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.

Example

Motor bearings degrading after more than 10 years in operation:

The vibrational status of the motor bearings shows a level of vibrations that increased over the alert limit (yellow line) up to raising alarms (red line / blue frame). It triggered the replacement of the motor’s bearings.

机械缺陷最初产生的信号可能非常微弱。随着疲劳和磨损加剧,这些信号会逐渐变得明显——从高频振动发展到低频、高幅振动,进而出现噪声、发热,最终在接近故障时产生冲击。因此,振动分析对于在早期阶段发现正在发展的机械问题尤其有价值。

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.

从传感器信号到部件状态

振动监测的价值,不只在于测量振动水平。

分析需要与被监控的部件建立关联。

由于我们了解 Conductix-Wampfler(康稳)电机和齿轮箱中使用的轴承与齿轮,因此可以针对各个部件,围绕相应的频率范围和限值来定义振动分析,并将 ISO 13373 和 ISO 13379 纳入分析方法。

这使监测系统能够从通用测量,迈向更有针对性的部件行为评估。

Data Recording and Analysis

Your Data Stays Under Your Control

The Conductix-Wampfler Analysis System collects, analyzes, and stores sensor data locally.

This approach is particularly relevant for container terminals where cybersecurity, network architecture, and data ownership are critical considerations.

The monitoring solution does not require customer data to be transferred to an external cloud environment.

Four Connection Concepts

It´s Your Choice!

无需外部数据连接

可直接在起重机上执行定期检查,并在本地下载数据。

向起重机 PLC 发送 24V 预警和报警信号

24 V 输出可向起重机管理系统(CMS)发送预警和报警信号,采集到的数据仍可保存在本地供下载。

本地光纤连接

码头的光纤网络可为码头用户提供监测系统的访问权限。

码头监测服务器

在码头内运行的监测服务器,可通过本地光纤网络接入监测系统。

从状态监测到预测性维护

状态监测和预测性维护密切相关。对于电机驱动卷盘而言,精准的状态监测可以在系统仍在运行时就识别出退化信号。

目标并不是非要等到部件失效,也不是仅仅因为达到了预设的时间或计数维护周期就更换部件。相反,设备的实际状态可以成为维护策略的又一项输入依据。

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.

基于可靠的卷绕系统

状态监测只有在依托稳健的机械与电气系统时,才能发挥最佳效果。

Conductix-Wampfler(康稳)将其在电机驱动卷盘方面的经验,与针对高要求应用而开发、测试并实施的传感器技术和分析系统相结合。

该监测方案覆盖卷筒系统的相关部件,而不是将单个传感器数值视为孤立的指标。

这些要素共同形成系统化视角,用于监测电缆卷筒的状态。

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.