marine propulsion systems including diesel, which is most common and powers almost all vessel types; wind and solar, which are alternative green options; nuclear for naval vessels; gas turbine for naval and merchant ships; and fuel cells, biodiesel, water-jet, and diesel-electric which are also used on various vessel types depending on needs and requirements.

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665 views6 pages

Assignment 1

Propulsion systems generate force to move objects through different mediums. Marine propulsion specifically refers to mechanisms that generate thrust to move ships or boats through water. Common modern systems use mechanical power from engines or motors to turn propellers or impellers. There are many types of marine propulsion systems including diesel, which is most common and powers almost all vessel types; wind and solar, which are alternative green options; nuclear for naval vessels; gas turbine for naval and merchant ships; and fuel cells, biodiesel, water-jet, and diesel-electric which are also used on various vessel types depending on needs and requirements.

Uploaded by

TommyVercetti
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Types of Propulsion

Propulsion is a means of creating force leading to movement. A propulsion system has a source of
mechanical power (some type of engine or motor, muscles), and some means of using this power to
generate force, such as wheel and axles, propellers, a propulsive nozzle, wings, fins or legs.
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across
water. hile paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by
mechanical systems consisting of a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less fre!uently, in "et drives,
an impeller. Marine engineering is the discipline concerned with the design of marine propulsion
systems.
Different Types of Marine Propulsion Systems
#sing propulsion forces, ships are able to manoeuvre themselves in the water. $nitially while there were
limited number of ship propulsion systems, in the present era there are several innovative ones with
which a vessel can be fitted with.
%oday ship propulsion is not "ust about successful movement of the ship in the water. $t also includes
using the best mode of propulsion to ensure a better safety standard for the marine ecosystem along with
cost efficiency.
&ome of the various types of propulsion systems used in ships can be enumerated as follows'
Diesel Propulsion: (iesel propulsion system is the most commonly used marine propulsion
system converting mechanical energy from thermal forces. (iesel propulsion systems are mainly
used in almost all types of vessels along with small boats and recreational vessels.
Wind Propulsion: ind propulsion emerged as an alternative to those systems which emit
huge !uantities of )*
+
gases in the marine atmosphere. ,owever, the usage of wind turbine
marine propulsion has not started extensively in large commercial ships because of a re!uirement
of constant windiness. %wo wind propulsion systems for ships that have become lately are- .ite
propulsion and sail propulsion for merchant ships.
Nuclear Propulsion: /aval vessels incorporate the usage of nuclear maritime propulsion. #sing
the nuclear fission process, nuclear propulsion is a highly complex system consisting of water
reactors and other e!uipments to fuel the vessel. %he nuclear reactors in the ships are also used to
generate electricity for the ship. &everal merchant ships are also being planned to be constructed
with this propulsion system
Gas Turbine Propulsion: 0as turbine propulsion is used for naval as well as non-naval ships. $n
case of naval ships, the gas turbine propulsion system aids in faster movement of the ships which
is necessary in case of the ship coming under attac..
Fuel Cell Propulsion: 1uel cell propulsion systems use hydrogen as the main fuel component.
2lectricity is created in the fuel cell without any combustion whatsoever. %he process is clean
and therefore has been regarded as a very important alternative marine propulsion system. %here
are various types of propulsion under the fuel cell propulsion head li.e P2M (Photon-2xchange-
Membrane) and the molten-carbonate systems.
Biodiesel Fuel Propulsion: 3iodiesel propulsion has been deemed as a potential marine
propulsion system for the future. )urrently tests are being carried out to find out about the
viability of this propulsion system which is expected to be in full operation by the year +456.

Solar Propulsion: &olar propulsion for ships was utilised for the first time in the year +447.
&olar propulsion benefits include a high reduction in the poisonous carbon dioxide emissions.
&olar propulsions are capable of generating a capacitance as high as 84 .ilowatts (.).
Steam Turbine Propulsion: &team turbine propulsion involves the usage of coal or other steam-
generating fuels to propel the vessel. &team turbine maritime propulsion system was highly
utilised between the late 59
th
and the early +4
th
century.
Diesel-lectric Propulsion: $n simple terms, diesel-electric ship propulsion systems use a
combination of a generator operated by electricity attached to a diesel motor. %he technology has
been in use since the early 5944s. $n today:s times, submarines and merchant ships incorporate
the diesel-electric propulsion system to propel themselves.
Water-!et Propulsion: ater-"et propulsion has been used since the year 59;8. %he most
important advantage of water-"et propulsion is that it does not cause noise pollution and offers a
high speed to the vessels. $n contrast the water-"et propulsion as a ship propulsion system is
costlier to maintain which can cause problems to the user.
Gas fuel or Tri Fuel Propulsion' </0 fuel is now utilised to be burnt in the Main 2ngine after
adopting some modification in the propulsion engine to reduce emission from the ship. $t is
.nown as tri fuel because it can burn gas fuel, diesel and heavy fuel.

%he various types of propulsion systems offer their own uni!ue advantages to a vessel. (epending on
the necessity and the re!uirement, the best type of ship propulsion system needs to be fitted. *nly then
the vessel will be able to offer its optimum service capacitance.
Various Types of Ships

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