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2. Main and auxiliary propulsion in the power plant, types of auxiliary equipment and systems

The starting point for considering various possible solutions of the ship's power plant are the mutual
proportions between different types of energy required by the ship and the limitations that result from the
practical implementation of individual transformations of different types of energy.
It is obvious that these proportions and limitations will be shaped individually for each considered ship,
however, for a number of merchant ships some general considerations can be made, differentiating them
depending on the type of engine propelling the propeller.
The fulfillment of various tasks by a ship in operation, specific to the means of long-term transport,
requires continuous supply of appropriate types and amounts of energy to the installed equipment.
The energy demand created by the existing energy system on the ship is covered only from the fuel
reserves on board the ship, while when the ship is in port it may be partially or sometimes fully covered
from the onshore power grid.
Since the issue of energy management on ships is primarily related to their operation in the sea, the
ship's energy system will be treated as a completely autonomous system, whose primary task is transport.
Considering the energy demand on board a ship from the point of view of the functions that individual
energy consumers perform, four main groups can be distinguished:
1. Main ship propulsion. Obtaining the appropriate speed by a ship requires continuous transmission
of specific energy to the propeller or propellers - in the form of mechanical work, which is measured
by the power of the main propulsion engine(s). This mechanical power is obtained from internal heat
engine that drive the propeller:
• directly,
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• indirectly, by mechanical, electric or hydraulic transmission.
Also, with water-jet propulsion, energy in the form of work obtained from propulsion engines is
converted in the pump mainly into the kinetic energy of the working medium - water.
The value of energy needed to propel a ship depends on:
• dimensions, geometrical shape of the hull,
• required speed,
• sailing conditions (weather, ship load, etc).
The energy demand for ship propulsion is the power on the shaft, which should be understood as the
power on the shaft or shafts, obtained from the main propulsion engine(s). The power delivered to the
propeller, i.e. the power on the propeller tip, is less than the power on the shaft by losses occurring in all
bearings of the shaft line. The shaft power is always less than the useful power of the engine by the losses
in the transmission and the power needed for the auxiliary drives.

2. Energy consumers of main propulsion auxiliary equipment. This group of receivers should include
all pumps and devices directly related to the main engine operation as well as the lighting of the
engine room, engine exhaust and exhaust fans, air compressors. As a criterion for belonging to this
group of energy consumers it can be assumed that the presence of these devices on the ship results
from the need to ensure proper operating conditions and effects of the main propulsion engine.
Devices in this group are closely related to the type of main engine and the type of the main
propulsion itself. Therefore, this group of receivers also includes: control system of propellers,
gearboxes and torque converter clutches.
3. Energy receivers of ship auxiliary devices. A group of ship auxiliary devices, also called ship handling
devices, are those whose task is to ensure:
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• ship maintaining - the steering gear and various other energy-consuming devices that are
components of active rudders,
• ballast system,
• compressed air system,
• bilge water system
• loading and unloading of cargo, proper condition of the cargo carried,
• fire safety (sea water firefighting system), correct navigation, etc.
• auxiliary boilers and associated systems
The type and number of devices in this group is very closely related to the size and type of the ship,
and even the sailing area.
4. Energy receivers for crew and passengers’ hotel appliances. A group of hotel appliances are those
devices that are directly related to the presence of crew and passengers on board. The task of this
group of devices is to provide people on board with adequate living conditions and even some
comfort. This type of equipment includes, therefore, lighting and ventilation of living compartments:
cabins, messrooms, recreation rooms, kitchen, laundry, hospital.
Also, fresh water production equipment, sanitary facilities, cold stores etc. The energy demand of
this group of devices is closely related to the number of crew members and eventually passengers in
ship and the comfort of traveling assumed by the designer.

Individual groups of energy consumers differ quite significantly, both in terms of the type and amount
of energy required.
A specific feature that characterizes ship's power plant is the high demand for mechanical energy
compared to the demand for electricity and heat. The mechanical energy is due to the need to provide
adequate power for main propulsion, while the other two types of energy result from the existence on the
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ship of a variety of devices powered by electricity and heating devices, largely associated with the fuel type
and presence of people on the ship.
For a modern cargo ships powered by marine internal combustion engines, the maximum demand
for electricity while traveling at sea does not exceed a few percentage (up to 5%) of the energy needed to
propel the ship, and the heat demand (excluding the need for heating cargo on tankers) up to 20% energy
needed to propel the ship.
The simplest, but at the same time the least simple way is energy conversion in independent
devices - main engine, electric generator sets and boiler. Each of these devices working with a certain
efficiency requires the supply of appropriate energy in the form of fuel stream. The energy system
obtained in this way is characterized by the fact that the energy losses of the system are equal to the sum
of energy losses of individual devices.
The basic energy layout of the ship's power plant

Exhausts
and cooling

Fuel
Steam
boiler
Heat

Auxiliary boiler
Exhausts
and cooling
Fuel

Electric

Auxiliary engine – Diesel Generator

Exhausts
and cooling Fuel

Main propulsion unit

Mechanical
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Use of reciprocating engine in marine propulsions - energy balance
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Since the process of obtaining mechanical work in the main engine is accompanied by the largest
energy losses, they can be partly used either to obtain the required heat, or electricity or both. In this way,
more economical energy systems are obtained, characterized by partial utilization of waste heat.
The figures below show the energy distribution of a main propulsion engine system, which utilizes
the exhaust heat utilization for the production of water steam. Typically, such heat recovery system
provides full coverage of the existing energy needs of the ship, while full steaming at sea.

Ship's power plant energy system with exhaust gas heat recovery utility

Exhausts
and coolng
Fuel
Electric

Auxiliary
engine

Steam
Steam
boiler
Exhausts
and cooling
Mechanical
Exhausts
and cooling
Fuel

Main
propulsion unit
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Ship's power plant energy system with exhaust gas utilization and an additional shaft generator
The following factors determine the
possibility and expediency of utilizing
energy losses:
Exhausts
Fuel
• Energy loss must be discharged in some
Electric
operating fluid and at such an energy
Auxiliary level that it is possible to use this fluid
engine
as a secondary energy source.
Steam
• The amount of waste energy must also
Steam be sufficient for losses resulting from
boiler
Mechanical Exhausts the energy transformations used in the
utilization process.
Fuel
• Since the utilization of waste energy is
always associated with the need to
install additional equipment,
Main propulsion
Electric unit profitability should always be
Shaft generator
supported by an economic analysis
specifying the payback period for
additional investment outlays.
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Ship's power plant energy system with exhaust gas utilization, turbo-generator and shaft generator

Exhausts
and cooling
Electric Fuel

Auxiliary
Steam engine

Turbo generator

Steam
Exhausts
boiler
and cooling

Mechanical Exhausts
and cooling
Fuel

Main propulsion
Electric unit

Shaft generator
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Ship's power plant energy system with exhaust gas utilization, turbo-generator, shaft
generator and low-temperature heat recovery

Exhausts
and cooling
Electric Fuel

Auxiliary
engine

Steam

Turbo generator

Steam
Exhausts
boiler
and cooling

Exhausts
and cooling
Mechanical
Main propulsion
unit
Fuel

Electric

Fresh water
Shaft generator generator

Fresh water
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Ship's power plant energy system with extensive exhaust gas utilization: turbo-generator,
power turbine (PTI), shaft generator (PTO), and low-temperature heat recovery

Exhausts
Electric and cooling
Fuel

Steam Auxiliary
engine

Turbo generator

Steam
boiler Exhausts
and cooling

Exhausts
and cooling
Mechanical PTI
Main propulsion
unit
Fuel

Electric

Fresh water
Shaft generator generator
PTO
Fresh water
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Typical power plant of a small ship with exhaust gas utilization and shaft generator (PTO)

Auxiliary
engines

Accomodation
Ballast bumps
Cargo pumps

Ventilation
Cargo gear

Cargo gear
Deck gear
Thrusters
Reefers
180 180 180

180 180 180

Main Switchboard

Waste heat
ME pumps

recovery
90
180 180

Aux
Boiler

Main propulsion