Business Continuity is essential!
The system designed by TH Power can PERHAPS be defined as “an additional GUARANTEE/insurance against machine downtime.”
If we try to imagine that the motor connected to a control panel is the “heart” of a vital system on the ship, such as a cooling pump or a main fan, here’s how the system activates and functions, and how essential it is:
- Protagonist: The Inverter (VFD)
Under normal conditions, the inverter is known to manage the motor well. It regulates its speed, saves energy, and ensures proper operation of the system. But like any other complex electronic component, it can fail—due to overheating, a voltage spike, or an internal fault.
- The Problem: Inverter Failure
If the inverter fails, the motor stops. On a cruise ship, a stopped engine means inconvenience and disruption to passengers or, worse, a safety issue.
- The Solution: The Bypass with Soft Starter
This is where the “control panel” project becomes an implementation. The system serves to create an alternative route
- The Bypass Switch: This is a manual switch. If the inverter trips, the operator turns it on and bypasses the faulty inverter, connecting the motor directly to the ship’s electrical grid.
- The Soft Starter: This is the green component seen in the photos (Schneider Altistart). Starting a large motor by connecting it directly to the grid can create a violent mechanical “jerk” and a dangerous electrical current spike. The Soft Starter, however, allows the motor to start gradually even in an emergency.
It also ensures that the motor continues to operate even if the main electronics fail, thus ensuring:
- Safety: No sudden interruptions to onboard services.
- Protection: The motor does not suffer mechanical damage thanks to the soft start.
- Simplicity: Even in an emergency, a simple manual movement is enough to restart.
- From the photos included , you can see they highlight the excellent cleanliness of the wiring and the arrangement of the components, which are essential for rapid maintenance in narrow spaces such as the technical rooms of ships.
