An orifice plate in the port side emitter belt balances air flow. Prairie air flows at 400 SCFM from a branch of the bleed air system through the prairie air cooler. The cooler uses seawater from the Firemain system as a cooling medium. At the propeller hub after end, the air enters drilled passages in the hub body. The passages direct the air to the base of each propeller blade.
Air reaches each blade through a bushing connection between the blade base and the hub body.
Air then flows through an air channel in the blade leading edge and discharges through 302 orifices. Two check valves prevent entry of water when the air supply is secured. The Fin Stabilizers use prairie air supplied directly from the discharge side of the prairie air cooler. The air passes through a network of apertures along each stabilizer s leading edge. The air suppresses flow noise and cavitation.