MAN Commissions Siemens to Supply Two-speed Gearbox for Vessel

Siemens provides with an order from MAN out its expertise in the construction of switchable special gears. Flender two-speed transmission are individual, switchable solutions for displaying different operating modes for specialized vessels. Various translations in a transmission enable different rotational speeds and power transmissions. This makes them particularly suitable for ships which require an alternative drive as a redundant system or emergency system, are powered hybrid, have several modes of operation, or to generate electricity at the same time during operation of the diesel engine.

The two-speed transmission are characterized by a very high efficiency. They can be customized and application-specific adapted to the various operating modes and functions.

For a modern fishing vessel Siemens now awarded the contract for a further special solution. MAN equips the boat with a 6,000 kilowatt (kW) MAN engine. With the Flender two-speed gearbox of Siemens, the vessel can produce during operation with diesel engine onboard power with two speed modes. The relatively high power for a drive train with Power Take-Off (PTO) can from the main transmission stage with an output speed of 141 revolutions per minute ( rpm) are fully transferred. For such a transfer, the components, in particular teeth, bearings and shafts, high quality must have. In a further switching state a maximum of 4200 kW at 117 rpm are transmitted to the propeller, while a PTO drive is operated with 1,800 kW.

The recovered energy is used for the onboard power grid. In the case of high power requirements maximum of 3,200 kW for power generation via the PTO can be transmitted to the generator. The generator, which is used in this mode of operation for power generation, may also function as a motor.

There are more generator units (Gen Sets), which provide the energy for the operation of the motor generator in case of failure of the main drive on board. In this mode, the transmission would transmit a power of 1,700 kW on the power-take-home (PTH) on the propellers, resulting in an output speed of approximately 117 rpm.

"Since 2002 we build two-speed transmission on the basis of established Flender gearboxes for ships "said Stefan Tenbrock, head of the Mechanical Drives Business Unit at Siemens. "The experience and the know-how from the many different applications, with new challenges and close collaboration with our customers enables us to develop customized solutions at a high quality level."

The Flender gear solution can customized and application specific to the various operating modes and needs to be adjusted. The application areas range from product tankers with APS notation, on research vessels, fishing vessels and Rescue vessels. The transmission has a sturdy and robust casing, in which the oil supply system is fully applied to the transmission. To ensure the hydraulic adjustment of the propeller, the drive output shaft for receiving the oil tubes is hollow drilled. The oil supply device of the propeller is flanged front gearbox.

At the SMM in Hall A3, Booth 319 Siemens presents its comprehensive expertise in the engineering of special solutions for the shipbuilding industry before. With more than 35 different gears in two-speed version, Siemens is the pioneer in switchable special solutions. The transmissions include both "Single In / Single Out" - and "Twin In / Single Out" solutions 1800-10500 kW with center distances 710-1250 mm between input and output shafts.