Retractable ship propulsion systems: compact guidance for heavy cables

Strong E4.1 series energy chains designed as multiband chains for high cable weights

In these two applications on a seismic survey vessel and a well intervention vessel in the oil industry, the decision to use a retractable engine led to a design problem. Many cables for powering the heavy propulsion systems had to be guided close to the engine and as compactly as possible. To safely manage the enormous number of cables (additional loads), E4.1 series energy chains were offered as multiband chains.

Profile

  • What was needed: E4.1 series energy chains with strain reliefchainflex cables
  • Requirements: Robust guidance of high cable weights and tight and compact cable guidance in the little space available.
  • Industry: Offshore
  • Success for the customer: E4.1 energy chains are used as stable multiband chains. They are compact and, with the internal chainflex cables, also have tight bend radii. Strain relief elements on the cables provide additional support and ensure long service life.
Engines with energy chains

Problem

Retractable engines offer several advantages in shipbuilding, including reduced ship flow resistance. While the systems bring flexibility and efficiency to ship operations, they also represent a major design challenge.
Control of and energy supply to ship propulsion systems require a large number of cables which must always be moved safely despite their great weight.
Installation space is also tight, so that not only the cable guidance systems, but also the cables themselves must allow tight bend radii.
These applications were for the propulsion systems of a well intervention vessel and a seismic survey vessel, which are used to determine drilling sites for oil and its extraction.

Solution

Strong energy chains are especially well suited to the high loads involved in supplying engines on special vessels. In this case, our E4.1 series energy chains, characterised by a high level of robustness combined with compact dimensions, are used. In the case of the seismic survey vessel, interlocking energy chains were used to save installation space. For additional strength, they are designed as multiband chains, meaning that they have additional chain bands with which the system can safely move the high cable weights over the long term. And in order to minimise the load on the guided cables given the high forces, special strain relief elements were integrated.
Since we develop our chainflex cables specifically for moving applications, special cables in energy chains were an obvious solution. They accept the low bend radii resulting from the tight spaces in the drives.

E4.1 energy chain
E4.1 energy chain

Here you can find the products used

Series E4.162

Inner height hi: 162mm
Inner widths Bi: 200-600mm
Bend radii R: 250-1000mm
Pitch: 200mm

Strain relief

Strain relief clamps, tiewrap plates and modular plug-in strain relief systems.

chainflex cables

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