Technology · Marine Propulsion
VAF Instruments, of The Netherlands, presents its new TT-Sense torque and thrust sensors for ship propellor shafts
Inspired by IMO's upcoming SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan) regulation, VAF decided to develop sensors to be applied on the propeller shaft which measure the real torque and thrust, thus providing the operator tools to measure the real power and propulsion efficiency of their vessel.
VAF Instruments also offer flow meters for measuring fuel consumption.
The torque and thrust are mesured by the relative change of position between two adjacent rings attached to the propeller shaft. One optical sensor is needed for measuring torque, and four units for measuring the thrust, which has much smaller deviations.
”The solution we have now on the market provides a method for getting the real efficiency of the vessel, which is the basis for being able to optimize the fuel consumption.
This new system is cheaper, lighter and much more efficient than previous versions, which were using strain gauges,” Mr Ad Teerlink, area sales manager of VAF Instrument says.
