New Auto Chief Touch Screen Propulsion Control System

              The next generation of AutoChief propulsion control systems from Kongsberg Maritime is now officially available. The new AutoChief 600 (AC 600) is suitable for all 2 and 4 stroke engines, for both fixed and controllable pitch propeller. It features new touch screen operation based on the Kongsberg Maritime standardised Human Machine Interface (HMI).

              The touch screen interface for AC 600 improves usability by introducing more logical, intuitive menu navigation. Users have access to all system functions via the touch screen, so can display any information quickly and easily whenever it’s needed. The main variables available include RPM, pitch, start air and scavenging air pressure, engine state etc. Several levels of control are available to distinguish between user groups.
               Whilst simplifying the presentation of information to operators the AC 600 touch screen interface also meets the NAUT OS/OSV requirements for handling Command Control when adapted as a multi plant engine and Thruster control system. This means control can be handed to other systems in the network at the touch of a button.

        

                     The AC 600 supports integration with Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Thrust 600, Azimuth control and Rudder Control system making the system suitable for a wide range of vessels including OSVs, PSVs, oil tankers and container vessels.
                       The main components of AC 600 are: Touch screen Control Panel, Engine Telegraph Unit, Engine Safety System, Digital Governor System, Manoeuvring Recorder and Distributed Processing Units. All interfaces are on CAN-bus; instrumentation, levers, displays etc. Installation time is significantly reduced as there is no internal wiring between the units. Reliability is high, and all hardware components in the AC 600 system have a built-in-self-test feature (BIST).
                        “This is the sixth AutoChief since the series started in 1967 and with the inclusion of touch screen operation, it represents a significant technical milestone,” comments Hans Otto Schjerven, General Manager – Product, Merchant Marine, Kongsberg Maritime.

The World’s First Floating Wind Current Turbine Plant

                        In a first-of-its-kind, the Japanese marine engineering giants Mitsui have come up with an ingenious alternative power generation system. The power generation system will effectively utilise both wind energy and oceanic currents to generate electricity. Expected to be set up in the Japanese high seas, these tidal-wind energy turbines are expected to generate electricity nearly double of what the present traditional wind energy generating turbine models produce.

The Savonius Keel and Wind Turbine Darrieus (SKWID) System: Details and Characteristics:
                        Known as the SKWID turbine system, the tidal-wind energy turbines have been uniquely constructed. Since the energy generating system is expected to channelize both wind and tidal energy, the turbine system has been constructed with a perpendicular axis of rotation. According to experts involved in the construction and testing of the equipment, this aspect of the turbine system allows it to be installed and highly effective even in the most volatile high seas.

                        The equipment gains its name from the two engineering giants providing each of the separate equipment in the hybrid tidal-wind turbine system. The equipment’s tidal energy turbines have been provided by Savonius while the wind energy turbines are of Darrieus’ make. Some of the other technical high-points of the SWKID system can be further pinpointed as follows:

• The wind energy turbine of the SKWID turbine system will extend above the surface of the oceanic waters to nearly 50 meters

• The tidal energy turbine system located sub-surface is said to have a circumference of almost 15 meters

• The energy generating equipment has been affixed on the deck area of the SWKID equipment. This is expected to allow easy upkeep of the equipment whenever required

• SWKID doesn’t require any external power boosting to start its initial operations. This makes the tidal-wind turbine system highly suitable to the present-day needs

• The equipment can effectively channelize the weakest of tides and the harshest of blowing oceanic winds from any direction to generate high levels of electricity

• Total output from the Savonius Keel and Wind Turbine Darrieus System is expected to generate electricity for almost 300 homes

• The turbine system is highly feasible for remote locations and also for those areas requiring immediate critical electricity supply

Savonius Keel and Wind Turbine Darrieus System: Looking at the Future
                   The Savonius Keel and Wind Turbine Darrieus System has laid the foundations for future marine engineering channels. Maritime experts from all over the world have been quite appreciative of the exceptional alternate energy generating system.



                        Though the turbine system is still under the test stages, these votes of confidences from various sources have guaranteed the success of the equipment. This has thus paved the way for similar or far more advanced models of alternate energy sources channelizing the maritime field.

References: softpedia, inhabitat, hubet