OPTIMIZATION OF DRIVETRAIN AND PROPELLOR DESIGN FOR A GAS-TO-ELECTRIC MOTOR CONVERSION IN MARINE APPLICATION

Abstract

With the electric transportation revolution in full swing, this project focuses on equipping a hull—initially powered by a combustion motor—with a completely electric powertrain. To evaluate the success of the conversion, design requirements are established that compare the performance of the converted hull to an analogous combustion-powered boat. The conversion involves two primary design processes that are constrained by the hull’s dimensions and the electric motor’s specifications. First, the appropriate drivetrain components must be selected and parts to pair each component with one another must be fabricated. Second, a propeller that allows the motor to reach its full potential and provides optimal thrust to the craft must be designed by iteration, modeled in software, and then matched to a commercial propeller. This drivetrain-propeller setup is then tested on the water, and the results are compared with the design requirements to verify the success of the design or the need to iterate back to the designs with the testing data. The test results for this project completed all of the design requirements, verifying the design’s capability while also motivating the conversion of naval craft to electric powertrains in the future.