#Industry News
HOW DOES A FOLDING PROPELLER WORK?
Folding props or not – that’s the big question!
At Flexofold we will always choose a folding propeller – and there are many good reasons why.
There are many great advantages when it comes to folding propellers, from efficiency to comfort. Are you in doubt whether you should get a folding propeller yourself?
Let Flexofold guide you!
WHAT IS A FOLDING PROPELLER?
You can enjoy the benefits of a folding propeller in both its active and passive form. On a folding propeller the blades fold together contrary a fixed propeller where the blades stay out all the time.
It’s the type of propeller that provides the least amount of drag under sail compared to other propellers, as the blades fold together. Even so, you won’t compromise the engine performance. You will experience high efficiency, and it all works by the laws of nature.
A folding prop works via the centrifugal force, and this is where the laws of nature come into play.
In its active form – that being when the engine is on, the engine rotates the hub. The blades are now being forced open by the centrifugal force. This already happens at low RPMs. The centrifugal force ensures that the blades remain open, while the engine is running. It is very simple mechanics based on physical laws.
Also in reversed thrust, it works via the centrifugal force. When shifting into reverse, you would think that the water pressure would fold the blades together. Of course, you can’t avoid the water pressure, but it is not at all as strong as the centrifugal force when the propeller spins as fast as it does. The centrifugal force is so strong that it exceeds the water pressure that would otherwise try to close the blades together in reverse. Therefore, a folding propeller can reverse without difficulty.
In its passive form – when under sail, the water pressure will fold the blades together, and the propeller will get a more streamlined shape. Now that the engine is no longer on, there’s no centrifugal force to keep the blades folded out. This is where the laws of nature comes into play again, as the water pressure folds the blades in together.
