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Offshore and Subsea Applications

Solutions for Rotating Systems in Offshore and Deep-Sea Applications

SPINNER is one of the world’s leading suppliers of rotary joints for complex applications. The offshore sector requires optical rotary joints with very good optical values. SPINNER fulfils these requirements perfectly.

We offer optical rotary joints of the highest quality. SPINNER also develops and manufactures combinations of fibre optic and RF rotary joints, and supports customers from development to implementation with multiplexers, electrical slip rings, rotary joints for media and hybrid couplings.

SPINNER Swivels for FPSO Applications

Up to 109 Channels: No Multiplexing Required

As an OEM, SPINNER has sub-assemblies for multi-channel applications for the floating production and offshore (FPSO) market. We have extended our proven multi-channel rotary couplings up to 109 channels (single-mode), significantly exceeding the traditional upper limit of 52 channels.

SPINNER FORJs are completely passive and therefore have a very high MTBF value while being very stable and robust. The high number of individual passive channels makes active multiplexers superfluous, which leads to a significant improvement in the safety and service life of the overall system. At the same time, the time-consuming testing and verification with safety certificates for the software and its active components is eliminated or significantly reduced.

Features and Benefits

Up to 109 channels
No multiplexing required
Cost-effective
Easy maintenance and high MTBF
Ingress protection classes:IP50, IP65 (IP68 also available)
Fiber types: single-mode (SM)
Max. variation of insertion loss while rotating: < 1.5 dB
Min. return loss: 45 dB (typ. 50 dB)
Rotational speed: up to 300 rpm
Wavelengths: 1310 nm and 1550 nmWeight (w/o connectors): 1.5 kg
Low torque
Recommended temperature range:-40°C to +85°C
Crosstalk > 50 dBGigE with BER ≤ 1 x 10-12
Shock- and vibration-tested

Fiber Optic and RF Rotary Joints

SPINNER also supplies both off-the-shelf and customized combinations of fiber optic and RF rotary joints for offshore and subsea applications. You can count on getting the intelligent, innovative solutions you need.

Regardless of where in the world you are located, you can count on us to support you with topnotch fiber-optic rotary joints and multiplexers, electrical slip rings, rotary joints for media, and hybrid joints for demanding offshore and subsea uses.

One common use of fiber-optic rotary joints is for conveying communication or sensor data through winches. It goes without saying that they have to be extremely robust for these applications. SPINNER builds fiber-optic rotary joints to reliably withstand shocks and vibrations and ensures this with thorough testing. Available with 1, 2, 3 – 4, 3 – 8, 7 – 21, or 21 – 109 channels and any fiber type (single-mode, multi-mode or thick-core), they transmit signals with negligible return (reflectance) losses.

To maximize the benefits of its FORJs, SPINNER also carries highly compact, outstandingly reliable multiplexers able to convert RS-422, HD-SDI 1.5 Gbit, HDI-SDI 3.0 Gbit, video, Ethernet, GigE and other data protocols.

SPINNER’s portfolio includes a range of special-purpose FORJs for data transmission at high speeds and/or in EMI/EMC-sensitive environments.

Hybrid Rotary Joints

Also available from SPINNER are hybrid rotary joints that combine high voltage slip rings with FORJs. Although these systems are mostly used above water, we also offer excellent choices for underwater applications with pressure compensated units.

Slip rings are electromechanical devices for transmitting power and electrical signals between two structures, one of which is stationary while the other rotates. The second of the two can either rotate around its own axis a defined number of times, or else turn by an angle smaller than a complete revolution, for example 60°. It can pass electric current or data while rotating.