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Wölfer wins large motor contract for offshore wind turbine installation vessels

Wölfer has won a large follow-up contractfor 45 motors for various hoist applications on an offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).

German motor manufacturer Wölfer has won a large follow-up contract for various hoist application motors. The different electric motors will be installed on an offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) currently under construction. This is the second order from the same large international maritime engineering firm, with a third already in the books.

The current order is for 45 motors with outputs up to 510 kW for various drive applications in the main hoist: main drive, boom, whip, slewing etc. Wölfer will supply all motors in marine design, many with brakes, encoders and various technologically demanding solutions.

Various hoist motors for offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV)
3-phase squirrel cage motor for hoist applications on WTIV vessels

Motors produced for the WTIV market

The WTIV market is expected to continue growing for years to come, with next-generation vessels to be equipped for larger wind turbines installed in deeper waters. Wölfer has set up its production to cater to this industry.

In designing hoist motors for maritime applications, two sets of challenging requirements must be combined in order to achieve high-quality motors that ensure operator safety, overload capacity and efficiency over a long lifetime. Wölfer motors provide their rated performance over the full control range, thus ensuring full functionality of the entire system under harsh marine conditions.

Inhouse production – motors made in Germany

The rugged, steel-welded motor casings and dedicated rotor constructions are produced inhouse and the motors are fitted with a C5M surface finishing to ensure full compliance with maritime and hoist requirements.

Wölfer has been one of the quality and technology leaders in the manufacture of motors for hoist applications for more than 70 years. Our motors are completely manufactured in Germany.

Tested standards and classifications

The motors are to comply with Det Norske Veritas (DNV) standards, which Wölfer will certify inhouse. The motor manufacturer performs all acceptance tests in its own state-of-the-art testing station: heat runs, vibration measurements, overload tests and no-load tests at full power.

Tested standards and classifications include, but are not limited to, DIN EN 60034, UL – CSA, Bureau Veritas (BV), Lloyd’s Register (LR), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMROS), China Classification Society (CCS), Korean Register of Shipping (KRS) and Nippon Kaiji Kyōkai (NK). With this global approach, Wölfer is excellently positioned as a reliable partner for the booming offshore renewable energy sector.

Special features for the WTIV application

Special features for the WTIV application include the innovative Altra caliper brake to realize extremely dynamic brake torques given the heavy payloads.Here, in contrast to existing solutions with enclosed brakes, the brake disk is mounted directly on the motor shaft and engaged by means of hydraulic shoe brakes.

Technical data of the threephase-squirrel-cage-motors

Main hoist and boom hoist motors

  • Type: threephase-squirrel-cage-motors
  • Rated Power: 0 - 510 kW
  • Voltage: 690 V
  • Frequency: 0 - 115 Hz
  • Poles: 6
  • Rated Speed: 0 - 2280 min-1
  • Mounting: IM B5
  • Protection: IP 56
  • Cooling: IC 416

Whip hoist motors

  • Type: threephase-squirrel-cage-motors
  • Rated Power: 0 - 500 kW
  • Voltage: 690 V
  • Frequency: 0 - 110 Hz
  • Poles: 6
  • Rated Speed: 0 - 2200 min-1
  • Mounting: IM B5
  • Protection: IP 56
  • Cooling: IC 416

Utility Hoist and Tugger motors

  • Type: threephase-squirrel-cage-motors
  • Rated Power: 100 kW
  • Voltage: 690 V
  • Frequency: 0 - 110 Hz
  • Poles: 6
  • Rated Speed: 0 - 2200 min-1
  • Mounting: IM B5
  • Protection: IP 56
  • Cooling: IC 410

Slewing motors

  • Type: threephase-squirrel-cage-motors
  • Rated Power: 188 kW
  • Voltage: 690 V
  • Frequency: 0 – 76,6 Hz
  • Poles: 4
  • Rated Speed: 0 - 2211 min-1
  • Mounting: IM V1
  • Protection: IP 56
  • Cooling: IC 416

    Are you looking for hoist application motors on vessels? Contact us today!
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