Propeller Profile Optimisation Course
300-hour online course in propeller profile optimisation. 6 modules covering ISO 484-1 Marine propellers: manufacturing tolerances for propellers with a diameter greater than 2.5 m, ISO 484-2 Manufacturing tolerances for propellers with a diameter between 0.8 and 2.5 m, and OpenProp. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Propeller Profile Optimisation Course — studying from Ireland
Ireland's maritime sector spans shipping services, offshore energy, marine research and sports boating, with ports such as Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes supporting trade and logistics. The offshore wind and marine renewables sector is growing, creating demand for engineers in structures, marine systems and subsea technology. Marine research institutions such as the Marine Institute contribute to ocean science and offshore technology. Oversight is provided by the Irish Maritime Administration within the Department of Transport and by classification and safety bodies.
Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which bodies in Ireland regulate or recognise marine and offshore engineering professionals?
In Ireland, marine matters fall under the Irish Maritime Development Office and the Irish Maritime Administration, while the Marine Survey Office handles vessel safety. Professional engineering membership is usually sought through Engineers Ireland. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by these bodies, so they do not grant certificates of competency or professional status.
How do employers in Ireland's marine and offshore sectors view private online qualifications?
Employers in Ireland's offshore energy, shipping and nautical industries generally prioritise certified competencies and sea-going or project experience. A private online qualification may complement your background but is judged at each employer's discretion. There is no guarantee it will be accepted for any particular role.
Can I study this online from Ireland and do I need a visa or to relocate?
You can study from home in Ireland, as the programme is fully online and taught in English, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Programme lengths are 300, 800 or 1,900 hours depending on the course. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Each student is assigned a technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the geometry and hydrodynamics of blade sections.
Apply classical and numerical propeller design methods.
Formulate optimisation problems with objectives and constraints.
Use evolutionary algorithms and surrogate models.
Assess the performance and cavitation of the designs obtained.
Relate design to manufacturing and ISO 484 tolerances.
Carry out the complete optimisation of a propeller.
Who it's for
- Marine propeller designer looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Hydrodynamic optimisation engineer looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Propulsion CFD engineer looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Propeller manufacturing technician looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Energy retrofit consultant looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Naval propulsion researcher looking to specialise in Propeller Profile Optimisation.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join propeller manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- ISO 484-1 Marine propellers: manufacturing tolerances for propellers with a diameter greater than 2.5 m
- ISO 484-2 Manufacturing tolerances for propellers with a diameter between 0.8 and 2.5 m
- DNV-CG-0039 Calculation of marine propellers
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-02.1 Open Water Test
- DNV-RU-SHIP Pt.4 Ch.5 Rotating machinery – propulsors
- ITTC 7.5-02-03-03.1 Model-Scale Cavitation Test
- IMO Resolution MEPC.364(79) Attained EEDI calculation
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Blade sections: thickness, camber and chord1.2NACA 66 and a=0.8 section families1.3Pitch and radial camber distributions1.4Thin aerofoil theory1.5Lift, drag and ideal angle1.6Cavitation bucket of a section1.7Three-dimensional and tip effects1.8Wageningen B and Gawn systematic series1.9Parametrisation with B-spline curves1.10Case study: cavitation bucket of a NACA section
2.1Preliminary design with Bp-δ diagrams2.2Lifting line theory and optimum circulation2.3Lifting surface method2.4Boundary element methods (BEM) for propellers2.5Wake-adapted propellers2.6Performance calculation with vortex lattice2.7Controllable pitch propeller design2.8Ducted propellers: 19A and 37 sections2.9Viscous flow corrections2.10Practical: preliminary design with B-series
3.1Design variables, constraints and objectives3.2Single- and multi-objective optimisation3.3Pareto front: efficiency versus cavitation3.4Genetic algorithms and NSGA-II3.5Gradient-based methods and adjoints3.6Design of experiments and sampling3.7Surrogate models: kriging and neural networks3.8Structural strength constraints3.9Robustness to wake variations3.10Workshop: pitch optimisation with a genetic algorithm
4.1RANS evaluation of candidate designs4.2Cavitation over the rotation cycle4.3Pressure pulses and unsteady forces4.4Noise from the optimised propeller4.5Off-design behaviour4.6Blade strength and stresses4.7Blade vibration and natural frequencies4.8ISO 484 manufacturing tolerances4.9Comparison with the original propeller4.10Case study: verification of a Pareto design
5.1Casting of bronze propellers5.2CNC machining of blades5.3Dimensional inspection and tolerance classes5.4Open-water tests in a towing tank5.5Cavitation tunnel tests5.6Sea trials and power analysis5.7In-service propeller reconditioning5.8Retrofit studies and return on investment5.9Additive manufacturing of propellers5.10Laboratory: comparison of open-water tests
6.1Ship and wake starting data6.2Initial design and parametrisation6.3Definition of objectives and constraints6.4Running the optimisation6.5Analysis of results and Pareto front6.6Verification of cavitation and strength6.7Propeller definition drawing6.8Fuel saving estimate6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is OpenProp, PROCAL, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, modeFRONTIER, MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The exercises are based on real propeller pitch distribution optimisation procedures using a genetic algorithm, RANS evaluation of candidate designs and open-water testing in a towing tank. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus a final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the geometry and hydrodynamics of blade sections.
Apply classical and numerical propeller design methods.
Formulate optimisation problems with objectives and constraints.
Use evolutionary algorithms and surrogate models.
Assess the performance and cavitation of the designs obtained.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous degree required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme comprises 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
The course uses OpenProp, PROCAL, Simcenter STAR-CCM+, modeFRONTIER and MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the crediting policy when you enrol.
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