Pump-jet

Typical 'jet ski' pump jet

A pump-jet or water jet is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle.

Pump jets have some advantages over bare propellers for certain applications, usually related to requirements for high-speed or shallow-draft operations. These include:

Increasing the speed for the onset of cavitation, due to the raised internal dynamic pressure
High power density (with respect to volume) of both the propulsor and the prime mover (since a smaller, higher-speed unit can be used)
Protection of the rotating element and making operation safer around swimmers
Improved shallow-water operations, since only the inlet needs to be submerged
Increased maneuverability, by adding a steerable nozzle to create vectored thrust
Ultra-quiet designs for submarines; for example the Trafalgar class
Propulsion of torpedoes - for example the Spearfish or Mark 48

In these situations, the benefits outweigh the somewhat reduced efficiency (especially marked at low forward speeds) caused by the increased wetted surface and higher rotational speeds than an open propeller.

Pump-jet

See also