Copyright year ABB.

All rights reserved. - 1 5/6/2009

ABB Marine &

Turbocharging

Azipod

Internal Systems

Propeller shafting basics 1.

The layout of the propeller shaft system features two end supports to the
shaft line: a. Propeller bearing and b.Thrust bearing:

Copyright year ABB - 2 -

b. Thrust
bearing
a. Propeller
bearing

 Copyright year ABB - 3 -

Propeller shafting basics 2.

The thrust bearing unit is an integrated assembly located on the non-drive

end of the Azipod (inside the pod cap).

Ahead/Astern thrust forces (axial forces) generated by the propeller are

received by the thrust bearing unit.

Transverse forces (mass of the rotor and the shaftline, propeller side forces)
are supported by the thrust bearing unit and the propeller bearing.

Roller-type bearings are used. Roller-type bearings have small internal

clearances, which is important for retaining the correct air gap for the motor
and the operation of shaft seal.

Due to their different configuration, the thrust and propeller bearings each
have their own lubrication oil systems. The oil volumes are separated one
from the other.

 Copyright year ABB - 4 -

Oil systems inside Azipod

Shaft Seal lubrication

Thrust Bearing oil circulation

Propeller Bearing oil circulation

Shaft Seal lubrication system

Inner shaft seal with 2
sealing rings
Outer shaft seal
with 5 sealing rings
Tank for Chamber II
(volume normally 25 litres)
Gravity tank (volume
normally 100 litres)
Tank for Chamber IV
(volume normally 25 litres)
Instrumentation
Remote control unit

Copyright year ABB - 5 -

Shaft Seal and Bearing

panel (later SSB-panel &
ALP)
Pneumostop seal

 Copyright year ABB - 6 -

Outer shaft seal system, and pneumostop.

Shaft seal diagram Blohm + Voss

Discharge

Air supply
Gravity
Tank

(Thru Pod
drainage line)

max.6 bar

Fluid Swivel
Discharge
Pump
Tank 1
Bearing side

Tank 2
Prop. side

Air to
Pneumostop
System

Normally
Shut

Air

Normally
Open

Sealing oil

Fresh oil

Discarded
oil
IV
Copyright year ABB - 7 -

6 Propeller
Bearing

IV

III

II

III

II

Pneumostop

 Copyright year ABB - 8 -

Outer shaft seal principle Blohm + Voss

Chamber I is filled with sea water. There is no pressure differential over

seal ring 1. This seal ring 1 acts as a dirt barrier.

Chamber II takes a low oil header with comparison to the interior of the
Pod, provided by the propeller side seal tank. The seal tank is filled with oil.

Chamber III takes the full header pressure from the gravity tank mounted in
the Azipod room.

Chamber IV again takes a low oil header, provided by the bearing side seal
tank.

The seal tanks can be filled and drained by operating the associated
solenoid valves.

The shaft seal system is designed to optimise the pressure differentials

over the seal rings.

Additionally a Pneumostop device is provided for use in emergency for

sealing a standing propeller shaft. The shaft must be locked if the
Pneumstop seal is pressurised with air.

Propeller Shaft Seal Panel Old version

Propeller Shaft Seal

& Bearing Panel

Copyright year ABB - 9 -

as on Arcadia

Azipod Local Panel (ALP) in AIU - New

ALP - Azipod Local Panel

earlier also known as
SSB Shaft Seal & Bearing panel

Copyright year ABB - 10 -

AIU - Azipod Interface Unit - on

the Luminosa

Shaft Seal Panel

Monitoring of
Oil level in
tank

Valve & pump

status

Copyright year ABB - 11 -

Valve control

Shaft Seal lubrication system tanks inside

Copyright year ABB - 12 -

Seen from above

Seen from below

Thrust Bearing Oil Circulation

Copyright year ABB - 13 -

Thrust bearing housing with roller

bearings and seal arrangement
individual bearings and seal
arrangement

Oil pumps

Oil filters

Heat exchanger

AZIPOD LOCAL PANEL (ALP)

Instrumentation

Propeller Bearing Oil circulation

Propeller bearing of roller type

Copyright year ABB - 14 -

Bearing housing with inner and outer

shaft seals

Oil pump

Oil filters

Heat exchanger

Water in oil monitoring device

AZIPOD LOCAL PANEL (ALP)

Instrumentation

Bearing housing acts as a oli sump

Bearing Oil Circulation - OTU

Oil Treatment Unit - OTU

Filtering

Temperatur control

Monitoring of Oil
quality (water in oil)

Copyright year ABB - 15 -

Bearing Panel
Monitoring of
Oli levels in
bearing
sumps

Filter &
pump status

Oil &
bearing temp.

Copyright year ABB - 16 -

Oil flow

 Copyright year ABB - 17 -

Drainage system - Basics

The Azipods drainage system is designed to act as the

safeguard in the event of leakage or flooding.

Basically the assembly is made up of two independently

installed submergible three-phase (690VAC) pumps and
a set of float level switches.

The starting and stopping of the drainage pump(s) is

performed by the ships automation system (MAS). The
guiding output for the use of the automation is the
change of state of the level switches under changing
fluid level status at the bottom part of the pod.

Drainage System - Diagram

To ships
bilge

Copyright year ABB - 18 -

Pump 2

Pump 1

Drainage tank
pump

 Copyright year ABB - 19 -

Drainage System - Functionality / 1

Four level switches located on the bottom of the Azipod

control the master / slave pumps.

If a level switch HIGH engages, the MAS generates an

alarm and starts the master pump, which runs to a
preselected time delay (30 sec) after deactivation of
level switch HIGH.

If liquid level reaches the level switch HIGH HIGH, the

MAS generates the ALARM and the starting command
for the slave pump, which runs to a preselected time
delay after deactivation of level switch HIGH.

If the pump runs for more than a preselected time

(3 min) or starts more often than three times per hour,
a long run alarm is to be released.

 Copyright year ABB - 20 -

Drainage System - Functionality / 2

The control for the both two pumps is to be arranged

exactly in the same way. Including the long run alarm
function after three consecutive starts.

This means that both pumps can act as MASTER or

SLAVE pump.

In case a local or a manual mode is chosen an alarm is

to be provided and the slave function is not available.

Shaft Brake

Copyright year ABB - 21 -

Withstands forces on
propeller at max 3 knots

Shaft Brake Hydraulic Power Unit

Pump is controlled by
pressure switches.

Pressure accumulator
ensures brake function for
a short time even at pump
failure.

Copyright year ABB - 22 -

Brake engaged by
opening V13 (V14 closed),
released by opening V14
(V13 closed)

The Fluid Swivel 1

RIGID PART

OIL AND WATER

CHANNELS
channel 1 for oil
channel 2 for bilge water
channel 3 spare
channel 4-6(7) air and oil

Copyright year ABB - 23 -

ROTATING PART
CONNECTED TO
THE UPPER PART
OF THE POD

Part of the Slip Ring Unit - SRU

The Fluid Swivel 2 (for illustration only)

RIGID PART

OIL AND WATER

CHANNELS

Copyright year ABB - 24 -

channel 1 for oil

channel 2 for bilge water
channel 3 spare
channel 4-6(7) air and oil

ROTATING PART
CONNECTED TO
THE UPPER PART
OF THE POD

 Copyright year ABB - 25 -

View of the swivel from within the Azipod