FLUIDTS System

Konecranes' FLUIDTS Heavy Lift Transportation System to move heavy and huge cargo or loads.

A speciality of Konecranes is to move/lift heavy loads. In the first instance you might think about cranes. But for horizontal moves on the ground, Konecranes can offer another solution; the FLUIDTS Heavy Lift Transportation System.

Developed and patented by the "Bauakademie" of the former German Democratic Republic, the FLUIDTS-System today can be referenced back to over 700 projects. The field of the FLUIDTS system is very versatile and can be used in some of the various applications: ship-to-shore crane vessels, transportations over land or sea with barge, moves of bridges or clinker coolers in the cement works, and turning of tunnelling shields. In addition to this dedicated system, Konecranes also offers the planning and engineering to lead your project to a profitable result. If required, Konecranes offers a sea-going barge, a nautical surveyor along with other services to provide a turn-key project. A selection of references show the performance of the FLUIDTS system.

 

General Description of the FLUIDTS System

The NFS 250 FLUID Transport System can be used to move extremely heavy loads. The system consists of at least 3 load-bearing modules, the slideway, the hydraulic control assembly, the towing and positioning unit and a compressed air system (air bottles, etc.). Each load-bearing module can carry 250 tons depending on the structure and weight of the object to be moved or on the results of static calculations. When 3 or more modules are interlinked, they can transport loads of up to 10,000 tons. Loads can be moved in any direction, provided that the slide track has been laid and prepared beforehand.

The load-bearing module is the heart of the NFS 250 FLUID Transport System. It consists of a jacking cylinder and a pad with an air control valve and a special piston seal located inside the pad. Compressed air is fed into the system causing a cushion of air to be built up inside the pad. The load then begins to hover and the required sliding coefficient of friction µ = 0.01 is achieved.

The annular piston seal ensures that virtually no air can escape from the system. The jacking cylinder can be extended or retracted during the hover phase so that the load can be raised, set down or kept in a stable position.  The hydraulic system for the load-bearing modules is regulated in such a way to ensure that the load remains in a safe and horizontal position.

The towing and positioning unit is attached to the load by means of an adapter or a crossbeam,  that pushes or pulls the object to be moved. The hydraulic control system ensures that the load starts and stops smoothly, and that it can move forward and backwards at an infinitely variable speed of 0 - 5 m/min.

Technical Data:

• Bearing Capacity per module:                250 t
• Stroke of hydraulic jack:                        280 mm
• Working pressure of hydraulic jack:       320 bar
• Friction coefficient:                                1 %
• Allowable slope of ground:                    +/-1%

 

Advantages:

• Minimization of site works due to transports of fully-erected subjects
• Minimization of down-time of subjects in a sensible environment (e.g. railways)
• High safety standards
• Heavy lift moves up to 10,000 tons
• Reduction of man-power intensive costs in erection and dismantling