Imagine replacing a heavy, rusty metal boat propeller with a high-tech carbon fiber version that changes shape slightly to stay efficient at different speeds. It's like switching from a heavy iron tool to a precision carbon-fiber sports instrument. These propellers also have built-in sensors that act like a nervous system, telling the crew if there is any damage without needing to pull the boat out of the water.
Metal propellers are heavy, prone to corrosion, and expensive to maintain, leading to ship downtime and high fuel costs. Current replacement parts often cause extended delays in shipyards.
Two composite marine propellers with embedded structural health monitoring systems were designed, manufactured, and validated.
If you are a fleet operator dealing with high fuel costs and corrosion—this project developed composite propellers that can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%. This leads to lower operational expenses and fewer ships being out of commission for repairs.
If you are a shipyard dealing with complex maintenance and long delays for metal replacement parts—this project developed a manufacturing process for composite propellers. This allows for faster production and tailored material properties to improve vessel safety.
If you are a maintenance firm dealing with expensive manual inspections—this project developed an embedded structural health monitoring system. This enables real-time damage monitoring and reduces the environmental footprint of the vessel.
The technology targets a reduction in energy and fuel consumption of approximately 12%, with potential savings exceeding 15% for full-scale propellers. It also reduces costs associated with corrosion and complex maintenance.
The project has matured the technology to TRL 5-6 and focused on optimizing the manufacturing process for large-scale composite propellers. Based on available project data, it is moving toward market readiness via a defined roll-out strategy.
Based on available project data, the project includes a business plan and roll-out strategy to bring the composite propeller and monitoring system to market, though specific licensing terms are not listed.
Yes, the project aligns with EU Directive 2012/33/EU on Gas Emissions and Directive 2008/56/EU on Underwater Noise by reducing fuel burn and noise.
The propellers feature an embedded structural health monitoring (SHM) system for real-time inspection and long-term damage monitoring.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 73% industry ratio, comprising 8 industrial partners including 4 SMEs. This strong commercial presence, combined with 2 universities and 1 research center across 5 countries, indicates a high focus on commercial viability and practical application rather than pure theory.
Contact PANEPISTIMIO IOANNINON for technical specifications and partnership opportunities.
Contact us to connect with the CoPropel consortium for licensing or pilot integration.
