ABB, the Swiss power company, is launching a new Azipod drive unit that it says can be 10 percent more fuel-efficient. Built, for now, for commercial shipping, the new pod improves efficiency by introducing a nozzle with plates that direct water flow from the propeller to reduce turbulence and create thrust. ABB says the system is 20 percent more efficient than shaft drives, and 10 percent more efficient that its existing pods. ABB has tested the new pods in labs and says they provide a higher pull thrust at lower speeds. In addition, their 360-degree maneuverability and fuel efficiency make the improved pod drives attractive for a wide range of vessels, including tugs, ferries and tankers. And, some day, the new system may work its way down to recreational boating. Abb.com
A More Efficient Pod Drive
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