POWER SUPPLIES & GENERATOR SHIP HAPPENS:
TESTING TIMES FOR THE MARINE SECTOR
In this article Paul Brickman of Crestchic, the global manufacturer of loadbanks used for power testing in the marine sector, looks at how the market and its needs are changing.
MEETING THE POWER
NEEDS OF ‘SUPER VESSELS’ Recently, we have witnessed a massive growth in the size of seagoing vessels for transportation of products, leisure and oil & gas exploration & production. As these vessels continue to grow in size, their power needs grow too, as does the complexity of on-board systems. Modern sea vessels often contain complex propulsion, production and environmental support systems, which must operate reliably for long periods of time, often hundreds, if not thousands of miles offshore.
Ensuring the availability of power for these systems is a critical function to guarantee vital services can run uninterrupted, making pre-launch, reliable testing of power supplies of particular importance. This is an area of increased focus for ship owners and offshore classification agencies as they seek to optimise safety and ensure power availability, driving continued growth in the use of specialist equipment for the robust testing of onboard power systems.
In the 1940s the world moved on from colonialism to globalisation. This movement was accompanied by rapidly growing trade and the need for effective means of transport, which was the first driving-force in the development of sea vessels. Fast forward 70 years and we now have different driving-forces in the growth and development of these vessels. For example the reason behind
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the recent increase of the size of container ships is economy of scale. Fitting more products on container ships and making less journeys will inevitably save money. One of the world’s largest container ships, the MSC Zoe, is 1,297ft (396m) long and can carry over 19,000 20ft equivalent units “TEU”. Simply put, it is a lot cheaper to transport cargo if you move large quantities at a time.
Any offshore power generation unit is a complex system, or series of systems, working together to perform several functions at once, and at the system’s heart is the generator or gen-set. This could consist of several gas turbines and/or diesel generators. However, various discrete systems and components complete the total package, such as alternators, regulators, transformers and switchgear.
These additional components typically come from various manufacturers, and are usually designed to interface with a number of makes, models, and sizes of generators, requiring regular testing and servicing.
SHIP CATEGORIES AND
THEIR POWER NEEDS Ships can fall into a number of categories, all with different uses and power needs. Cruise ships, for example, require massive electrical installations in order to power the shopping malls, entertainment centres, bars and restaurants on- board. One of the largest cruise ships in the world, the Allure of the Seas by Royal Caribbean, is 1,187ft (362m)
long. Setting a new world record for the most passengers accommodated, the ship can hold 6,360 passengers, 2,200 crew members and features 25 restaurants and 24 passenger lifts.
Other types of ships include car and passenger ferries, military vessels, oil tankers, nuclear ships and fishing vessels, all with specific power requirements.
A SIZEABLE ISSUE Operating these huge vessels
requires complex electrical systems that need to be correctly and thoroughly tested. However, the stresses introduced by this level of operation cannot be simulated by discrete tests of a system’s numerous individual components: automatic transfer switches, switchgear, load- sharing centres, voltage regulators, alternators, electrical cabling and connectors, ventilation, cooling systems and fuel systems.
Main engines and generators on board these vessels require a constant and reliable electricity supply to keep them going. Pumps driven electrically take in cold water from the ocean to cool engines, and also convey fuel from tanks to the engine. Electrical power is vital for many operational functions - without it, ships literally come to a halt.
The correct and comprehensive testing of these systems at the commissioning stage is vital to ensure trouble-free propulsion, production, efficient power generation and the safety of personnel.
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