Condition Monitoring for Motor-Driven Reels in Container Handling

Maximize Crane Uptime with Condition Monitoring

Maximize Crane Uptime with Condition Monitoring

Container terminals are increasingly automating their cranes and systems to improve safety, working conditions, productivity, and equipment performance.

With people seldom physically present on the crane, one important capability also changes: the ability to continuously observe how mechanical components are behaving during operation.

Condition Monitoring can provide this missing layer of visibility.

For Motor-Driven Reels on container cranes, sensors and analysis systems can continuously monitor selected mechanical and electrical parameters, helping detect developing changes before they result in an unexpected breakdown.

The objective: support higher equipment availability and more predictable maintenance.

From Preventing Failures to Managing Equipment Condition

Reliable components remain the foundation of equipment availability.

But even robust mechanical systems experience wear over years of demanding operation. Bearings, gears, motors, gearboxes, and other components can gradually move away from their normal operating behavior.´The first indications may be small.

Exemplo

Rolamentos do motor se degradando após mais de 10 anos em operação:

O estado vibracional dos rolamentos do motor mostra um nível de vibrações que aumentou acima do limite de alerta (linha amarela) até o acionamento de alarmes (linha vermelha / quadro azul). Isso desencadeou a substituição dos rolamentos do motor.

Um defeito mecânico pode inicialmente produzir sinais minúsculos. À medida que a fadiga e o desgaste se desenvolvem, esses sinais podem se tornar mais pronunciados - de vibração de alta frequência a vibração de baixa frequência e maior amplitude, ruído, calor e, finalmente, choques próximos a uma avaria. Isso torna a análise de vibração particularmente valiosa para detectar condições mecânicas em desenvolvimento em um estágio inicial.

What Does Condition Monitoring Measure?

Motor Bearings

Vibration sensors can capture signals for envelope analysis as well as spectral analysis of bearing races and balls. The measured data can be collected and analyzed locally using the Conductix-Wampfler Analysis System.

Motor Brake Operation

A current sensor integrated into the Active Control Unit monitors the brake operation. A current sensor is more reliable on the long-term than a conventional microswitch.

Gearbox Oil Level

An oil-level sensor monitors whether oil is present at the specified level, helping identify potential lubrication-related issues.

Gearbox Oil Temperature

A dipping temperature sensor monitors oil temperature and provides additional information about gearbox operating conditions.

Gearbox Bearings

Vibration monitoring can be applied to the gearbox bearings, with analysis focused on the relevant envelope, races, and rollers. Particular attention can be given to the highest-speed bearings.

Gear Teeth

Vibration analysis can also monitor gear behavior, including the characteristic signals associated with teeth contacts.

High-Voltage Slip Ring

For an always-dry high-voltage enclosure, the slip-ring heater is controlled by hygrostat and thermostat, and its timely operation is monitored by a current sensor integrated into the Active Control Unit.

Do sinal do sensor à condição do componente

O valor do monitoramento de vibração não está apenas na medição dos níveis de vibração.

A análise precisa estar relacionada aos componentes que estão sendo monitorados.

Como conhecemos os rolamentos e engrenagens usados nos motores e caixas de engrenagens Conductix-Wampfler, podemos definir a análise de vibrações em torno das faixas de frequência e limites relevantes para componentes individuais, usando ISO 13373 e ISO 13379 como parte da abordagem de análise.

Isso permite que o sistema de monitoramento passe de uma medição genérica para uma avaliação mais direcionada do comportamento do componente.

Registro e análise de dados

Seus dados permanecem sob seu controle

O Sistema de Análise Conductix-Wampfler coleta, analisa e armazena dados de sensores localmente.

Essa abordagem é particularmente relevante para terminais de contêineres, onde a segurança cibernética, a arquitetura de rede e a propriedade dos dados são considerações críticas.

A solução de monitoramento não exige que os dados do cliente sejam transferidos para um ambiente de nuvem externo.

Quatro conceitos de conexão

A escolha é sua!

Sem conexão de dados externa

Verificações periódicas podem ser realizadas diretamente no guindaste, com download local dos dados.

Sinais de alerta e alarme de 24 V para o PLC do guindaste

As saídas de 24 V podem fornecer sinais de alerta e alarme para o Sistema de Gerenciamento de Guindastes (CMS), enquanto os dados coletados permanecem disponíveis para download local.

Conexão local de fibra óptica

A rede de fibra óptica do terminal pode dar acesso ao sistema de monitoramento para os usuários do terminal.

Servidor de monitoramento no terminal

Um servidor de monitoramento operado dentro do terminal pode se conectar ao sistema de monitoramento via rede de fibra óptica local.

From Condition Monitoring to Predictive Maintenance

Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance are closely connected. For Motor-Driven Reels, precise Condition Monitoring can identify degradation signals while the system is still operating.

The objective is not necessarily to wait until a component fails — nor to replace it simply because a predefined time or counter-based maintenance interval has been reached. Instead, actual equipment condition can become an additional input to the maintenance strategy.

Alarm → Analyze → Assess → Act

When an alarm is raised, the recorded data can be analyzed and the system inspected to determine the criticality of the condition. Depending on the assessment, the response can range from preparing a repair during the next planned stop to executing an immediate repair.

 

Alert → Analyze → Prepare → Repair

When an alert is raised, the maintenance team can analyze the recorded data, identify and locate the potential problem, prepare the required repair, check spare parts availability, and plan the intervention for the next scheduled crane stop.

Supporting Crane Availability and Overall Equipment Effectiveness

For container terminal operators, an unexpected crane stop can disrupt ongoing vessel loading, unloading, or yard operations. 

Condition Monitoring provides an additional layer of information that can help maintenance teams understand developing equipment conditions before they become unexpected failures.

The potential value is therefore not limited to the individual cable reel

Higher equipment availability — By identifying developing conditions earlier and creating opportunities for planned intervention.

More predictable maintenance — By using actual equipment condition as an input to maintenance decisions.

Reduced premature component replacement — By providing information that can help avoid replacing components solely according to time- or counter-based intervals.

Improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness — By supporting a maintenance strategy focused on maximizing equipment uptime while minimizing unnecessary maintenance disruption.

Built on a Reliable Reeling System

Condition Monitoring works best when it builds on a robust mechanical and electrical system.

Conductix-Wampfler combines its experience with Motor-Driven Reels with sensor technology and analysis systems developed, tested, and implemented for demanding applications.

The monitoring concept covers relevant components of the reeling system rather than treating a single sensor value as an isolated indicator.

Together, these elements create a system perspective for monitoring the condition of the cable reel.

A Practical Approach to Just-in-Time Maintenance

The purpose of Condition Monitoring is not to generate more alarms. It is to provide information that can be translated into practical action. For container handling equipment, this can support a maintenance strategy in which the timing and urgency of an intervention are increasingly based on the actual condition of the monitored equipment.

Preventive Maintenance - Avoiding unnecessary early replacement.

Condition Monitoring - Detecting developing changes in equipment behavior.

Predictive Maintenance - Using condition information to support maintenance planning.

Emergency Maintenance - Responding when a critical condition requires immediate action.

Turn Cable Reel Data into Uptime

Condition Monitoring for Container Cranes

Conductix-Wampfler combines Motor-Driven Reel technology, sensor expertise, vibration analysis, local data processing, and application knowledge to develop Condition Monitoring solutions for demanding container handling environments. Talk to our experts to discuss your Motor-Driven Reel, monitoring requirements, and IT infrastructure.