EM&I improves ROV performance
July 8th, 2022
EM&I, asset integrity specialists, have been working with integrity class ROVs for many years, and recently conducted trials in Sweden with the ROV manufacturers to establish if more power can be delivered to the ROVs to improve their performance.
More thrust will help the ‘supercharged’ ROVs cope with adverse weather conditions and extend the upper limit of when it is safe to deploy ROVs. Over a period of two days, tests were performed using various set up configurations and also in multiple ‘flying’ patterns.
Of all the tests performed, the thrust force in forward flying motion whilst using two ‘Power Supply Units’ (PSUs) connected in series at the topside unit, and a D/C to D/C Power Converter installed on the ROV, exceeded expectations in the controlled environment, delivering an initial thrust increase of 34.8% on average and an increase of 32.7% average on continuous pull.
Danny Constantinis (Executive Chairman & CEO) of the EM&I Group commented: “I’m very pleased with the initial improvement figures seen in this controlled environment in terms of increased forward thrust force. These improvements will deliver additional benefits to our clients by increasing our uptime for ROV operations, especially in currents which are usually restrictive to standard equipment set-ups.
These improvements are part of several initiatives including the use of IGLOO™ de-humidified habitats to prevent moisture ingress to our ROV topside control and power systems due to humidity.”
EM&I has also designed an ‘Uninterrupted Power Solution’ (UPS) system, which is aimed at filtering unstable power supplied by client facilities (which can adversely impact ROV performance), and ensures they have a suitable back-up power supply to safely retrieve the ROV in the event of power loss.
EM&I will deliver further technical improvements including an ROV ‘Launch and Recovery System’ (LARS), combined with a Wet Tether Management System (TMS) which will provide the capability to launch through splash zones with greater ease, launch from supply vessels and deliver projects at depths beyond 50 m.
