by New River, Press Company
Overview
Manufactured in 2013, the Maersk Intrepid is a drilling rig that has been designed
to operate in the extremely harsh environment of the North Sea. Up to 150 people
stay on the rig at any one time, so safety and fire prevention are paramount. To
minimize risk Maersk operates a rigorous preventative maintenance program for all
electrical equipment on board, in line with NFPA 70E and SOLAS regulations.
Thermal imaging is an essential element of this regime and Maersk has recently
taken further steps to underpin the safe use of this method. It has chosen to install
IRISS IR windows, the only products of their type to carry Lloyds, ABS (American
Bureau of Shipping) and DNV accreditation.
Removing panels to gain access to switchgear for thermal inspection is a very risky
business. The danger of arc flash — a short circuit through the air that creates a
fireball explosion — is huge. Simply dropping hand tools or a cover panel, making
accidental contact with energized parts or changing the state of equipment are
common triggers and the results can be fatal. These hazards are bad enough on land
but at sea, they are even more acute.
The use of an IRISS IR window effectively allows the switchgear to remain in an
enclosed and guarded condition, so the IR scan becomes a non-invasive task. Infrared
passes through the window’s transmissive polymer lens without compromising the
IP65/NEMA 4X seal on the enclosure panel.
This not only keeps personnel safe but it also allows the system to be thermally
inspected under normal load conditions. As a result, both quantitative and qualitative
data can be acquired on the status of the electrical system. Furthermore, applications
previously considered to be too hazardous for thermal imaging, can be brought into
the regular inspection schedule.
Maersk chose IRISS windows because they are the most tested windows on the
market and comply with all safety standards required by the offshore industry. The
products were recommended and supplied by TCAM AS of Norway, a local partner of
IRISS that specializes in preventative maintenance solutions. The lion’s share of the
thirty IRISS windows ordered by Maersk were custom rectangular CAP-CT-24 and
CAP-CT-12 made from a transparent polymer with grill reinforcement. They allow
assets to be monitored in the visual, ultraviolet and all infrared spectrums.
The IRISS polymer window provides many advantages over a crystal alternative.
Firstly, it is designed for harsh engineering use. Unlike crystal, it withstands vibration
and won’t shatter. Nor will it lose its transmission qualities in the presence of UV or
salt water so for maritime and offshore use IRISS is a clear front-runner.
Another advantage is that an IRISS window can be virtually any size and shape.
The optimum size of a crystal window is just 4” in diameter and can only be round,
the shape in which it is grown in the laboratory. IRISS CAP-CT Series windows are
available in a wide variety of standard sizes from 10cm to 60cm in
width but can also be supplied in custom sizes and to fit curved surfaces. Indeed
Maersk took advantage of this design freedom by including a bespoke window in its
order.
“We supplied the IRISS windows for Maersk Intrepid in September 2015 and they
are now allowing rig engineers to undertake fast thermal inspection of critical
components,” confirms Tormod Selbekk of TCAM AS. “Electrical inspection in heavy
seas is extremely hazardous and this is why the IRISS products are particularly
helpful in the maritime and offshore industries. They ensure compliance with industry
standards, reliability of assets and most importantly personnel safety.”
