FINLAND
Accumulating advantage Accumulated Azipod operating hours now exceed 2.6 million and there is experience from some nine years of continuous operation for a 14MW installation and some six years for 20MW units. ‘The quality control of the whole supply chain from sub-supplier, own manufacturing to the shipyard and owner is one of our main focuses today,’ Mr. Kuuskoski said. ‘Quality control is instructed, implemented and monitored according to very strict practices.’ All knowledge gained from production and operation is utilised and is available for the customers. ABB Marine has also in close cooperation
with major bearing suppliers developed a strict quality control system, where the latest knowledge on bearing design is applied. ABB is continuously working with ship operators in order to extend the bearing life time beyond industry standards by applying the recent technologies with systematic reliability methods. The Azipod shaft bearing achieves more running hours per year than a roller bearing on an average car achieves during its whole lifetime. The company has launched a heavily insulated easy-to-change thrust bearing for applications that are powered by the new medium voltage drives as well as the cyclo- converter driven units. To record the bearing’s operating status, bearing temperatures, oil temperatures and vibration levels are all continuously monitored as are the oil cleanliness levels and oil filter status indications, on latest models. These can be read from the screen with warnings, should an abnormal situation occur.
The first pair of (V23 Ice type) 10MW Azipod units for the Arctic Double-acting Varandei shuttle tankers is due for delivery in late March from ABB Marine's assembly and testing facility. In the background, a pair of type V23 19.5MW units for a cruise ship.
ABB is now also actively promoting Azipod
propulsion for LNG carriers, particularly when it comes to ice-going LNG carriers and LNG carriers with re-gasification capabilities (LNG RV). These propulsion solutions were already on the drawing board in the mid 1990's when LNG carriers were built in Finland. The possibility of further increased efficiency and added safety
from improved manoeuvrability are benefits that pioneering owners will sooner or later exploit. The most rational alternatives would be two Azipod units, especially for ice-going LNG carriers, also making energy saving double-acting operation in ice possible, or a combination of Azipod propulsion behind a traditional shaft-driven propeller resulting in a contra-rotating drive (for LNG RV).
need a drive?
Well, we created this clever gadget for your demands. The Vacon NX AC drives are available in powers from 0.25 kW up to 5 MW and in voltages from 208 V – 690 V. Enclosures IP21 and IP54. Just plug it into your system and lay down.
Need more drives or further information? We are happy to tell you more about those clever fellows:
www.vacon.com
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THE NAVAL ARCHITECT FEBRUARY 2007
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