CENO marine carbon brush slip ring for ship thruster

Marine slip rings must be durable and highly reliable in harsh environments. Because propellers are critical components of a ship, any failure can impact the entire voyage. some key specifications require special attention, such as sealing and corrosion resistance, as even the slightest negligence can lead to serious malfunctions. Furthermore, anti-interference capabilities are crucial, as the electromagnetic environment onboard is complex, and unstable signal transmission can cause significant problems.

Marine slip rings (often referred to as "thruster slip rings" or "slip ring assemblies") are primarily used in azimuth thrusters, podded propulsion systems (PODs), and bow/stern thrusters.

Marine slip rings have some distinct characteristics.

1. They enable 360° continuous rotation of power and signal transmission, which is also their core feature. Unlike traditional fixed thrusters, azimuthing and podded thrusters require the ability to rotate 360° around a vertical axis to provide thrust in any direction. The function of marine slip ring is to establish an electrical connection between the fixed ship structure and the rotating thruster module.

2. Transmitting high-power electrical energy while also transmitting a variety of control and feedback signals. For example, the thruster's motor has very high power, and the slip ring must be able to withstand the high voltage and extremely high current of the power supply. Weak current signals are also involved, such as frequency conversion control, speed setting, temperature, vibration, pressure, or position monitoring signals. These all involve the transmission of weak current signals. Another category of weak signals involves the transmission and exchange of data, such as Profibus, CAN, and Ethernet etc.

3. Thrusters are central to a ship's maneuverability and safety, especially in rough seas and during dynamic positioning (DP) operations. Failure of slip rings can lead to thruster failure, with potentially serious consequences. Therefore, their design lifespan is typically synchronized with the thruster's overhaul period, extending to several years or even over a decade without requiring maintenance.

4. Adaptability to extremely harsh operating environments. Take sealing as an example. Although installed inside the propeller, marine slip rings still need to protect against the intrusion of seawater, salt spray, and humid air, necessitating extremely high insulation and sealing performance. Furthermore, vibration and shock are a concern: the ship's navigation and propeller operation themselves generate constant vibration and potential shock, necessitating appropriate vibration resistance. Furthermore, they must adapt to temperature fluctuations, meaning they must withstand ambient temperature fluctuations from the poles to the equator, as well as the heat generated by their own high current operation.

These are the key considerations for using marine slip rings in propellers. CENO have customized kinds of thruster slip ring for our customers, fore more information how our slip ring can fit your application please contact us.