Graduation Assignment HPU smart control

The role:

Intro

Royal IHC is looking for a smarter way of using an HPU to reduce consuming power and life time costs. Are you looking for an opportunity to investigate? A challenging project that will have a disruptive impact on the market? Do you enjoy using your creativity to find new solutions for a product that will help enable the energy transition?

Internship Project description

IHC-SAS-Hytop designs and delivers different sizes HPU’s, small sizes to operate a single winch up to large ones that supply a large pipe handling equipment, tensioners and other equipment.

Currently, HPU’s are often provided with variable piston pumps with high pressure control. The purpose of this control method is to always keep the pressure constant at the set value. As more oil flows through the system due to actuation of valves, the pressure will drop faster, to which the control will respond by increasing the displacement of the pump, pumping more oil into the system to maintain pressure. If no oil is requested, the pump displacement is set to zero, causing the HPU motor to idle. When running idle, the HPU is using energy to remain at speed and keep the pressure on the system. The more it runs idle, the more energy is lost and thus lifetime costs. A smart way of controlling the HPU can lead to more energy efficient use, which will reduce the lifetime costs.

The engineering department of IHC SAS-Hytop is responsible for the delivery of the detailed design drawing package for the construction and delivery of offshore equipment, to be installed on IHC ships, on third-party ships or on other floaters. Next to delivery of the detailed design drawing packages to the workshop, the engineers also communicate with the workshop, class bureaus and customer on a daily basis.

The Challenge

Within this graduation Project, you are responsible for determination of the scope of work and further detailing of a design concept phase. The goal is to investigate alternative methods for controlling an HPU, depending on the application, with the purpose to save energy and/or reduce the required power supply and costs.

Several alternative methods should be considered at every engineering discipline, for example: hydraulically adjusting the pump pressure or electrically by using a frequency converter on the pump motorto lower the speed.

After completion, you will deliver a report and calculation where several HPU used cases are explained with an outcome of which HPU design and control method has the best benefits against the lowest cost price and lifetime costs. Your task is to clearly define the activities needed for the concept design and perform a relevant part of it. To achieve this, you will be involved in a wide range of tasks and have the following responsibilities:

Create an overview of most common HPU used cases. Function analysis of each used case and determine the overall cost price, current efficiency and lifetime costs (e.g. energy consumption, wear of components). Overview of possible solutions for each case with overall cost price against expected efficiency and thus expected costs during HPU life cycle; Liaising with SAS-Hytop engineers on their day-to-day design and their approach to these areas. Liaising with other departments within SAS-Hytop (sales, management) to collect information needed and client expectations. Recording the selected updates in the concept design in sufficient detail in sketches or drawings, calculations and the final report as a basis for further development of the HPU design.

In short, you are expected make an important contribution to the development of a disruptive and cost-effective method for an HPU.

This method can help to reduce overall costs and energy efficiency and thus contributes to enable a brighter future for the energy transition.

Your Profile

To be able to discuss and inform the organization and colleagues in the developments and initiatives in this field and the Royal IHC way of working, you must be an articulate, confident and self-driven individual. You will be able to take the initiative. To be eligible for this position, you must have:

A vocational education (HBO or WO); A study focused on creative machinery design or hydraulic engineering; Knowledge and/or interest in offshore technology and preferably understand hydraulic equipment; Experience with 2D and 3D modelling (desirable); A good command of the English language, both verbally and written; The ability of using feedback to improve the quality of your work; The ability to work independently and to be self-critical.

We offer

This internship offers you a monthly salary between €350,- and €425,- based on a full-time week. Reimbursement of your travel costs. Guidance and freedom to explore different topics. During your internship, you will also have the opportunity to work on your assignments or thesis. Flexible working hours and the possibility to work partially from home. A great opportunity to contribute to the future of the maritime industry.

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