“
The results will enable
the better use of ships, and
the predictability of loading and
failure.
sion technology in extreme conditions. the Finnish side. SKF and Luleå University
The results will enable the better use of of Technology represented Sweden; gear
ships, and the predictability of loading and manufacturer Klingelnberg and Dresden
failure. University of Technology brought German
As a consequence, ArTEco has
expertise to the project.
revealed a clear path to further possibil- According to Halme, the most sig-
ities to optimise the design of equipment nificant available asset for the project was
even more effectively and secure the full Wärtsilä’s testing site in Tuusula, Finland,
capabilities of vessels in difficult ice con- which was operated by VTT, and utilized
ditions. Environmental loads will also be several times over the three-year period.
reduced when maintenance of vessels is “We managed to run full-scale test-
needed less and less in extremely vulner- ing for various thruster solutions which
able, Arctic sea areas. is quite unprecedented anywhere in the
world.”
ECOSYSTEM EMERGING
VTT developed and measured damping PROMISING SOLUTIONS
solutions for torsional vibrations, caused UNCOVERED
by issues such as the impact of propel- The project involved e.g. the develop-
ler blades on ice. Jari Halme says that the ment of cutting-edge propeller ice load-
results of the project can be applied on specification methods, vibration damping
various vessels, icebreakers and the auton- solutions, environmentally friendly lubri-
omous ships of the future, which will be cants, measurement technology, and the
able to operate in both non-Arctic and improvement of the gear unit’s load carry-
Arctic sea areas. ing capacity. “These led to the creation of
“The smart products and services
of the future and new, competitiveness-
innovative, tested and reliable solutions,”
explains Halme.
boosting business opportunities will be “For example, changing external
created via the ecosystem projects. The hubcap shapes reduced the maximum
best international research institutes in ice impact load by 30 %, while a damper
the field and industrial contributors were reduced vibration in the transmission by
involved in the project,” says Halme. more than 20 %.”
THREE COUNTRIES UNITED Wärtsilä, comments that ArTEco allowed
bility. Limited operations or even equip- The project was very much a joint under- the company to increase the technology
ment failure cause direct and indirect costs taking between three countries: Finland, readiness level for “several promising solu-
for owners, operators and equipment and Sweden and Germany. Finnish players VTT tions” for propulsion products.
component manufacturers. and Wärtsilä coordinated the ArTEco pro- For the dissemination of the project
Anders Hedin, Project Coordinator at
ArTEco project involved the develop- ject, and also ATA Gears, Katsa, the Finn- results, ArTEco project organised an open
ment of innovative technologies and solu- ish Transport Safety Agency and Tampere workshop in Tampere together with clas-
tions for mechanical and rotating propul- University of Technology participated from sification authorities and marine industry.
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