RESEARCH PAPER
Operational diagnostics of propulsion system in modern vessels
1
Department of Road Transport, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesan Unversity of Technology, Poland
2
Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Polish Naval Academy, Poland
3
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics,, Rzeszów University of Technology, Poland
4
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, Rzeszów University of Technology, Poland
5
Navigation and Ship Armament, Polish Naval Academy, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2026-03-31
Final revision date: 2026-05-04
Acceptance date: 2026-05-16
Online publication date: 2026-05-21
Corresponding author
Wojciech Jurczak
Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Polish Naval Academy, inż. J. Śmidowicza 69, 81-127, Gdynia, Poland
Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Polish Naval Academy, inż. J. Śmidowicza 69, 81-127, Gdynia, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The article presents an analysis of vibration measurements of Voith Schneider Propeller system. Determining the vibration parameters is a form of operational diagnostics for the structural components of this modern propulsion system. As part of the research, vibration signals were measured during sea trials on two propulsion units simultaneously across all possible load ranges.
Analysis of selected parameters revealed that the propulsion system under examination experiences load levels that, for the propellers in question, should be kept as brief as possible due to their destructive effects, manifested by exceeding permissible acceleration values. The processed signals provide a picture of the exceedances of the permissible operating levels described in standards and the manufacturer’s documentation. In Z (V) measurement direction, at a minimum propeller speed of 32 rpm, the effects of backlash in the propeller and drive system can be detected (presence of high-amplitude peaks), and at a maximum propeller speed of 99 rpm, the technical condition of the propeller can be assessed.
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