Thruster range improved

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 30, 2007

The Pleuger azimuthing thruster advancements have been designed by Flowserve in Hamburg, Germany.

Flowserve has made significant enhancements to its Pleuger brand of azimuthing thrusters.

These thruster units are multidirectional propeller pods installed on oil platforms and ships in order to allow for intricate vessel positioning.

The Pleuger azimuthing thruster advancements have been designed by Flowserve in Hamburg, Germany.

A recent modification to the tilted-shaft design of the units improves the net thrust of operation in offshore applications.

"With the strong worldwide demand for energy and the increased prices for fuel, more remote offshore drilling locations are being sought", according to Flowserve Pump Division President Thomas Ferguson.

"Extracting oil in such remote offshore locales is a difficult process, especially due to extreme weather conditions and the need to operate in deeper ocean areas".

"Such operations require that offshore structures be dynamically positioned with their own propulsive power, such as the Flowserve Pleuger thruster".

Flowserve Pleuger's newest technological contribution is the underwater-mountable, L-drive and fixed-pitch thruster line for offshore applications.

The WFSD-type thruster with this tilted-axis propeller is designed for optimum net thrust output and maintainability.

This tilted-shaft propeller design assures minimum thruster-hull and thruster-thruster interaction, which results in higher net thrust for the vessel.

The newly designed thrusters are available for custom optimisation up to 5m in propeller diameter.

This design provides for greater than 4000kW input power with a fixed-pitch propeller (FPP).

Every propeller in a Pleuger thruster is individually optimised for the proper operating profile through use of in-house engineering experts and proven computer calculation methods gleaned from years of field and test data analysis.

There is no standardised sub-assembly force provided for unwanted compromises.

Flowserve Pleuger has manufactured more than 2000 thrusters using various design and construction principles.

Transverse tunnel thrusters, active rudder thrusters, retractable thrusters, containerised controllable and fixed-pitch thrusters, and underwater mountable thrusters are some examples.

A great number of custom-designed auxiliary propulsion units have also been designed and manufactured.

These installations meet the extreme shock and signature requirements of navy vessels such as atomic and conventional submarines and aircraft carriers.

Additional packages offered by Flowserve include diesel engines, generators, power management, e-motors and thrusters, and a DP system for offshore applications.

Life cycle and expectancy as well as legendary performance are key attributes.

The rugged and versatile, tilted-shaft Pleuger design can be mounted and dismantled underwater without dry-docking the vessel.

This provides for optimum installation and maintenance flexibility, even in the open ocean.

A team of dedicated experts at Flowserve supports system operators and engineering contractors with a global service team in virtually all shipyards and key ports.