Diesel Electric Marine Propulsion Systems

Usually diesel electric propulsion plants operate a fp propeller via a variable speed drive.

Diesel electric marine propulsion systems.

When the prime mover is a diesel engine then it is called diesel electrical propulsion. It is characterized only by the type of prime mover with no reference to the type of electrical propulsion motor. This system involves generators producing electricity that drives an electric motor unit that turns the propeller shaft or other propulsion device such as azipods see below the system that drives most multi directional tugs uses a modification of this system whereby the electric propulsion system drives the so called paddle wheels that create a water thrust. Wärtsilä has delivered the low noise diesel electric propulsion systems for many research and survey vessels.

As the propeller operates always on design pitch in low speed sailing its efficiency is increased when running at lower revolution compared to a constant speed driven cp propeller. The most reliable and low noise design is the direct drive. The electrical propulsion arrangement for a ship is often described as a diesel electric or turbo electric system. The company has developed in house capability to design genset packages and support diesel electric vessels long offering custom packages through the cummins marine.

The most commonly used diesel electrical propulsion systems are not a new concept. In the past these systems were usually diesel engine driven d c generators that supplied power.