How can you get better fuel efficiency by generating electrical power and putting it through a motor than by powering the propeller directly from the engine?
Since no electric motor or generator is 100% efficient, it seems counter-intuitive that placing them between the diesel engine and propeller could improve fuel efficiency. Nevertheless, the fact is that, when a diesel-electric system is properly designed and configured, it can and does substantially improve fuel economy. (Remember, the move to diesel-electric drive for commercial ships is largely driven by the desire to reduce fuel costs.) The potential to improve efficiency is based in the fact that by “decoupling” the engine from the propeller, it is possible to reduce the substantial energy losses of the propeller while operating the engine within a more optimum power range regardless of load conditions. It is worth noting that simply “generating electricity and putting it through a motor” does not automatically accomplish this. A diesel-electric system simply creates the potential for fuel savings. A poorly designed electric drive system could be less efficient than a conventional
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