Oil filtration and lubrication system for sealing system of azimuth thruster

A system comprising an azimuth thruster and an oil filtration and lubrication system for the azimuth thruster, the oil and filtration lubrication system comprising:

• an oil filter comprising a plurality of layers of a filter material, the plurality of layers being arranged within an oil filtration chamber such that adjacent layers amongst the plurality of layers have a predefined distance therebetween;
• and
• an oil circulation arrangement comprising:
• a first piping system for fluidically coupling an oil tank with an azimuthing seal via the oil filter;
• and
• a second piping system for fluidically coupling the oil tank with a propeller shaft seal via the oil filter, and
• wherein the oil filtration and lubrication system is integrated into a closed loop system in which the oil circulation arrangement fluidically couples the oil tank, the oil filter, and at least one of:
• the azimuthing seal or the propeller shaft seal, with each other;
• and
• when the oil filtration and lubrication system is in use, the oil circulation arrangement enables passage of unfiltered oil between the layers of the oil filter at a flow rate which is less than a predefined flow rate, wherein the oil filter removes impurities from the unfiltered oil, and filtered oil is passed from the oil filter to the sealing system of the azimuth thruster by the oil circulation arrangement, and wherein the filtered oil lubricates at least one of:
• the azimuthing seal, the propeller shaft seal, of the azimuth thruster, and wherein the impurities removed from the unfiltered oil have a size down to 0.1 micrometre.

A method comprising:

• arranging an oil filtration and lubrication system in fluidic connection with an azimuth thruster, wherein the oil and lubrication system comprises:
• an oil filter comprising a plurality of layers of a filter material, the plurality of layers being arranged within an oil filtration chamber such that adjacent layers amongst the plurality of layers have a predefined distance therebetween;
• and
• an oil circulation arrangement comprising:
• a first piping system for fluidically coupling an oil tank with an azimuthing seal via the oil filter;
• and
• a second piping system for fluidically coupling the oil tank with a propeller shaft seal via the oil filter, and
• wherein the oil filtration and lubrication system is integrated into a closed loop system in which the oil circulation arrangement fluidically couples the oil tank, the oil filter, and at least one of:
• the azimuthing seal or the propeller shaft seal, with each other;
• and
• when the oil filtration and lubrication system is in use, the oil circulation arrangement enables passage of unfiltered oil between the layers of the oil filter at a flow rate which is less than a predefined flow rate, wherein the oil filter removes impurities from the unfiltered oil, and filtered oil is passed from the oil filter to the sealing system of the azimuth thruster by the oil circulation arrangement, and wherein the filtered oil lubricates at least one of:
• the azimuthing seal, the propeller shaft seal, of the azimuth thruster, and wherein the impurities removed from the unfiltered oil have a size down to 0.1 micrometre;
• and
• using the oil filtration and lubrication system to remove impurities from unfiltered oil and delivering the filtered oil to the azimuth thruster.