The #CoPropel project has reached its M30 milestone, marking six months until project completion. The M30 general meeting took place on October 22nd and 23rd, 2024, at the Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamic Centre (BSHC) in Varna, Bulgaria, where we reviewed recent activities, reviewed and finalized the key project milestones. In the past six months, the consortium has successfully completed: - Manufacturing of a small-scale blade with Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) capabilities. - Open water and cavitation tunnel testing at the Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamic Centre (BSHC) in Varna. - Critical Design Review (CDR) for the full-scale blade. - Design and production of prototype blades. In the next six months, the consortium is focused on: - Testing and validation of the blade prototype. - Manufacturing the full-scale blade. - Conducting a sea trial. During the visit, consortium members toured the BSHC’s cutting-edge facilities, including the towing tank, cavitation tunnel, and Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin. The project #CoPropel is set to revolutionize the shipping industry with a composite marine propeller, offering benefits such as corrosion resistance, #lightweight structure, customizable material properties, and reduced underwater radiated noise. We extend our special thanks to BSHC, Varna, for their exceptional hospitality. The consortium eagerly anticipates this final phase. University of Ioannina, LOIRETECH, TWI, Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), MECA, Bureau Veritas | Marine & Offshore, BSHC, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd, GLAFCOS MARINE LTD
COPROPEL
Maritime Transportation
Composite material technology for next generation marine vessel propellers
About us
Marine propellers, a complex and important structural part of a ship, have traditionally been made off expensive Nickel-Aluminium-Bronze (NAB) or Manganese-Aluminium-Bronze (MAB) alloys in order to operate under high cyclic loading underwater and withstand high stresses due to cavitation phenomena. These propellers require precision machining, long production times and are very heavy to transport. All the above result in propeller prices that are typically in the hundreds of thousands of euros and long lead times that can results in ships being stranded (for example, after an accident where the propeller is lost and require replacement). This provides a challenge for small and medium-sized shipyards where ships can be alongside awaiting parts, tying up valuable space in the yards, or require the yards to hold stock of replacement parts to ensure quick turnaround of vessels. The process of changing the propeller, or even individual blades of NAB or MAB propellers, requires either a dry-dock to remove and replace the propeller or a specially trained group of divers to replace blades manually underwater. Besides, a number of issues have been identified with the current NAB/MAB propellers, including vibration, electric signature, and excess weight. CoPropel puts forth a holistic approach in the shipping industry by introducing a composite marine propeller offering corrosion resistance, light weight, tailoring of material properties, low electric signature and acoustic properties. The CoPropel consortium seeks to contribute to the optimisation of propulsion systems by developing and maturing technologies for the realisation of marine propellers made of advanced composite materials. Compared to their traditional counterparts, marine composite propellers are more ‘quiet’, ‘lightweight’ and ‘highly efficient’. Horizon Europe funds CoPropel project (Grant Agreement Number 101056911)
- Industry
- Maritime Transportation
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Founded
- 2022
- Specialties
- composites, maritime, transport, and lightweight
Updates
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COPROPEL reposted this
COPROPEL project which aims to replace traditional #marine #propellers made from alloys with advanced #composite materials. These composite propellers are designed to be lighter, more fuel-efficient, and quieter. As part of the project, our team focuses on #manufacturing simulations (lead by Vasiliki Loukodimou), process monitoring (lead by Akram Zitoun), and developing a Structural Health Monitoring (#SHM) system (lead by Dimitris Fakis). Covering our work in the project, Dr. Sadik Omairey delivered a presentation at International Composites Summit on the importance of marine transport, its environmental impact, and ways of reducing that using lightweight materials and composites. #Composites #Marine #Engineering #Sustainable #Technology #Propulsion #StructuralHealthMonitoring #Innovation #ICS2024
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A GENTLE REMINDER TO REGISTER AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT!!
Building on the success of our inaugural workshop, we’re excited to announce our highly anticipated second workshop on advanced #marine #composite #propeller technology, scheduled for 24th October 2024. This event will highlight the latest progress from the #CoPropel project, providing a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements in marine composite propeller technologies. Join us to be at the forefront of transformative developments in marine propulsion! TWI, LOIRETECH, MECA, BSHC, Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), University of Ioannina, Bureau Veritas | Marine & Offshore, GLAFCOS MARINE LTD, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd
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Building on the success of our inaugural workshop, we’re excited to announce our highly anticipated second workshop on advanced #marine #composite #propeller technology, scheduled for 24th October 2024. This event will highlight the latest progress from the #CoPropel project, providing a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge advancements in marine composite propeller technologies. Join us to be at the forefront of transformative developments in marine propulsion! TWI, LOIRETECH, MECA, BSHC, Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), University of Ioannina, Bureau Veritas | Marine & Offshore, GLAFCOS MARINE LTD, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd
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We are happy to share our presence at #ECCM21, held in Nantes, France, between July 02-05, and thankful to the organizing committee for arranging a special session for the #CoPropel. In the session, our partners presented the following work: "Introduction to CoPropel: Composite materials for #marine #propellers to reduce fuel consumption and underwater radiated noise" "Certification approach for #composite #propeller with design assessment based on new tool application" "Design methodology for flexible #composite propeller by coupling structural and hydrodynamic simulations" "Validation of a novel underwater wireless strain monitoring system for a smart composite propeller under static and fatigue testing" "Integration of fiber optic sensors into CFRP for structural health monitoring of a marine composite propeller" #InnovateUK #horizoneurope University of Ioannina, LOIRETECH, TWI, Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), MECA, Bureau Veritas Group, BSHC, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd, GLAFCOS MARINE LTD
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The #CoPropel project has reached the final year of its adventurous and challenging journey. To review the activities, the consortium organized the M24 meeting on the 26th and 27th of June 2024 at #Loiretech Ingénierie in Nantes, France. During the meeting, several key project updates were discussed, including: - #Development and #optimization of the #composite #propeller design and manufacturing process. - Implementation of a structural health monitoring system for the propeller. - Planning for small-scale #propeller open water testing and cavitation tunnel testing. - Preparation for upcoming large-scale blade validation and assessment of the #propeller under relevant conditions. - Preparation for upcoming field trials. Participants enjoyed a shop floor tour at #Loiretech, where they witnessed the small-scale propeller manufacturing activities and the company's expertise in designing and #manufacturing large, complex tooling for the aerospace, automotive, and energy industries. #CoPropel aims to revolutionize the shipping industry with a composite marine propeller offering advantages such as corrosion resistance, #lightweight, customizable material properties, and reduced underwater radiated noise. Special thanks to Loiretech Ingénierie for their exceptional hospitality. The consortium looks forward to the next face-to-face meeting. University of Ioannina, LOIRETECH, TWI, Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), MECA, Bureau Veritas Group, BSHC, Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd, GLAFCOS MARINE LTD
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The Copropel consortium successfully held a one-day workshop hosted by LOIRETECH on April 11, 2024, in Nantes, France. This event gathered industry professionals from the marine sector across Europe, creating a valuable opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing. Attendees witnessed the collaborative spirit and widespread interest in the consortium's initiatives. Throughout the day, the Copropel team shared detailed accounts of their project experiences, highlighting both their successes and challenges. They discussed various techniques and methodologies used in their projects, offering insights into best practices and innovative solutions. Topics ranged from advanced composite manufacturing processes to sustainability practices, showcasing the comprehensive scope of the Copropel consortium's work. The workshop facilitated an engaging exchange of ideas and expertise, fostering a collaborative environment where attendees could learn from one another and explore potential partnerships. The event underscored the importance of cross-industry collaboration in driving technological advancements and addressing common industry challenges. By sharing their knowledge and experiences, the Copropel team contributed to the collective growth and progress of the industry, reinforcing their commitment to innovation and excellence. The consortium plans to organize another workshop later this year to share the latest updates on their projects and initiatives. This upcoming event aims to build on the success of the previous workshop, offering an even more comprehensive overview of recent advancements and developments. We look forward to welcoming a broader range of industry members and stakeholders, providing an expanded platform for networking and collaboration. #TWI, #Brunel Composites Centre (BCC), #UOI, #MECA, #BSHC, #GME, #BV, #Danaos
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COPROPEL reposted this
Today, our project manager Clement Retiere has presented to the assembly CoPropel project. The CoPropel project is gathering 4 research institutes, 4 industrial partners and a certification bureau to develop, mature and optimise technologies with the goal of delivering marine propellers made out of advanced composite materials. Come and join us at Loiretech booth Hall 6 C103 for #JEC 2024. #composites #blade #propeller
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COPROPEL reposted this
Since 2022, Loiretech is part of the consortium as a technical leader for European research project CoPropel. The CoPropel project is bringing together 4 research institutes, 4 industrial partners and a certification bureau to develop, mature and optimise technologies to deliver marine propellers made from advanced composite materials. Come join us for the project presentation at 2 P.M. on the 6th of march at Loiretech booth Hall 6 C103 for JEC 2024. www.copropel.com #research #project #leader #europe #marine #JEC #JEC2024