2024 | TETRAHEDRON

𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝟏𝟑𝟎 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞

The Tetrahedron crane design has the advantage of lifting higher than a luffing boom crane. The novel crane design has a different motion principle and structural force flow than conventional cranes. This large-scale non-slewing prototype crane shows this new motion principle, and the different force flow was verified based on strain and deflection measurements carried out by TNO.

Tetrahedron is pleased to inform you that the onshore non-slewing crane was assembled according to plan. The crane’s performance meets the design requirements and matches the predictions of the design and engineering phase.

The Tetrahedron prototype crane’s fully electric drive and control system showed unique features:
–      A fast and smooth luffing motion to reach 130m lifting height above ground level (which would be only 90m for a luffing boom crane with the same footprint)
–      A very slender jib that creates freedom to move the load (primarily of interest for blade handling operations)
–      Real-time sideload measurement (primarily of interest while lifting loads designed to catch the wind!)

In addition to the goals mentioned above, the prototype crane was realised to demonstrate the Tetrahedron crane’s offshore suitability for wind turbine handling, with this unit specifically capable of maintenance work on 10MW wind turbines tailored to compact jack-up vessels with tubular legs. These compact jack-up vessels are typically used for accommodation and light work nowadays. At the start of the project, there was little demand for such compact accommodation jack-ups, but at this moment, there is a too high demand to opt for modifying these vessels towards wind turbine maintenance units. Therefore, installing the Tetrahedron prototype crane on these vessels is suspended. Therefore, the Tetrahedron non-slewing prototype crane remains onshore for demonstration purposes and in attendance at its later-to-be-defined destination.

This project was supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, with a subsidy from Topsector Energie and an investment from the Van Es Group. This week, the project partners TNO, Jack-Up Barge BV, and Steer Shell, GE completed their assignments.

STRONGER TOGETHER IN OFFSHORE AND ENERGY TRANSITION.