On June 1, 2020, Yaskawa Environmental Energy / The Switch signed a contract with Caterpillar® (Cat) to deliver an innovative package of electric drive train technology for a series of bulk carriers. The ships will feature Cat Marine’s Twin Fin concept, offering optimal reliability, efficiency and performance, with The Switch technology at the heart of the environmentally and OPEX friendly solution.
In total, The Switch will be providing deliveries of two permanent magnet (PM) propulsion machines, four PM generators, two DC-Hubs, two Electronic Bus Links (EBL) and 20 Electronic DC Breakers (EDCB) for each vessel.
The Twin Fin concept is a game-changer within the industry, delivering enhanced power and maneuverability, but with decreased energy consumption and emissions. The Switch innovative drive train technology has been selected to facilitate peak performance and reliability.
The compact, light, highly efficient and simple-to-maintain PM machines – which capture mechanical energy and convert it to green, electrical vessel power – are perfectly suited for the limited space available in the slim profile of the Twin Fins.
The Switch DC-Hubs, meanwhile, offer a flexible choice of power generation, energy storage, charging, propulsion and clean power, while the EBL links and protects them. Its unique ability to detect, cut and isolate any potential system error within just 10 microseconds greatly increases vessel redundancy. EDCBs are installed to protect the individual frequency converters within the DC-Hubs.
These contracts are key building blocks in the drive to enable a more responsible, sustainable and profitable industry.
The newbuild bulk carriers feature large internal power plants – with energy supply through The Switch technology – to satisfy the demand for cargo conveyor belts, propulsion and associated vessel operations.