OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE
Service Centre, put together a detailed plan for completing the project, before flying to Kirkwall in Orkney. From here, the engineers travelled by boat to the vessel and boarded by boat-to-boat transfer. Once on board, it was apparent that access to the motor would be quite a challenge, with its location in a confined space and the close proximity of bulkheads. Te project would require a well-planned procedure to achieve the bearing replacement.
Te first task was to disconnect and
remove the drive coupling, which was accomplished using the latest technology in induction heating. Jim McClean, Site Services Divisional Manager in Aberdeen, explains: “Heat is required to relieve the interference fit between the coupling and the motor driveshaft. In a workshop environment this would be achieved using gas torches, but due to safety concerns this equipment was prohibited. “With so much of our work being
offshore, we needed a quick and safe method of heating components, and this led us to use specialist induction heating equipment. Te system we use has been
“Working in the offshore environment requires considerable expertise and qualifications as well as a liking of less conventional forms of transport”
developed specifically for use in offshore applications and it saves a significant amount of time during repairs such as this one.” Due to the vertical orientation of the
motor, the Sulzer engineers could only repair one end at a time to ensure the rotor was supported during the work. Te non-drive end (NDE) bearing was replaced and all the surfaces were inspected and found to be in good condition. Te drive end (DE) bearing was inspected and found to be pitted, and the outer race had been rotating in the housing causing it to also be damaged. As a result, the affected parts were removed for repair.
Te damaged housing was immediately shipped to Sulzer’s Falkirk Service Centre, where the machine shop applied metal spray to build up the damaged areas before machining it to the original OEM
specifications – all within 24 hours. While the mechanical repairs were being completed, the site engineers on the vessel carried out the electrical tests that had been agreed with the vessel’s owners. Once the repaired housing was back
on board, the engineers rebuilt the motor and reconnected the driveshaft before recommissioning the thruster and taking vibration measurements to confirm the effectiveness of the repair. McClean concludes: “Working in the offshore environment requires considerable expertise and qualifications as well as a liking of less conventional forms of transport. Te customer was keen to repair the thruster motor as quickly as possible and that led to the conversation with Sulzer. With well- equipped facilities and the capacity to work around the clock, we have minimised any downtime and delivered a challenging project on time.” l
MULTI-SCREW PUMP PORTFOLIO EXPANDS A
n application in media delivery can often be handled by using different pump types.
However, optimum results and material-preserving transport require exact matching of the pump to the different parameters such as viscosity, temperature, NPSH value or shear sensitivity. Netzsch Pumps & Systems has therefore widened its portfolio of progressing cavity pumps and rotary lobe pumps by three model series of compact screw pumps: the Notos untimed twin, three and timed twin screw pumps. Depending on the type, they are
suitable for lubricating and non- lubricating products to be transferred
at high pressures up to 80 bar and temperatures up to 350°C. They thereby cover a wide range of application areas – from lubricants to sealants and on to bitumen or resins – and thanks to their compact design they fit into limited spaces, as they are found often on vessels, offshore platforms or other production facilities. Thanks to special materials,
hydraulic compensation and geometry optimised through FEM simulations, all Notos pumps are designed for highest efficiencies and long operating life. The core feature of the screw pumps from Netzsch is their High Efficiency Unique Design (HEUD), delivering a high power-performance ratio. In 2018 the IBExU Institute for
Sicherheitstechnik confirmed that Notos multi screw pumps meet the requirements of explosion groups IIB and IIC (and therefore also explosion groups IIA, IIB and IIA) for ATEX certification. In addition, suitability for use in explosive atmospheres at ambient temperatures between -20° and +40° was confirmed. l
For more information visit
www.netzsch.com
www.engineerlive.com 27
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