As one of the most critical components, the gearbox must operate under extreme conditions and stress. Its critical parts, bearings and gears, must be protected by a lubrication fluid free of contamination and water.Only with the highest cleanliness can the gearbox sustain years of operation under some of the most demanding conditions anywhere. Although the equipment and lubricating oil may be improved and designed to a maximum lifetime, the possibility of a need for oil conversion over the years can never be entirely eliminated.
SOCOT (Safe Oil Change for Offshore Turbines) on board a CTV ready for oil conversion.
IKM Ocean Team has many years’ experience in oil conversion and flushing of gear and hydraulic blade-pitch and braking systems in on- and offshore wind turbines. In wind turbines, gear oil can be changed in just a single lifting operation. With IKM Ocean Team’s oil conversion and flushing system, the operation can be performed quickly and safely for personnel, wind turbine and the environment.
The SOCOT umbilical ready to be hoisted in one single lift.
IKM Ocean Team Offers new Hydraulic Oil Conversion System for Offshore Wind Turbines
Gear oil systems on offshore wind turbines can now be changed in even relatively rough seas thanks to IKM Ocean Team’s new, hydraulic, wave-compensated, gear-oil conversion and flushing system, now available to the international offshore market. Our new system solves many of the existing challenges of maintaining offshore wind turbines. The system, specially developed by IKM Ocean Team, allows any vessel to pump oil from the gear systems in the nacelle into tanks on board the vessel without the equipment being damaged due to rough seas or wind. The integrated hydraulic systems simply compensate automatically for the vessel’s movement in the sea.The hoses are equipped with a “weak link” safety device and patented valve system. If tension on the hoses becomes uncontrollably high (over-pull), the weak-link will break immediately, causing the hose to separate from the nacelle in a safe, controlled manner, thus reducing the risk of physical damage or oil spilling to the greatest possible extent.
The SOCOT operates from on board a CTV or an SOV with inbuild wave compensation.
The closed conversion system consists of just three main processes:
- Used oil drainage
- Gear/hydraulic/yaw gear flushing
- New oil filtration and filling
All processes are controlled by the oil conversion system, ensuring optimum oil and gear cleaning in a quick, efficient, and safe way with minimum risk of oil spillage to the environment. The system offers a perfect solution to a major practical problem in the growing market of offshore wind turbines while meeting all requirements and specifications on environmental protection. It’s another example of the ingenuity in IKM Ocean Team when searching for better solutions to the benefit of our customers.
Download flyer – SOCOT Concept
Download flyer – IKM Ocean Team Windcare SOCOTFlexPlus® Concept
Download flyer – On-site Analysis Program
Contact IKM Ocean Team Windcare to get the best solution for your set-up.