Client overview:
Launched in 2007, UK-based Anemoi Marine Technologies is a specialist in Rotor Sail development and manufacture. Originally known as Flettner Rotors after their inventor, Anton Flettner, the sails were first installed on ships in the 1920s. Fast forward to the 2020s, and they are now considered as an important energy saving technology for the shipping industry.
The mechanical sails are comprised of tall cylinders which, when driven to spin, harness wind power to propel ships – this both reduces fuel consumption and lowers emissions.
Challenges and Project Scope:
On larger bulk carrier vessels, Rotor Sails need to be folded over horizontally and manoeuvred out of position, in order for cargo unloading and loading to be carried out when the vessels are docked. This poses a challenge for operators of smaller vessels, as they do not have the beam to be able to fold Rotor Sails safely.
Anemoi required a solution that could offer vessel operators flexibility in manoeuvring the sails, and developed a rail system, fitted to the vessels, to support this. Several battery-powered motorised trolleys on the rail would be used to move the sails safely in the vertical position – and this is where Lancereal’s support came in.
We were tasked with developing a completely bespoke, integrated solution to power the trolleys, which needed to handle the substantial weight of the Rotor Sails, and operate under challenging environmental conditions and the performance parameters set out by the client.
Solution:
This was a complex remote-controlled transmission system. Firstly, a gearbox and motor were needed to drive each of the trolley’s four wheels, and an additional motor was required to drive the hydraulic pump used in the lifting system. Secondly, a controller and software were also required for the system’s operation.
Drawing on our team’s product knowledge and our ability to secure high-quality components, we sourced the gearboxes and motors and integrated these into a prototype system.
The trolley system was trialled on our on-site test bed, and we worked with Anemoi’s engineers at the company’s site on testing and troubleshooting.
A key part of the process was the development of the software solution for the control system, which we designed to meet the functional specification of the machine. Liaising closely with the Anemoi team, we refined the software over the course of the project to hone the control system and ensure optimal operation of the trolley. Software verification testing was performed in-house at Lancereal – part of our service as a full systems integrator.
Outcomes:
Following a successful testing process, Anemoi has commissioned multiple powertrain systems from Lancereal, which are now operational on trolleys and soon to be installed on their clients’ bulk carrier vessels. A viable, long-term solution has been created, which forms part of Anemoi Marine’s contribution to a more sustainable shipping industry.
As our team were able to provide an integrated system solution, the client was also able to save time and resources, which would have otherwise been spent dealing with numerous suppliers.