Types Of Thrusters
Lane Stefano
Thrusters can enhance the manoeuverability of existing vessels, particularly at low speeds, and provide a high level of redundancy. The main propulsion system based on thrusters can also provide increased speed, or lower installed power and reduction in fuel consumption. The general arrangement and hull form of new buildings incorporating thrusters can be modified significantly in order to increase hydrodynamic efficiency. The other key advantage of thrusters is that they tend to suffer less from vibration and noise and are therefore well suited for use on passenger vessels. Since thrusters are steerable, using them may also eliminate the ship rudder.
An example case has been analysed of a rig with 8 thruster units. The maximum increase of available thrust of the rig in side way operation is about 35%. In forward operation the gain in available thrust is 9%. The improved vessel performance is attributed to the significantly reduced interaction losses with the hull and with other thruster units.
Wrtsil is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance.
The T200 Thruster uses our patented underwater thruster design consisting of a fully-flooded brushless motor with encapsulated motor windings and stator as well as coated magnets and rotor. The thruster body and propeller are made from tough polycarbonate plastic and the only exposed metal components are made from marine grade 316 stainless steel.
The fully-flooded design is unique compared to thrusters existing before the T200. It allows the motor to be water-cooled and the plastic bushings to be water-lubricated. It eliminates the need for shaft seals, magnetic couplings, and air- or oil-filled compartments, making the thruster naturally pressure tolerant. The design is compact and has a minimal number of parts so that we can offer it at an affordable price.
In addition to commercial and research applications, the T200 Thruster is the thruster of choice for MATE ROV competitions, the RoboSub AUV competition, and other competitions including RoboBoat, European Robotics League (ERL), and the Singapore AUV Challenge (SAUVC). The T200 provides an affordable and reliable thruster option to replace the bilge pump motors and expensive thrusters used in the past.
The T200 Thruster comes ready to use and includes both clockwise and counterclockwise propellers. In addition to the thruster, you need a speed controller like our Basic ESC, a power source like our battery, and a signal source, such as our Thruster Commander, an RC radio receiver, or a microcontroller like the Arduino or Raspberry Pi.
There is a wealth of available technical information, charts, code examples, and tutorials on the Technical Details and Learn sections of this page as well as support through our online forum community. There you can find users doing all sorts of interesting things ranging from generative ROV design to freediving jet boots to lionfish hunting robots!
Note that nominal operation at 12-16 V is recommended for the best balance of thrust and efficiency, though operation at up to 20 V is allowable. Exceeding 20 V is not within the rating and not recommended, please see here for more information.
Not at all! The Thruster Commander is just one possible solution for simple manual controls. Depending on your project, a different control system could be much more appropriate. Please visit the "Learn" section of this product page for more examples of the types of devices that can be used.
No, one ESC is needed for each thruster. In order to properly drive the motor, the ESC needs to accurately sense the position of the rotor as it is spinning, this is not possible with more than one motor.
The short answer is no, 20V is the maximum recommended operating voltage for the T200 thruster. Operating at a higher voltage will increase wear and decrease thruster lifespan beyond the level we can officially support, therefore voiding any warranty. You can read the longer, more detailed answer about the effects of using higher voltages here.
It depends! Because our customers operate in varying conditions across a wide range of use cases, there is no one expected total lifespan that would apply to all situations. Factors such as water quality, sediment density, particle size and composition, throttle level, operating voltage, etc., all play a large role in affecting thruster longevity.
Likewise, these same factors affect how long a thruster can operate in non-stop, continuous use. Anywhere from a few days to several months of continuous usable life are realistic to expect depending on the exact operating conditions.
Thrusters do require routine maintenance, and this also affects how long parts will last. If components are well taken care of, they can last for many years. If they are abused and used in harsh environments, parts may wear down faster and will need to be replaced more frequently. For example, iron particles may be pulled from the water and collect inside the rotor on the magnets. This iron should be cleared out regularly to prevent corrosion and allow for proper operation.
We have recommended thruster maintenance guidelines in our Thruster Usage Guide to help get the most life out of your thrusters. In case anything does eventually need replacing, replacement thruster components are available here.
A marine thruster is a device for producing directed hydrodynamic thrust mounted on a marine vehicle, primarily for maneuvering or propulsion.[1] There are a variety of different types of marine thrusters and each of them plays a role in the maritime industry. Marine thrusters come in many different shapes and sizes, for example screw propellers, Voith-Schneider propellers, waterjets, ducted propellers, tunnel bow thrusters, and stern thrusters, azimuth thrusters, rim-driven thrusters, ROV and submersible drive units. A marine thruster consists of a propeller or impeller which may be encased in some kind of tunnel or ducting that directs the flow of water to produce a resultant force intended to obtain movement in the desired direction or resist forces which would cause unwanted movement. The two subcategories of marine thrusters are for propulsion and maneuvering, the maneuvering thruster typically in the form of bow or stern thrusters and propulsion thrusters ranging from Azimuth thrusters to Rim Drive thrusters.[1]
Positioning thrusters come in applications, Bow thrusters at the forward end of the vessel, and stern thrusters mounted aft on the boat. Their purpose is to maneuver or position the boat to a greater precision than the propulsion device can accomplish. Their positioning along the length of the vessel allows for directed lateral thrust ahead and astern of the centre of lateral resistance so that the vessel may be maneuvered away from obstructions in its path, or towards a desired position, especially when coming to or away from a dock. These positioning thrusters are usually significantly smaller than the main propulsion thrusters because they only have to do small adjustments rather than moving the whole vessel at speed.[2] Both bow and stern thrusters may be housed in through-hull tunnels. Depending on the size of the motors driving these propellers, they could draw an insignificant amount of power or a large amount of power that requires much caution to operate. Another smaller subset of positioning thrusters is those used for maneuvering unmanned aquatic vehicles like Guanay II AUV tested by scientists from Spain (Masmitja, 2018).[3]
At Sideshift we do one thing and we do it well: We take the stress out of docking your boat! Our revolutionary bow and stern thruster technology sets the standard for affordable, powerful, and easy-to-install thruster solutions for all types of boats, including monohull, pontoon, and houseboats.
Significantly lower installed cost, more responsive performance, no mounting holes below the waterline, virtually silent operation. These are only a few of the many benefits you receive when choosing a Sideshift thruster over conventional thruster systems.
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