Flex tunnel

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The flex tunnel is a component of a barge and is used to guide the water in front of the ship's propellers to improve the flow. It was developed by the development center for ship technology and transport systems in Duisburg and was first built by the Dutch mechanical engineering company Van der Velden in Krimpen aan de Lek for the coupling association Rhenus Duisburg .

Mode of action

The flex tunnel consists of two hydraulically movable surfaces on the aft section of a barge in the area of ​​the propeller shafts. Depending on the load and water level, these areas are retracted or extended. They connect directly to the propeller nozzles installed behind them and guarantee an excellent flow of air to the propellers. The stern was designed to be flatter than on conventional inland vessels and allows the installation of propellers with a diameter of two meters. When traveling through deep water, the surfaces are retracted because they slow down the journey; when the ship is empty, they are extended and form the so-called tunnel , as is found on every conventional inland waterway.

Rhenus Duisburg coupling association

The coupling formation consists of the motor ship and up to three push barges . The motor ship is 110 meters long, 11.45 meters wide, has a draft of 3.20 meters and a deadweight of 2900 tons. The barges have the dimensions of 76.5 × 11.45 × 3.47 meters. The motor ship has a father-son drive which consists of two Caterpillar 3512 engines with 1117 kW and two Caterpillar C 18 with 357 kW. In the loaded uphill journey with three barges and 10,000 tons of cargo, the big machines (father motors) work. The association operates between Rotterdam and the Lünen power plant . At the Wesel-Datteln Canal the formation is separated and the coupling formation with a lighter and 4,300 tons of cargo travels in the canal with the two small engines (son engines). Even in the empty descent, the performance of the smaller machines is sufficient. These measures result in fuel savings of around ten percent.

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