NAIP and CIFT develop new fishing-boat propellers which can save Rs 320 crore subsidy on diesel

There could be little respite to the hefty import bills of India as the consumption of diesel can now be reduced marginally, at least through the fishing industry, if fishermen across the country use advanced propellers invented through the initiatives of National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) and Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Cochin (CIFT).

According to estimates, fishing industry is one of the biggest consumers of diesel oil in the country and uses around 2000 million litres annually. Even 10% average savings in fuel can help to save around Rs. 320 million rupees exchequer by way of subsidy to the saved diesel in addition to a whopping 200 million litres reduction in consumption.

This comes from the first scientifically designed propellers for the fishing vessels. Almost all the existing manufacturers of propellers for fishing vessels in the country rely on the 'trial-and-error-method' for their designs as "access to appropriate technology" is non-existent. This causes mismatch of the propellers with the 'hull-engine' combination leading to low speed-pull performance and high fuel consumption.

Lack of standards for manufacture as well as material specification reduces the life of propellers necessitating their frequent replacements causing high cost inputs for the fishermen. To complicate the scenario, numerous hull designs of fishing vessel exists in the country evolved again on 'trial-and-error-method' to suit local sea conditions and fishing ergonomics that reflects sharp geographical variations.

The power characteristics of these hulls that are essential for matching propellers are not known due to lack of documented designs and standards. When the expected speed-pull characteristics are not achieved, the fishermen increase vessel-engine sizes under unhealthy competition that has already emerged as an acute problem affecting resource conservation in fisheries sector. Thus lack of technology in propeller design and manufacture alone leads to fuel waste, prohibitive operational costs and high infrastructure-cost inputs that is underutilized and threat to resource conservation.

The project by NAIP explored the lacunae in detail and developed an innovative technology package for the fishing industry. The project mapped and digitized hull forms (in ring-siene and dole-netter sectors) with a customized technology using laser and photogrammetry. It also included standardization of hulls and evaluation of powering characteristics. The project assessed general flow conditions around standardised hull forms using tailored CFD techniques and developed high efficiency propeller blade elements for the assessed flow conditions around the hull forms.

The project designed fuel-efficient propellers using new blade elements and manufactured prototype propellers, evaluated performance under field conditions, refined the designs based on full-scale trials and released for commercial manufacture.

The new propellers can substantially reduce in operational costs with 21-28% fuel saving i.e., average minimum saving of 750 liters of diesel per month (Rs 4,20,000/- per annum). The propellers can improvement speed and pull by about 10-15%. Standardised manufacturing methods and material specification saves minimum 70% cost over three years.

Source : Equity Bulls

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