Large Volume Power Slip Ring for Offshore Marine Machinery
SHIP CRANE
WDC03350-01-0520
WDC03580-01-0508
Features
• Big size
• Excellent waterproof performance, suitable for harsh marine environments
• Multi channel design for power, signals, CANbus signals, etc
• Transmission power, ship control signals, analog signals and digital signals
PORT CRANE
WDC03260-01-0160
WDH02800-02-01
Features
• High stability and low failure rate
• Option for junction box, easy to connect and operate
• Excellent waterproof performance, suitable for harsh marine environments
SHIPBOARD WINCH SYSTEM
WDT0360-0200-01
WDC0440-0430-20S
Features
• High stability and low failure rate
• Waterproof technology for 600 meters underwater
• Excellent waterproof performance, suitable for harsh marine environments
SHORE POWER SYSTEM
WDT0200-0330-1202
WDT0850-01-0820
Features
• High current carbon brush technology
• Optoelectronic transmission technology
• Customized size, can be equipped with a heater
Generally speaking, the offshore marine industry use large volume slip rings. Such as large current slip rings, high power slip rings and high voltage slip rings can be seen on gantry cranes, floating cranes (ships), and other offshore engineering platforms. Slipring with box structure has many advantages, such as easier maintenance and less complicated manufacturing and assembly processes. Generally, use high current carbon brush slip rings, mostly maintainable box-type structures, and some models use semi-enclosed cylindrical structures.
Electrical Slip Ring for Offshore Application
We can see large size slip ring in professional equipment lifting ships, scientific research ships, ship crane, port crane, ship cable winch, shipboard radar, ship thruster and offshore oil drilling platforms. These different platforms use different offshore cranes with different tonnages and different application environments. This determines that the specific performance required of the slip rings they use is also different.
For example, offshore oil drilling platform crane use high current slip ring with explosion-proof performance. The representative model of WayDun Technology slipring is WDC0380-01-0280, which can meet the requirements of explosion-proof electrical equipment for explosive environments. Some platforms place high-current slip rings in a relatively open installation environment. So they have particularly high requirements for protection levels. They have a high protection level of IP66, which meets the needs of use in harsh sea conditions and other environments.
Ship crane is very important marine engineering equipment. They are mostly installed on large-tonnage professional construction ships and other special platforms. Compared with cranes on land, they have greater output power and stronger lifting capacity. Unlike land cranes that mostly use hydraulic equipment, most ship crane require high-power motors to support the retraction and release of lifting cables. Therefore, a conductive slip ring with high power and signal transmission capacity is generally integrated in the slewing center of the ship crane.
In order to transmit greater power, offshore crane conductive slip ring make use of carbon brushes to contact copper rings. In addition, their structures are mostly overhead to facilitate heat dissipation.
Among the conductive slip rings developed by WayDun technology for offshore cranes. There are even models with integrated radiators. The radiator works under the control of the temperature sensor. Once the internal temperature of the conductive slip ring exceeds the set value, the radiator will start working to ensure that the offshore crane can operate normally in a high temperature environment. WayDun can integrate heat sinks for the conductive slip rings of ship cranes operating in high-temperature environments. And naturally can also integrate heaters for the conductive slip rings of offshore cranes operating in low-temperature cold areas. The working principle of the heater is the same as that of the heat sink, and it is also controlled by the thermostat.
However, temperature control equipment generally uses a lower voltage and its power is generally taken from the inside of the conductive slip ring. Therefore, in most cases, offshore cranes products that integrate strong and weak electricity. Its strong current module is responsible for powering the crane steel cable receivable and discharge motor, and the weak current module is used to transmit signals and power the temperature control equipment inside the conductive slip ring and other auxiliary equipment on the crane.
WayDun manufacturer has the ability to develop high-current slip rings with a single-channel current transmission capacity of 3000A. Also have the ability to produce slip rings or central collectors with multiple functions for use in multiple industries. Professional slip ring manufacturer can provide customer customization based on technical conditions. Such as integrating other different modules, smaller current modules, weak current signal modules, optical signal modules, etc.
For example, in different high-risk operation scenarios such as petrochemical mining and exploration, different levels of protection are required. Highest IP68 protection level can be designed for customers. Of course, in addition to design, material selection is also very important. Products in different operation scenarios have different shell materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the most common failures of marine slip rings?
The most common failure of marine slip rings is overcurrent tripping caused by arcing at the contact surface between the brush and the slip ring.
What are the root causes of offshore slip ring?
Taking an FPSO single-point mooring system as an example, on-site disassembly and inspection revealed that the main cause of the failure was not a design flaw in the slip ring itself, but rather the impact and shaking of the single-point mooring device caused by strong winds and waves. This resulted in slight poor contact between the brush and the slip ring, which in turn triggered a small arc, continuously burning the brush and slip ring surfaces.
What protection rating is required for marine slip rings? Is IP65 sufficient?
IP65 is generally insufficient for the long-term reliable operation requirements of marine slip rings. Although some marine slip ring products are labeled IP65 and have sealing performance verified by a 500-hour salt spray test, IP68 (continuous underwater operation capability) is a more reliable choice in actual marine environments. Currently, WayDun Technology marine machinery rotary connector products with IP68 protection ratings that can support underwater use at depths of 2000 meters and meet explosion-proof requirements. For extreme scenarios such as deep-sea exploration, a fully sealed modular structure with a titanium alloy shell and ceramic insulation layer can achieve IP68 protection and withstand 2000G impact and 50g vibration. If underwater mooring or ROV operations are involved, IP68 should be the minimum requirement; for deck equipment only exposed to splash zones, IP65 may be barely applicable, but a comprehensive assessment based on salt spray corrosion tolerance is necessary.
What are the specific effects of marine salt spray corrosion on electrical rotary joint? How can it be protected?
Salt spray environments cause oxidation and increased contact resistance at the contact surfaces of electrical rotary joint brushes and conductive rings, leading to localized overheating and arcing, while also accelerating the aging of the housing and seals. Protective measures should cover three levels: Material level, using salt spray-resistant housing materials (such as 316 stainless steel or titanium alloy) and surface-treated conductive rings; sealing level, employing aging-resistant sealing rings in conjunction with a high-protection-level structure to block salt spray penetration; and lubrication level, using conductive lubricating materials containing additives such as CNTs-MoS₂, which can form a protective film on the contact surface that combines conductivity and corrosion resistance, reducing the corrosive effects of salt spray.
How can offshore slip ring connectors cope with the continuous vibration and shock of offshore platforms?
Addressing vibration and shock requires a two-pronged approach: design selection and operational management. In terms of design, slip ring connectors should employ multi-point parallel contact technology to maintain contact stability under vibration conditions and meet the requirements of marine electrical equipment vibration standards such as IEC 60092-501:2025. Existing engineering practice has shown that installing turnbuckles can effectively improve single-point vibration conditions, fundamentally reducing the risk of poor contact caused by vibration in the slip ring connectors.