https://newatlas.com/marine/abb-dynafin-marine-propulsion/ * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories (c) 2024 New Atlas New Atlas logo Menu * HOME * LIFESTYLE + Health & Wellbeing + Outdoors + Tiny Houses + Architecture + Around the Home + Good Thinking + Holiday Destinations + View all LIFESTYLE categories * SCIENCE + Energy + Medical + Space + Materials + Biology + Environment + Physics + View all SCIENCE categories * TECHNOLOGY + Photography + Military + Mobile Technology + Games + Drones + Home Entertainment + Deals + View all TECHNOLOGY categories * TRANSPORT + Automotive + Aircraft + Bicycles + Motorcycles + Marine + Urban Transport + View all TRANSPORT categories * SUBSCRIBE AD-FREE * LOG IN Show Search [ ]Search Query Submit Search Marine ABB's cycloidal marine propellers: Efficient thrust in any direction By Paul Ridden April 12, 2024 * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn Inline image / # ABB's cycloidal marine propellers: Efficient thrust in any direction ABB describes the Dynafin concept as "essentially a cycloidal propeller with individually controlled blades" ABB describes the Dynafin concept as "essentially a cycloidal propeller with individually controlled blades" ABB View 6 Images 1/6 ABB describes the Dynafin concept as "essentially a cycloidal propeller with individually controlled blades" ABB 2/6 "The ABB Dynafin generates thrust by means of profiled blades that project from the bottom of the ship. Each blade can rotate both around the global axis of a main wheel and around its own local axis, which acts as a pivot point for enforcing a prescribed pitch motion. The thrusting blades' trajectories resemble those of the tails of whales and dolphins." ABB 3/6 The vertical blades can be used simultaneously for steering and propulsion, negating the need for a rudder ABB 4/6 "Each blade is individually controlled by an electric motor, a frequency converter (to control torque and rpm) and control logic" ABB 5/6 Graphic showing fluid flow around individual blades ABB 6/6 Independent testing of a passenger vessel fitted with different propulsion systems found that the ABB Dynafin managed energy savings of up to 22% compared to conventional shaftline configurations ABB [icon-mouse-sc] View gallery - 6 images Swiss marine giant ABB has spent more than a decade developing a radically different Voith-Schneider take on a marine propeller. The Dynafin system promises up to 85% efficiency, while giving a vessel super-precise maneuvering capabilities. Earlier this month, we featured a Whale Design propeller that looked to nature for improved efficiency. Switzerland's ABB Marine has also been inspired by "the dynamic motions of a whale's tail" for its multi-blade Dynafin propulsion concept. ABB Marine says that if the shipping industry was a country, it would be the sixth largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. The International Maritime Organization has set a target of 50% reductions of global emissions by 2050, compared to levels in 2008, and now the race is on to find and use cleaner fuels and technologies to help meet these goals. "These challenges require smarter solutions to keep things moving while still consuming less energy," said ABB's Janne Pohjalainen. "ABB has long been at the forefront of propulsion innovation, having undertaken a major step with the launch of the first generation Azipod system in the 1990s, which changed the way ship operate today... Now it's time to take the next big leap with our latest innovation that is inspired by the movement perfected by evolution." The Dynafin concept has been more than a decade in research and development, and is described as essentially a cycloidal propeller - where vertical blades are mounted to a spinning circular plate to provide thrust. It's not a new idea, the Cyclogyro from and few years back took the setup to eVTOLs while Voith Schneider props have seen use by the US and French Navies. "Each blade is individually controlled by an electric motor, a frequency converter (to control torque and rpm) and control logic" ABB For ABB's take on the design, an electric motor drives a large disc on the underside of a ship or boat, which spins at between 40 and 80 revolutions per minute as needed. The concept shows five independently controllable blades mounted below the disc, sitting equidistant along the circular edge - though the setup can run from four to six modules. The combined efforts of wheel and blades generate propulsion in a motion likened to that of the tail of dolphin or whale. An onboard control system can rotate each blade around its own axis in real-time for simultaneous propulsion and steering of the vessel without needing to install a rudder. ABB is promising instant thrust control, precise dynamic positioning capabilities and superior maneuverability, and is aiming for an open-water efficiency of up to 85%. The modular concept can also be optimized for different operator needs, different ship types and hull types. Among the claimed advantages over more conventional propeller designs is a notable improvement in efficiency that could lead to significant savings on fuel costs for combustion engine vessels, with fewer emissions as an added bonus. The system boasts a relatively low component count too, which should make for reduced maintenance costs. Independent testing of a passenger vessel fitted with different propulsion systems found that the ABB Dynafin managed energy savings of up to 22% compared to conventional shaftline configurations ABB It should also be possible to run a boat on a more compact power plant, with ABB noting that this could be of particular significance for vessels running electric, fuel-cell or hybrid systems where large battery banks can take up valuable cargo space. Such vessels can operate in "sensitive marine areas" too, thanks to the motors being housed within the host vessel's hull for reduced underwater noise, combined with the relatively "low-pressure pulses and blade-tip speeds" creating less turbulence. It's not clear at this stage whether such a system could be painlessly retrofitted to existing ships and boats, or at what price to owners, though it could open up a world of new possibilities for designers of new builds. The project, which was first unveiled mid-2023, is still at the concept stage of development at the moment. ABB reports that successful simulations and scale-model testing have been undertaken, and contact made with ship designers "to validate the feasibility of the concept." In fact, independent testing of a passenger vessel fitted with different propulsion systems found that the ABB Dynafin solution managed energy savings of 22% compared to conventional shaftline configurations. The first full prototype is coming next year. "The ABB Dynafin generates thrust by means of profiled blades that project from the bottom of the ship. Each blade can rotate both around the global axis of a main wheel and around its own local axis, which acts as a pivot point for enforcing a prescribed pitch motion. The thrusting blades' trajectories resemble those of the tails of whales and dolphins." ABB "ABB Dynafin shows what is possible when marine engineers pursue radical innovation and progress, inspired by the interplay of evolution and technology," said ABB's Juha Koskela at concept launch. "This solution is all about operational efficiency and emissions avoidance, leveraging innovations from the brightest minds in marine and propulsion engineering." The company envisions a 1 to 4 MW per propulsor unit being suitable for small and medium-sized passenger or work vessels, though larger vessels such as cruise ships could host multiple units - and plans already call for the technology to be incorporated in a new 450-ft superyacht called Aeolis from Oceanco. The video below has more. ABB Dynafin(tm) - A propulsion system enabling extremely high efficiency and precise maneuverability Source: ABB View gallery - 6 images Tags MarineShippingBoatingMotorEnergy-efficient * Facebook * Twitter * Flipboard * LinkedIn 17 comments Paul Ridden Paul Ridden While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe. Most Viewed * [] Good Thinking Movement at the top in 2024 World University Rankings * Ranking all the Apple TV + sci-fi shows from worst to best Home Entertainment Ranking Apple TV+ sci-fi shows: From 'Severance' to 'For All Mankind' * The creators of PaintCam Eve want it to be a new, rather artistic force in neighborhood watch Technology Paintball-blasting home security camera redefines 'enter at own risk' Load More 17 comments Sign in to post a comment. Please keep comments to less than 150 words. No abusive material or spam will be published. Spud Murphy April 12, 2024 02:27 PM So, basically a bunch of rotating knives pointing down from the bottom of the boat. That will do wonders for marine life, especially cetaceans that get too close, which already suffer from regular propeller strikes. Someone didn't think this through. YourAmazonOrder April 12, 2024 04:48 PM Sushi. warmer April 12, 2024 08:35 PM And somehow they thought mounting chefs knifes was the safer propeller... alan c April 13, 2024 06:40 AM I find it hard to believe the possible energy reduction when a) the blades are symmetrical and can never be as optimised as a conventional prop blade, and b) at two points in each rotation they will only be causing drag and no thrust (when moving upstream, or downstream faster than stream). Kmbrlb April 13, 2024 08:43 AM Looks like a marine life ninja blender. No actual video of how it actually works. paul314 April 13, 2024 09:55 AM Chef's knives are really the optimal shape for this? Maverick April 13, 2024 04:03 PM Cycloidal propellers are very interesting however I can't help but notice these ones look like butcher knives. Pierre Collet April 14, 2024 04:33 AM Does it come with a net to collect the sushis behind the boat? brehm21 April 14, 2024 08:22 AM It looks like that thing would really mess-up marine mammals who already suffer too much from propeller injuries. This looks like it would julienne the back of a whale. The inventors should delelop some kind of shield against contact with marine mammals. christopher April 14, 2024 06:38 PM Brilliant idea, stupid video: looks like they deliberately obscured everything about how-it-works (probably they not figure out their I.P. protection properly). It's basically an underwater powered VAWT (vertial-axis wind-turbine) with movable blades. Funny how they messed up their math and forgot to put a plate at the bottom of all the blades - they'd eradicate all tip vorticies and losses if they'd thought it through properly. Load More Saving comment... [ ] Post New Atlas logo GET OUR NEWSLETTER Over 220,000 people receive our email newsletter. 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