Hydrauvision News - December 2023

Seamless Submersion Operation Maasdeltatunnel

Hydrauvision Rental provided a special winch spread and associated support from our Service Engineers for the immersion of tunnel sections Alara and Isabella of the Maasdeltatunnel under construction. Redundant HPU sets, mooring/interconnection winches and immersion guidance winches ensured that the tunnel element could be guided to the riverbed in full control. An operation with an accuracy of a few centimetres at a depth of over 30 metres.

Our solution for excessive passive preload pressure

Jack-up barges are used for offshore activities such as drilling, exploration and construction. The lifting system of a jack-up consists of 3 or 4 legs that move vertically down from the hull of the barge and lift the hull out of the water to create a stable working platform. The growing demand for larger (and therefore heavier) wind turbines requires a higher lifting capacity. Therefore, the hydraulic systems must be modified to handle the larger pressures.

We upgraded the hydraulic system on several jack-ups. In passive preload (where the ship’s mass pushes the legs into the seabed), the increased weight creates higher pressures than the existing manifolds can handle.

By installing special distribution blocks between the cylinders and the existing manifolds, it is now possible to work with higher passive preload pressures.

To ensure that the new hydraulic piping and manifold blocks fit perfectly, we measured the piping on-site with the mobile 3D measurement system. This system consists of a 3D camera and wireless recording system that automatically generates a 3D drawing. The piping and manifolds were then produced in our workshops in Yerseke and Schoondijke and measured again for validation.

Improving operational reliability

Floating cranes such as Crane 10 transfer cargoes from a large vessel to smaller ships, barges or the quayside. The hoisting winches on the pontoon were originally equipped with Sauer Danfoss SPV (series 20) pumps. These pumps have been out of production (including spare parts) for quite some time. These pumps were replaced with modern Danfoss H1 pumps to ensure operational reliability.

We modified the hydraulic system to seamlessly integrate the new pumps by revamping the hydraulic hoses and piping. The electrical control of the H1 pumps required a completely different approach. Technotron redesigned the electrical system, modified the electrical controls and placed new housings on top of the deck to control the HPU (Hydraulic Power Unit). The old control box of the HPU was retained. Thanks to a new mounting plate and optimized components, the modification was carried out efficiently.

Due to the excellent cooperation between Hydrauvision, Technotron and Ovet, the entire system was operational again within a week. This smooth coordination of efforts not only increased efficiency but also significantly improved the operational reliability of Crane 10.

End of the anniversary year

2023 was a festive and special year for Hydrauvision. We celebrated our 50th anniversary with a special customer event on 16 June and an open day for the public on 17 June. Both days were a success and on the open day, we welcomed over 1,500 visitors. In any case, we look back on a fantastic anniversary year!