Gottwald develops MHC hybrid drive system

- Gottwald has developed a hybrid drive system for its Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) that improves energy efficiency and contributes to economic and environmental savings.

The technology uses state-of-the-art diesel generators with dynamic brake resistors and short-term energy storage for the recovered energy. This stored energy is then made available to the crane's power system for the next work cycle, thereby saving fuel consumption.

Results of tests carried out with a diesel-electric Model 6 crane showed improvements in efficiency for MHCs that cannot be hooked up to an external power supply due to the quay infrastructure, enabling terminal operators to reduce fuel consumption, fuel costs and exhaust gas emissions.

At the same time the quieter running characteristics of the diesel engine results in reduced noise emissions.

Gottwald believes this new drive technology will be of particular interest to operators using MHCs for intensive container handling duties. As well as fitting new cranes with the technology, Gottwald will be offering upgrades of their hybrid application to existing owners.

 
(Source: Container Management)