Biodegradable oil for submersible motors test

Together with partner INDAR, the company has developed an electric submersible motor which allow dredgers to operate at depths up to 250 metres. So far 200 dredgers have been equipped with the motor, including several Van Oord vessels.

Electric motors contain up to 1,000 litres of oil for cooling and for balancing pressure levels when working at depth. “Van Oord wants to know whether biodegradable oil can also be used in the submersible motors that we have supplied and will supply in the future,” explained account manager Wim Verlek and proposal manager Marcel Bakker of Bakker Sliedrecht.

The research will be carried out in three steps. Firstly, the biodegradable oil is examined in the laboratory and compared with the current oil to ensure the differences are not significant. Next, samples of windings, internal coating, cable insulation and other materials are immersed for several months in biodegradable oil to determine whether the deviation is acceptable. Finally, the rubber o-rings and simmerings are checked to ensure they have not degraded.

If the research proves favourable, a pilot to use biodegradable oil in the underwater motor of a trailing suction hopper dredger will follow.