Abstract: The vane wheel is a freely rotating device installed on the propeller shaft behind the propeller to provide additional thrust at no increase in power. The wheel, which is larger in diameter than its companion propeller, functions as a turbine by using the otherwise-wasted propeller slipstream to generate the extra thrust. This paper describes a series of tests performed at the Hamburg Ship Model Tank to compare the efficiency of the vane wheel arrangement with other propulsion units, including a conventional propeller, contrarotating propeller, and propeller with fixed guide mechanism. The Appendix provides a mathematical analysis of the performance of the various units investigated. Preface: For many years I had the great pleasure to live near Georg Weinblum, to work with him, and to receive his advice. After he retired I became his successor at Hamburg University. In 1938 I had met Georg Weinblum for the first time; in 1952 — after his return from the United States — for the second time, and after that we met regularly. He encouraged me to write my thesis and to work as a scientist. He always took a great interest in promoting young people and in awakening their enthusiasm for science. Many young people have had this experience and think of him with gratitude. Due to the founders' intentions, the memorial lecture should deal with a subject which belongs to naval architecture and which serves its development. I have chosen the subject, Propeller and Vane Wheel, which I presented for the first time to the German Society of Naval Architecture (Schiffbautechnische Gesellschaft) in 1966. I take this opportunity to discuss the subject again, and to a different extent, because I believe that the purpose of this work is really important and can be achieved without any difficulty in the present situation, where the search for new ideas with regard to the saving of energy has become an urgent necessity.
Publication Year: 1980
Publication Date: 1980-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 16
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