Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences

During the final project phase of my Mechanical Engineering program, I explored the feasibility of contra-rotating propellers for the SOLAR boat. After analyzing multiple studies, it was theoretically concluded that contra-rotating propellers are 10% more efficient in power consumption with the same drive system. To win the Monaco Boat Race with the Clean Mobility Team, our solar boat needs to maximize its range. Reducing power consumption increases this possibility. The propellers were designed using MATLAB calculations, considering factors such as pitch, length and thickness of the blades, number of blades, position, and blade angle. The design aims to achieve a top speed of 11 knots and requires a thrust of 350 Newtons.

The MATLAB calculations generated dozens of sketches. By integrating these sketches and adjusting them to minimize pitch loss, the contra-rotating tailpiece was equipped with thin, yet efficient, propellers. These propellers are 3D-printed with an additional carbon layer for enhanced performance.