US20150017032A1

US20150017032A1 - Ship's propulsion unit

Info

Publication number: US20150017032A1
Application number: US14/325,411
Authority: US
Inventors: Petri SÄKKINEN
Original assignee: ABB Oy
Current assignee: ABB Oy
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2014-07-08
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: SG10201403084RA; CN104276271B; BR102014016860A2; DK2824027T3; CN104276271A; RU2565441C1; JP2015016857A; AU2014203536A1; EP2824027A1; KR20150007228A; EP2824027B1; JP6522294B2; KR101707952B1; CA2856026A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a ship's propulsion unit which includes: a closed liquid cooling system having an inner space containing liquid. The inner space is partly limited by a cylindrical outer surface of a cylindrical section of a motor housing section of the propulsion unit for exchanging thermal energy between an electric motor arranged in the cylindrical section of the motor housing section and liquid in the inner space. The inner space of the closed liquid cooling system is partly limited by the shell structure of the propulsion unit so that liquid in the inner space is in direct contact with the shell structure of the propulsion unit for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space and water surrounding the propulsion unit via the shell structure of the propulsion unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a ship's propulsion unit as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.
The invention relates to ship's propulsion units such as azimuthing propulsion units as presented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,216.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,298 B1 presents in an electromotive drive system in an improved form of a propeller motor for a ship, the cooling of the motor in a simple manner is provided. For re-cooling a circulating coolant, an annular duct is provided, which is arranged inside a shaft-like supporting part on its wall. With the assistance of this supporting part, the propeller motor is arranged, gondola-like, on the lower side of the ship.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,339 B1 presents an electric propulsion pod for a ship having an electric propulsion pod heat rejection member. The electric propulsion pod is attached below the ship by a hollow ship access shaft. The electric propulsion pod contains an electric motor for producing a water propulsion. The electric motor generates an amount of heat that is conducted and subsequently released into the water through the electric propulsion pod and ship access shaft surfaces. The heat rejection member is fitted for increasing the conduction and subsequent release of the electric motor heat.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,156 B1 presents propulsion unit for propelling a waterborne vessel includes an electric motor arranged to provide propulsion, and a housing arranged to contain the motor. The interior of the housing is maintained at an increased pressure of above roughly 2 bar to increase the cooling effect of a cooling gas maintained therein. An end region of the housing is provided with a heat exchange mechanism arranged to cool a cooling gas passing thereover. The heat exchange mechanism is associated with the housing such that, in use, water surrounding the housing absorbs heat therefrom.
WO0154973 a propulsion unit arrangement for a ship. The arrangement includes a motor unit comprising a motor housing which is arranged in the water and which comprises a motor and any control means related thereto, as well as a propeller which is arranged at a motor shaft. Said motor unit comprises an electrical motor for which the cooling is arranged to take place via the surface of the motor's whole circumference through the motor's casing structure directly into the water which surrounds said unit.

Objective of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient cooling of a ship's propulsion unit.

Short Description of the Invention

The ship's propulsion unit of the invention is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the ship's propulsion unit are defined in the dependent claims.
“Closed” in means in this connection for example that water surrounding the propulsion unit, when the propulsion unit is at least partly immersed in water, is not let into the closed liquid cooling system, nor is liquid discharged from the closed liquid cooling system into water surrounding the propulsion unit, when the propulsion unit is at least partly immersed in water.
Cooling of the motor's whole circumference through the motor's casing structure is a very effective way to cool the stator of the electric motor. However, it is difficult to arrange strength wise optimum design for motor housing section connection to the supporting section if the top part of the motor housing section cannot be used for this purpose. Strength wise optimal design for motor housing connection to the support section would be such that supporting section would be connected rigidly to the entire length of the motor housing section. This can be arranged if supporting part is welded directly to top of motor housing section. However, in this case water cannot flush the whole circumference of motor housing section and cooling of electrical motor is reduced resulting hot spot to top of the motor housing section.
This problem can for example be solved by providing the support section with a closed liquid cooling system in the form of a closed liquid tank filled with liquid that is in contact with the top part of motor housing section as is the case in the first embodiment. Alternatively or additionally, this problem can be solved by using a closed liquid circulation cooling system that is filled with cooling liquid that flows in contact with the top part of motor housing section as is the case in the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth embodiment. This arrangement is strength wise superior when compared to other arrangements with an opening above the motor housing section or with an opening between the motor housing section and the support section. This design can provide for smaller outer dimensions and weight of the final propulsion unit due to strength wise optimized design.

LIST OF FIGURES

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

FIG. 1 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a first embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 to 5 shows some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 6 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a second embodiment,

FIG. 7 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 6,

FIGS. 8 to 11 shows some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 6 and 7,

FIG. 12 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a third embodiment,

FIG. 13 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 12,

FIGS. 14 to 17 shows some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 12 and 13,

FIG. 18 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a fourth embodiment,

FIG. 19 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 18,

FIGS. 20 to 23 shows some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 18 and 19,

FIG. 24 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a fifth embodiment,

FIG. 25 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 24,

FIGS. 26 to 29 shows some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 24 and 25,

FIG. 30 shows a propulsion unit arrangement according to a sixth embodiment,

FIG. 31 shows the working principle of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 30,

FIG. 32 is a side view of the propulsion unit arrangement shown in FIG. 30,

FIGS. 33 to 36 show some alternative configurations of section X-X in FIGS. 30 and 31.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following the ship's propulsion unit and some preferred embodiments and variants of the ship's propulsion unit will be described in greater detail.
The propulsion unit (not marked with a reference numeral) comprises a shell structure 1 arranged below a hull 2 of the ship (not marked with a reference numeral) and immersible at least partly in water (not marked with a reference numeral) so that the shell structure 1 is at least partly surrounded by water.
The propulsion unit comprises an electric motor 3 for rotating a propeller 23 outside the shell structure 1. The electric motor 3 has a stator 4 and a rotor 5 for rotating in the stator 4. In the figures a propeller shaft 24 is connected to the rotor 5 for rotating with the rotor 5 as the rotor 5 rotates in the stator 4. In the figures the propeller shaft 24 is rotatable arranged in the shell structure by means of bearing arrangements 25. In the figures the propeller 23 is attached to the propeller shaft 24
The electric motor 3 is arranged in a motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1 so that the stator 4 of the electric motor 3 is form-fitted into a cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1.
The cylindrical section 7 has a cylindrical outer surface 8.
The shell structure 1 includes a support section 26 having a lower end connected to the motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1 and an upper end connected to the hull 2 of the ship. The upper end of the support section 26 may be connected to the hull 2 of the ship by means of a turning arrangement (not shown in the drawings) for turning the propulsion unit with respect to the hull 2 of the ship.
The propulsion unit comprises a closed liquid cooling system 9 having an inner space 10 containing liquid 11.
The inner space 10 of the closed liquid cooling system 9 is partly limited by the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 so that liquid 11 in the closed liquid cooling system 9 is in direct contact with the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor 3 arranged in the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 and liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid cooling system 9 via the cylindrical outer wall 7 of the motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit.
The inner space 10 of the closed liquid cooling system 9 is additionally partly limited by the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit so that liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid cooling system 9 is in direct contact with the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid cooling system 9 and water surrounding the propulsion unit via the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit.
The closed liquid cooling system 9 may be in the form of a closed liquid tank 12 forming said inner space 10 containing liquid, as in the first embodiment of the propulsion unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.
In a such embodiments of the propulsion unit the inner space 10 the closed liquid tank 12 is partly limited by a part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 so that liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank is in direct contact with said part the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor 3 arranged in the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 and liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 via said part 13 the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 between the electric motor 3 and liquid 11 in the closed liquid tank 12.
In a such embodiments of the propulsion unit the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 is additionally partly limited by the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit so that liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 is in direct contact with the shell structure 1 for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 and water surrounding the propulsion unit via the shell structure 1.
The closed liquid tank 12 may be provided with circulation means (not shown in the figures) for circulating liquid in the closed liquid tank.
The inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 may be provided with baffles (not shown in the figures) for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid tank 12 and the support structure of the shell structure 1.
The closed liquid tank 12 may be provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements 22 extending from the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 into the closed liquid tank 12 for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid 11 in the closed liquid tank 12 and the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between liquid in the closed liquid tank 12 and water surrounding the propulsion unit, as shown in FIG. 3.
The closed liquid cooling system 9 may be in the form of a closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 having said inner space 10 containing liquid 11 and provided with liquid circulation means 15 for circulating liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14, as in the second embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 11, in the third embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 17, in the fourth embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 23, and in the fifth embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 24 to 29.
In a such embodiments of the propulsion unit, the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is partly limited by a part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 so that liquid flowing in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is in direct contact with said part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor 3 arranged in the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 and liquid flowing in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 via said part 13 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 between the electric motor 3 and liquid circulating in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14.
In a such embodiments of the propulsion unit, the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is additionally partly limited by the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit so that liquid flowing in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is in direct contact with the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 for exchanging thermal energy between liquid flowing in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 and water surrounding the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 via the support section 26 of the shell structure 1.
If the closed liquid cooling system 9 is in the form of a closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 provided with liquid circulation means 15 for circulating liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14, said part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 partly limiting the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with partition elements 16 for creating several individual channels for liquid along said part of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6.
If the closed liquid cooling system 9 is in the form of a closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 having said inner space 10 containing liquid 11 and provided with liquid circulation means 15 for circulating liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14, the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 may be provided with a first liquid tank 17 at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 where the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by said part 13 of the cylindrical section 7 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the motor housing section 6 as in the third embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 17 and in the fifth embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 24 to 29.
Such first liquid tank 17 has a first inner space (not marked with a reference numeral) that forms a part of the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14.
Such first liquid tank 17 is in fluid communication with the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 such that liquid flowing in the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 flows through the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17.
The first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 is partly limited by said part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 so that liquid in the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 is in direct contact with the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor 3 arranged in the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 and liquid flowing in the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 via said part 13 of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the motor housing section 6.
Such first liquid tank 17 may additionally be partly limited by the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1 so that liquid 11 in the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 is in direct contact with the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1 for exchanging thermal energy between liquid flowing in the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 and water surrounding the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1 via the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1.
The first inner space of such first liquid tank 17 may be provided with baffles 18 for guiding liquid through the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 to prolong the residence time of liquid in the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 and/or for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid flowing through the first inner space of the first liquid tank 17 and the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1.
Such first liquid tank may be provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements 22 extending from the shell structure 1 into the first liquid tank 17 for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid flowing through the first liquid tank 17 and the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between the electric motor 3 in the motor housing section 6 and liquid in the first liquid tank 17, as shown in drawings 15 and 26.
If the closed liquid cooling system 9 is in the form of a closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 having said inner space 10 containing liquid and provided with liquid circulation means 15 for circulating liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14, the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 may be provided with a second liquid tank 19 at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system where the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit so that the second liquid tank 19 is partly limited by said part of the support section 26 of the shell structure 1, as in the fourth embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 23 and in the fifth embodiment of the propulsion unit illustrated in FIGS. 24 to 29.
The second liquid tank 19 has a second inner space (not marked with a reference numeral) that forms a part of the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14.
The second liquid tank 19 is in fluid communication with the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 such that liquid flowing in the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 flows through the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19.
Such second liquid tank 19 is partly limited by the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 so that liquid in the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19 is in direct contact with the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 for exchanging thermal energy between liquid flowing in the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 and water surrounding the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 via the support section 26 of the shell structure 1.
The second inner space of such second liquid tank 19 may be provided with baffles 18 for guiding liquid through the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19 to prolong the residence time of liquid in the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19 and/or for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid flowing through the second inner space of the second liquid tank 19 and the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1.
Such second liquid tank 19 may be provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements (not shown in the drawings) extending from the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1 into the second liquid tank 19 for serving as heat exchanging elements between liquid flowing through the second liquid tank 19 and said part of the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between water surrounding the support structure 26 of the shell structure 1 and liquid in the closed liquid cooling system 9.
In the propulsion unit, the lower end of the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 may connected to the motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1 so that the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 of the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit partly forms the outermost surface of the propulsion unit, as is the case in the embodiments shown in the drawings. Such part of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 forming the outermost surface of the propulsion unit may be provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements 20 for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between the electric motor 3 in the motor housing section 6 and water surrounding the part of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 forming the outermost surface of the propulsion unit, as is the case in the embodiments shown in the drawings 4, 9, 15, 21, and 26.
The propulsion unit the support section 26 of the shell structure 1 may in some embodiments be provided with a cavity 25 in fluid communication with water surrounding the shell structure 1 for allowing water surrounding the shell structure to enter the cavity 25 and to exit the cavity 25. A such embodiment is shown in FIGS. 30 to 36. In such embodiments the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 comprises a tube section 29 so that the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 is partly limited by the tube section 29. In such embodiments the tube section 29 is arranged in the cavity 25 so that an outer surface of the tube section 29 is in the cavity 25 in direct contact with water surrounding the shell structure 1. The tube section 29 may be a part of a liquid-liquid-heat exchanger for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space 10 of the closed liquid circulation cooling system 14 and water surrounding the shell structure, which liquid-liquid-heat exchanger is arranged in the cavity 25. If the support section of the shell structure is provided with a cavity 25 in fluid communication with water surrounding the shell structure 1 for allowing water surrounding the shell structure 1 to enter the cavity 25 and to exit the cavity 25, the cavity 25 may, as shown in FIG. 32, be at least partly closed by at least one cover 27 forming a part of the shell structure 1. A such cover 27 may be provided with at least one opening 28 for allowing water surrounding the shell structure 1 to enter the cavity 25 and to exit the cavity 25.
In the propulsion unit, the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 is preferably, but not necessarily, of a single-layer construction, as is the case in the embodiments shown in the drawings.
In the propulsion unit, the part of the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the cylindrical section 7 of the motor housing section 6 in contact with liquid in the closed liquid cooling system 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements 21 for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between the electric motor 3 in the motor housing section 6 and liquid in the second liquid tank, as shown in drawings 3, 4, 9, 11, 15, 17, 21, 23, 26 and 28.
In the propulsion unit, the closed liquid cooling system 9 is preferably, but not necessarily, arranged fully enclosed by the shell structure 1 of the propulsion unit as is shown in the drawings.
In the propulsion unit, the electric motor 3 is preferably, but not necessarily, a permanent-magnet electric motor 3.
It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A ship's propulsion unit, comprising:

a shell structure configured to be arranged below a hull of the ship and immersible at least partly in water so that the shell structure will be at least partly surrounded by water;

an electric motor for rotating a propeller outside the shell structure, the electric motor having a stator and a rotor for rotating in the stator;

wherein the electric motor is arranged in a motor housing section of the shell structure so that the stator of the electric motor is form-fitted into a cylindrical section of the motor housing section of the shell structure; the cylindrical section having a cylindrical outer surface; and

wherein the shell structure includes a support section having a lower end connected to the motor housing section of the shell structure and an upper end connected to the hull of the ship;

a closed liquid cooling system having an inner space containing liquid, the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system being partly limited by the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section so that liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system will be in direct contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor arranged in the cylindrical section of the motor housing section and liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system via the cylindrical section of the motor housing section; and

the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system being partly limited by the shell structure of the propulsion unit so that liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system will be in direct contact with the shell structure of the propulsion unit for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid cooling system and water surrounding the propulsion unit via the shell structure of the propulsion unit.

2. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the closed liquid cooling system is a closed liquid tank forming said inner space containing liquid, the inner space of the closed liquid tank being partly limited by a part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section so that liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid tank will be in direct contact with said part the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor arranged in the cylindrical section of the motor housing section and liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid tank via said part of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section between the electric motor and liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid tank; and

the inner space of the closed liquid tank being partly limited by the shell structure of the propulsion unit so that liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid tank will be in direct contact with the shell structure for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid tank and water surrounding the shell structure via the shell structure.

3. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the closed liquid cooling system is a closed liquid circulation cooling system having said inner space containing liquid and provided with liquid circulation means for circulating liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system, the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system being partly limited by a part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section so that liquid which flows in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system will be in direct contact with said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor arranged in the cylindrical section of the motor housing section and liquid which flows in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system via said part of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section between the electric motor and liquid circulating in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system; and

the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system being additionally partly limited by the support section of the shell structure of the propulsion unit so that liquid which flows in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system will be in direct contact with the support section of the shell structure for exchanging thermal energy between liquid which flows in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system and water surrounding the support section of the shell structure via the support section of the shell structure.

4. The propulsion unit according to claim 3, wherein said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section in contact with liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system is provided with partition elements for creating several individual flows of liquid along said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section.

5. The propulsion unit according to claim 3, wherein the closed liquid circulation cooling system is provided with a first liquid tank at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system where the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section, the first liquid tank having a first inner space that forms a part of the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system;

the first liquid tank being in fluid communication with the closed liquid circulation cooling system such that liquid which flows in the closed liquid circulation cooling system will flow through the first inner space of the first liquid tank; and

the first inner space of the first liquid tank being partly limited by said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section so that liquid in a first inner space of the first liquid tank will be in direct contact with the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section for exchanging thermal energy between the electric motor arranged in the motor housing section and liquid which flows in the first inner space of the first liquid tank via said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section.

6. The propulsion unit according to claim 5, wherein the first liquid tank is additionally partly limited by the support structure of the shell structure so that liquid in the first inner space of the first liquid tank will be additionally in direct contact with the support structure of the shell structure for exchanging thermal energy between liquid which flows in the first inner space of the first liquid tank of the closed liquid circulation cooling system and water surrounding the support structure of the shell structure via the support structure of the shell structure.

7. The propulsion unit according to claim 3, wherein the closed liquid circulation cooling system is provided with a second liquid tank at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system where the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by the support section of the shell structure so that the second liquid tank is partly limited by the support section of the shell structure, the second liquid tank having a second inner space that forms a part of the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system;

the second liquid tank being in fluid communication with the closed liquid circulation cooling system such that liquid which flows in the closed liquid circulation cooling system will flow through the second inner space of the second liquid tank; and

the second liquid tank being partly limited by the support section of the shell structure so that liquid in the second inner space of the second liquid tank will be in direct contact with the support section of the shell structure for exchanging thermal energy between liquid which flows in the second inner space of the second liquid tank and water surrounding the support section of the shell structure via the support section of the shell structure.

8. The propulsion unit according to claim 3, wherein the support section of the shell structure is provided with a cavity in fluid communication with water surrounding the shell structure for allowing water surrounding the shell structure to enter the cavity and to exit the cavity;

the closed liquid circulation cooling system comprising a tube section;

the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system being partly limited by the tube section; and

the tube section being arranged in the cavity so that an outer surface of the tube section will be in the cavity in direct contact with water surrounding the shell structure.

9. The propulsion unit according to claim 8, wherein the tube section is a part of a liquid-liquid-heat exchanger for exchanging thermal energy between liquid in the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system and water surrounding the shell structure; and

said liquid-liquid-heat exchanger is arranged in the cavity.

10. The propulsion unit according to claim 8, wherein the cavity is at least partly closed by at least one cover forming a part of the shell structure.

11. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the lower end of the support section of the shell structure is connected to the motor housing section of the shell structure so that the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section of the shell structure of the propulsion unit partly forms the outermost surface of the propulsion unit.

12. The propulsion unit according to claim 11, wherein the part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section forming the outermost surface of the propulsion unit is provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between the electric motor in the motor housing section and water surrounding the part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section forming the outermost surface of the propulsion unit.

13. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein by the cylindrical section of the motor housing section is of a single-layer construction

14. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the part of the cylindrical section of the cylindrical outer surface of the motor housing section in contact with liquid in the closed liquid cooling system is provided with projecting heat-exchanging elements for enhancing transfer of thermal energy between the electric motor in the motor housing section and liquid in the closed liquid cooling system.

15. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the closed liquid cooling system is arranged fully enclosed by the shell structure of the propulsion unit.

16. The propulsion unit according to claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a permanent-magnet electric motor.

17. The propulsion unit according to claim 4, wherein the closed liquid circulation cooling system is provided with a first liquid tank at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system where the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by said part of the cylindrical outer surface of the cylindrical section of the motor housing section, the first liquid tank having a first inner space that forms a part of the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system;

18. The propulsion unit according to claim 4, wherein the closed liquid circulation cooling system is provided with a second liquid tank at a point of the closed liquid circulation cooling system where the closed liquid circulation cooling system is partly limited by the support section of the shell structure so that the second liquid tank is partly limited by the support section of the shell structure, the second liquid tank having a second inner space that forms a part of the inner space of the closed liquid circulation cooling system;

19. The propulsion unit according to claim 4, wherein the support section of the shell structure is provided with a cavity in fluid communication with water surrounding the shell structure for allowing water surrounding the shell structure to enter the cavity and to exit the cavity;

the closed liquid circulation cooling system comprising a tube section;

20. The propulsion unit according to claim 9, wherein the cavity is at least partly closed by at least one cover forming a part of the shell structure.