One of the most unusual AC inverter applications comes from an installation in the Dutch Navy’s troopships.
These ships, that in many ways resemble a car ferry, feature a rudderless design, yet are remarkably manoeuvrable thanks to a steering arrangement with a combination of Yaskawa technology and the skill and experience of EEU engineers at its heart.
A Yaskawa F7Z 400V 160kW AC inverter powers at the same time no fewer than five separate motors that drive a large crown gear that engages within a huge 1.5m diameter toothed ring gear. The ring gear secures one of two double propeller main drives installed beneath the ship. By rotating the propellers – up to a full 360 degrees of movement - very sharp steering is achieved and manoeuvring or docking the ship becomes simpler.
The YASKAWA F7 is a sensorless flux vector inverter that enables exceptionally high torque at very low speeds. This feature couples with excellent smooth S-ramps for Acceleration and deceleration, makes the drive ideal for controlling the steering gear without noise or judder.
Because the crown gear arrangement can be run with just two motors being driven it has been possible to create a dual redundant system for the event of an electrical power supply breakdown. This is because the ship’s emergency supply is sufficient to power the required two motors through the Yaskawa drive. Should the main inverter have a problem, the second will step in to keep the system up and running.
Due to an inverter failing, Frank Lange, EEU service engineer was called in to replace the faulty inverter, ensuring that the dual redundancy safety measure remained firmly in place. The entire operation took approximately four hours for Frank to complete.
EEUs highly skilled engineers are second to none in the field of design engineering, preventative maintenance, and repair. The company’s dedication to complete customer satisfaction and the exceptionally high standard of the Yaskawa product range ensures a winning formula for all its customers.
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Further Information: Matthias Heid
Yaskawa Engineering Europe GmbH
Hauptstraße 185
65760 Eschborn
GERMANY
Phone: +49 (0)6196 569 526
Fax: +49 (0)6196 888 598
E-mail: matthias_heid@yaskawa.de
www: www.yaskawa-eng.eu.com
Press enquiries: Tony Cavallo
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