Pitch Propeller (FPP)

By Soumya Chakraborty | In: Naval Architecture | Last Updated on October 2, 2019

Most of the propellers that are used in ships are fixed pitch propellers (FPP). What does
this propeller term mean? Let’s understand this from a beginner’s point of view.

If you look at a propeller axially, you will notice a twist in the propeller blade along the
length of the propeller hub. It is this twist in the blade that results in the forward motion
of the propeller with each rotation.

Parts of screw propeller

It is pretty much what you see on a screw. The angle of the thread is actually what is
called the pitch angle. The more the pitch angle, the more distance is travelled by the
screw in one rotation, that is, the more is the pitch. Similarly, propellers act on the
principle of screw. Hence the term screw propeller.

But what is a fixed pitch propeller or the FPP?

The propeller is designed in a way such that, if you cut the propeller radially at any
random radius from its centre, then the cut section of the propeller blades will have a
certain pitch (magnitude depends upon how twisted it is along the length of the hub).
Now if you rotate this cut section in water, the axial distance travelled in one rotation is
the pitch of this section. If you vary the radius at which you cut a section, the twist of the
blade also varies from the root to the tip. This makes it evident that each section of the
propeller has a particular pitch.

The root of the propeller will have a different pitch from the tip of the propeller. So the
pitch variation from the root to the tip is as shown in Figure 1. The question now is, if
each section has a different pitch, then what is the resultant pitch of the propeller?
Answer is the resultant pitch is the average of all the pitches of each section of the
propeller.

Blade section and variation of pitch with section

Note very carefully, that the pitch varies along with the blade section (or increasing
distance from the propeller centre), but the net average or the net pitch of the propeller
remains constant. Such a propeller is a fixed-pitch propeller.

Now, let’s go back to the concept of a screw. What if you could somehow change the
angle of inclination of the threads along the screw?

If you could, what would you actually be doing is changing the pitch angle and
subsequently, the pitch of the screw. This is exactly why the controllable pitch propeller
was developed by the industry. We will be dealing with the applications in detail a little
later. But for now, it is vital to know the fundamental working of a Controllable Pitch
Propeller (CPP) also commonly known as Variable Pitch Propeller.

The twist (to be referred to as pitch from now on) of the root section of the blade is
always with respect to the angle it makes with the propeller hub. What if we can change
the angle of orientation of the root? And since all the other blade sections had their
previous pitch angle already, they attain a new pitch angle. In other words, you are able
to control the pitch of the entire propeller, by changing the orientation of the root section
on the hub. This is done by the means of a hydraulic cylinder.

When the required orientation or pitch of the propeller is obtained, the blades are locked
in that position. So the blades are not an integral part of (or not casted along with) the
propeller hub. They are mounted on spindles that have axes perpendicular to the shaft
axis.
Image Credits: Stahlkocher / Wikipedia
Advantages and Disadvantages of CPP and FPP
The following points will discuss the applications and their relations with the advantages
and disadvantages of CPP and FPP systems:

 The controllable pitch propellers can be used to run the ship in forward and astern
direction both, without the requirement to change the direction of rotation of the
engine. How? Well, the propeller works on the principle of lift generated by each
aerofoil section of the blade. What if we can change the orientation of the blade,
such that the direction of life force is opposite to what it was during forward
running of the ship? That’s exactly what is achieved by changing the pitch angle of
the blades, as shown in Figure 2.

Blade sections shown in various pitch orientations

 A non-reversible engine can be used for both forward and astern operation of the
ship. Hence, the weight of the engine and propulsion machinery is reduced
considerably when compared to what is required in propulsion systems equipped
with fixed pitch propellers.

 Since the pitch of the propeller determines the amount of thrust generated by the
propeller, a change in the pitch angle can bring about a change in the speed of the
ship. So, a controllable pitch propeller is useful in changing the speed of the ship
without changing the speed or rpm of the main engine. But why are we focusing
on this advantage? What happens if we need to reduce the engine rpm to reduce
the ship’s speed? Well, many ships have a shaft driven diesel alternator system.
 So the rpm of the main engine shaft controls the electric power production on
board. In that case, if the speed was to be reduced using a fixed-pitch propeller, it
would require a reduction in the shaft rpm, which would result in a reduction of
power generated.

 Due to the above reason, the speed of the ship can be handled from the
navigation bridge directly. In case of fixed pitch propellers, the marine engineer
needs to be intimidated in order to change the ship’s speed. Therefore CPP
technology is used for obtaining a faster response of speed change.

 The efficiency of an astern condition in case of fixed pitch propellers is less than
that of controllable pitch propeller in astern condition.

However, there are many disadvantages of using a controllable pitch propeller to a

fixed-pitch propeller. It is important to know them too.

 The pitch control mechanism installed in the hub is complicated enough to

demand proper inspection at regular intervals. The installation process is also
more complicated as compared to that of fixed-pitch propeller system.

 Controllable pitch propellers have a very high initial cost. And this cost increases
rapidly with increasing diameter of the propeller.

 Due to pitch control mechanisms housed inside the hub, the length and the
diameter of the hub is also high as compared to the fixed-pitch propeller systems.

To conclude, it is vital to know the applications of controllable pitch propellers. These

are used in ships that are required to operate at variable speeds even when operating
at constant power requirements. Such ships are tugs, trawlers, ferries, ice breakers, and
small scale warships that are equipped with gas turbines.

Over to you..

What according to you are the most important features of CPP and FPP?

Let’s know in the comments below.

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