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brian eiland · 03-10-2006, 01:30 PM

Rim Driven Thruster & Propulsor

Looks as though there are a few players in this technology, and Brunvoll appears as a front runner having done some considerable big scale prototyping and testing.

Interestingly it appears as though the relatively new permanent magnet electric motor technology has driven this new interest in rim-drive propulsion. From Brunvoll," the development of RDT has been triggered by market demand for an increased number of ships where both the main propulsion units and the manouevering thrusters have electric motors with variable speed drives. In this context the RDT offers a number of advantages."

So rim drive propulsion is advancing right along with the thruster development. Brunvoll has worked together with the company Norpropeller to test a novel drive system for variable speed electrically driven propellers. This system involves the use of variable speed permanent magnet generators and PM motors. The design implies that the prime mover, the diesel engine, can be run as in a traditional system, as if the engine was direct mechanically coupled to the propeller, but not requiring a reduction gear, nor a battery storage source.

Brunvoll is planning to market the RDT for ships and larger craft, while Norpropeller will focus on the market for smaller craft

Another player, AIR Fertigung-Technologie GmbH, that have sold composite automatically adaptive-pitch Carbon Fiber propellers to the superyacht market will now work to provide electrically rim driven propulsors from 0.2 to 200 kW.

A more direct link to the Brunvoll PDF file

Lets add some pictures of the Brunvoll test unit.

03-10-2006, 01:30 PM	#8
brian eiland Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Washington DC, Annapolis MD, Thailand Posts: 634	Rim Driven Propellers Rim Driven Thruster & Propulsor Looks as though there are a few players in this technology, and Brunvoll appears as a front runner having done some considerable big scale prototyping and testing. Interestingly it appears as though the relatively new permanent magnet electric motor technology has driven this new interest in rim-drive propulsion. From Brunvoll," the development of RDT has been triggered by market demand for an increased number of ships where both the main propulsion units and the manouevering thrusters have electric motors with variable speed drives. In this context the RDT offers a number of advantages." So rim drive propulsion is advancing right along with the thruster development. Brunvoll has worked together with the company Norpropeller to test a novel drive system for variable speed electrically driven propellers. This system involves the use of variable speed permanent magnet generators and PM motors. The design implies that the prime mover, the diesel engine, can be run as in a traditional system, as if the engine was direct mechanically coupled to the propeller, but not requiring a reduction gear, nor a battery storage source. Brunvoll is planning to market the RDT for ships and larger craft, while Norpropeller will focus on the market for smaller craft Another player, AIR Fertigung-Technologie GmbH, that have sold composite automatically adaptive-pitch Carbon Fiber propellers to the superyacht market will now work to provide electrically rim driven propulsors from 0.2 to 200 kW. A more direct link to the Brunvoll PDF file Lets add some pictures of the Brunvoll test unit. Attached Images Last edited by brian eiland : 03-10-2006 at 01:53 PM.