Gear Oil Maintenance, Thruster | Harbour Tug
Customer Case
System — Thruster
Ship: Harbor tug “VB PORNIC”
Thruster: AQUAMASTER US 1401 AZIMUTH starboard thruster
Transmission oil: EPONA Z 100 (marine transmission oil, mineral oil)
Viscosity: 100.7 cSt @ 40 °C
Oil volume: 850 litres
Challenge
Entry of salt water into the transmission oil of the thruster of the tug (starboard side). The mineral oil was contaminated from high level of seawater (0.39%) and sodium particles (22 ppm). Since the next inspection in the dry dock was scheduled in 6 months, our customer was urgently looking for a solution to continue vessel operation.
Harbour tug “VB PORNIC”
Solution: CJC® Thruster Filter
A CJC® Thruster Filter consisting of Desorber D5 and oil maintenance system 15/25 was installed. The installation of the CJC® Thruster Filter in the offline circuit ensures continuous dewatering, fine filtration and maintenance of the gear oil (24/7/365). Water – free, emulsified and dissolved – as well as wear particles and oil degradation products (varnish, acids) are removed from the gear oil with maximum efficiency.
Water separation capacity: > 150 ml/h.
Dirt holding capacity: approx. 1.1 kg
Filtration degree: 3 µm absolute, 1 µm nominal
Filter material: 100% natural fibers (cellulose)
BEFORE — without gear oil maintenance
Result of gear oil maintenance
Oil samples were taken and analyzed on a weekly basis in order to observe the trend in the state of the oil. After a week, the CJC® Thruster Filter had removed the water from the gear oil — the water content in the oil dropped from 3,904 to 163 ppm. According to Noria Corporation, this corresponds to a lifetime extension factor of 5-6 for the oil and equipment. The recommended water content in the gear oil is < 300 ppm. Moreover, the CJC® Thruster Filter removed solid particles from the gear oil — wear debris such as iron (FE) and copper (CU) were lowered from 29 and 4 ppm down to 17 and 1 ppm; the sodium/salt content (NA) decreased from 22 to 13 ppm. The content of these impurities should not exceed 25 ppm as recommended.
Oil samples
BEFORE – without careWater: 0.39%Sodium: 22 ppm
After 3 weeks with CJC® Thruster FilterWater: 0.05%Sodium: 14 ppm
Savings and Benefits
The installation of the CJC® Thruster Filter offers our customer the following advantages:
- cost-intensive emergency inspection in dry dock avoided
- oil filling service life and thruster components extended by 5 to 6 times
- oil change avoided and 850 litres of gear oil saved
- permanently clean and dry gear oil ensured – free of water, wear particles, and salt crystals/sodium
By avoiding oil changes and drastically extending the life of the oil filling in the future, the tractor’scarbon footprint is improved – a valuable contribution to BOLUDA’s strategic goal of becoming aCO2-neutral company.
Customer comment
“The CJC® Thruster Filter allows us to keep the tug in operation until the scheduled dry dock inspection in 6 months. The results of the oil analyses are clear and clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the CJC® Thruster Filter.”
Regional Technical Manager, Mr. Olivier GLOAGUEN
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