---

The FPP Opti Design [pictured], a new state-of-the-art fixed pitch propeller (FPP) design concept, has been introduced by Wärtsilä.

The new design is said to offer fuel savings of up to 4 percent and "highly reliable" full scale performance predictions. The concept has been developed using the latest computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology.

The Wärtsilä FPP Opti Design has been developed at the company's Technology and Service Centre in the Netherlands, and is the result of its design engineers having access to the very latest and most sophisticated software and analysis tools.

CFD calculations analyse not only the propeller performance but also the interaction between the propeller and hull. This, according to Wärtsilä, provides "extremely accurate" information to achieve design and parametric optimisation.

"Wärtsilä has more than 100 years of experience in developing high quality propeller solutions. To this huge knowledge resource we have now been able to add a highly sophisticated state-of-the-art design approach that is unmatched in the industry. The hull and the propeller, and the interaction between the two, can both now be taken into account during the design process. The result is a higher level of efficiency and lower operating costs," said Arto Lehtinen, Vice President, Propulsion, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

Energy saving solutions

Wärtsilä is continuing to develop solutions that are designed to save energy and improve the efficiency of ship propellers. These include the Tip Rake Concept featuring an extended tip, smoothly curved to the pressure side of the blade with optimised geometrical parameters developed to achieve efficiency improvements, lower pressure pulse levels, and a quieter propeller.

The Wärtsilä EnergoProFin is an innovative propeller cap with fins that rotates together with any make of propeller. By weakening the hub vortex, resistance is decreased and propulsion thrust is increased, resulting in fuel savings of up to 5 percent, according to Wärtsilä.

Energopac is Wärtsilä's optimised propulsion and manoeuvring solution that has been developed to reduce fuel consumption by integrating the propeller and rudder designs. It is fully optimised for energy efficiency without compromising either manoeuvrability or comfort levels, Wärtsilä says.

The Wärtsilä FPP Opti Design is being presented at the Posidonia 2014 exhibition in Athens, Greece.

Image: FPP Opti Design by Wärtsilä