Danfoss to develop new electric-powered marine winch solutions

Danfoss Editron has partnered with Kongsberg Evotec, part of the Kongsberg Maritime international technology group, to develop a fully electric-powered marine winch. The new winch will be powered by the Editron electric drivetrain system, which consists of lightweight and compact yet powerful reluctance-assisted permanent-magnet motors. These electric solutions offer better area utilization in new-builds and retrofits. They also save on weight and space compared with traditional hydraulic-powered winches, which also have high installation costs due to their size and the amount of piping required. Integrating electric components into the winches means that they can be controlled remotely, making them more responsive to commands and offering functionality with tailored applications. Operating with tailored applications also drives further efficiencies, among them lower fuel costs and a reduction in the associated CO2 emissions. The Editron winch application software features winch-specific functionalities, such as wire tension control and limit, speed control, position control and brake control. Additionally, several safety features are directly implemented in the drivetrain. These ensure a fast response to any failure-handling event. This is achieved by operating the drives in a redundant setup and having this philosophy anchored in the drive/control interface architecture. The first two electric winch systems featuring the Editron drivetrain have been supplied to the offshore and seismic markets. In early 2019, the first large-scale project will be commissioned and delivered from Havyard in Leirvik, Norway. Ten winches and 20 drives and motors will be installed on a mid-water trawler.