New system solution from Conductix-Wampfler

Using new lithium-ion battery technology and optimised charging technology Conductix-Wampfler ensures that the diesel generator and tank will no longer be needed in future. The new Full E-RTG system solution is already in operational use at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.

With Full E-RTG, cranes can now travel up to 1,500m on power from the energy-storage system. Previously, the port cranes were only up to 90% electrically driven after switching from diesel to electric mode. For the remaining 10%, they still needed the diesel generator and diesel fuel when changing blocks and for travelling to the maintenance area.

A successful, international development project

“Working together with a renowned research institute we have found the optimum charging technology after various tests with different batteries and supercapacitor systems as part of an international development project,” explained Michael Eckle.

We were able to harmonise the latest automotive battery technology with the special requirements of stacking cranes in ports.

“With Full E-RTG, we can now for the first time offer our customers a system solution for the complete electrification of RTGs,” said Mr Eckle. Conductix-Wampfler’s goal is a further optimisation, including by absorbing 100 percent of the energy released when lowering the container in the energy-storage system instead of converting it into heat in large braking resistors as in the past.

“There is still more potential for energy efficiency that we would like to successively exploit for our customers,” is how Mr Eckle described the challenge for the future.

Tanjung Pelepas as a pilot port

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas is the pilot for the use of the new Full E-RTG system solution. The container port at the southern tip of Malaysia, one of the 20 largest in the world, is also one of the first to have converted to E-RTGs as part of the framework contract signed in 2011 between Conductix-Wampfler and APM Terminals to convert diesel-powered RTGs. Recently ordered new RTG Cranes for PTP will be fitted with battery packs instead of generator sets from the beginning. First new Full E-RTG Cranes will be taken in operation in the coming weeks.

A partner for the crane industry

With Full E-RTG, Conductix-Wampfler underlines its role as a major partner of the container-crane industry. The company has long since made a name for itself in the electrification of RTGs, which has been going on worldwide for years.

Most recently, Conductix-Wampfler developed the new High Dynamics SMART Drive motor driven cable reel generation for highly dynamic crane applications and ProfiDAT, a compact solution for data transmission on STS and RTG container cranes. The LASSTEC twistlock container weighing system rounds off the range of new Conductix-Wampfler solutions for the crane industry.

It reliably measures the weight of the container on the spreader during the lifting process and meets the requirements of the new IMO directive, which requires the verified weights of containers before loading them on to a ship from July 2016.