Cost and feasibility of standard electric winch drive

The cost and feasibility of electric winch drives for underway replenishment highline/spanwire winches is investigated. The winch drives of interest are those using Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) solid state motor controls. Service requirements including performance parameters and reliability/maintainability requirements are identified. Candidate electric drive systems are the dc Motor/Controller system and the ac Motor/Controller system. The latter type is further broken down into Voltage Source, Current Source, and Pulse Width Modulation systems. Each is described and their principal features, availability, and reliability/maintainability are discussed. The dc System uses a motor that is larger, more complex, and less reliable than the ac System. With the requirement for regenerative operation, the dc and ac Systems controllers are quite similar in design complexity and number of components. The Current Source/Slip Regulated ac Drive System is concluded to be superior for winch service since it best satisfies the critical regeneration and overload requirements, and uses the most rugged and reliable drive motor.