SMM HUB ROLLS-ROYCE
SMM HUB ROLLS-ROYCE POWER SYSTEMS Marine engines get green light on sustainable fuels Rolls-Royce is setting another milestone on the road to greenhouse gas-free shipping with the approval of its 2000 and 4000 Series mtu marine diesel engines for use with sustainable fuels in 2023. Following successful bench and field tests, Rolls- Royce’s Power Systems business will progressively approve its 2000 and 4000 Series mtu marine engines for EN15940 synthetic diesel fuels from early 2023. These fuels include, for example, the sustainable fuels BtL (Biomass to Liquid), HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and PtL (Power to Liquid) such as e-diesel. They can all then replace conventional diesel fuel, which is made from fossil petroleum, in these engines without any adjustments. Last year, Rolls-Royce announced that the 2000 and 4000 series, the company’s most common production engines, would be able to run on sustainable fuels from 2023. »There is already a lot of interest from many marine customers looking to improve their carbon footprint, particularly in HVO,« said Denise Kurtulus, Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. »Results from pilot customers show a significant reduction in greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions by using HVO instead of fossil diesel.« The engines are used in ferries, workboats and large yachts, for example. © Rolls-Royce RINA Hydrogen powered design approved Aurelia Green Ship Concept Design has unveiled a new design with 100% hydrogen propulsion. The ACD01 1000 is a RoRo vessel with electric propulsion using highly compressed H2 as fuel. Beyond the green design, the difference is marked by the ship’s hydrogen-based engine system, which can be applied to other ship designs. The fuel used to operate the vessel is 100% compressed hydrogen which generates no environmentally harmful emissions with a design which can be considered as zero emission not only in port, but also during navigation. The hybrid propulsion is based on battery and fuel cell power modules. The batteries are used as an energy storage source to supply power for the hotel load too. The Certificate of Approval in Principle has been issued by Rina based on the newly published Rina Rules for Hydrogen Fuelled Ships and the Rina Guide for the Approval in Principle of Novel Technologies. © Rina THORDON BEARINGS Water lubricated propeller shaft Peer-reviewed research by Thordon Bearings into the hydrodynamic lubrication efficiency of a ship’s propeller shaft bearing has found that the use of seawater-lubricated elastomeric polymer bearings reduces fuel consumption. The research is based on new methodology for calculating the performance of seawaterlubricated bearings, which, until now, has been based on decades-old theory developed for oil-lubricated propeller shaft bearings. The method takes into account the characteristics of seawater as a lubricant, the polymer materials used, bearing pressures, viscosity, friction etc. Test results confirmed that fuel losses due to the friction coefficient hydrodynamic resistance of an oil-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system can be reduced by as much as 85 % by using seawater-lubricated polymer bearings. Thordon Bearings used the methodology to compare the fuel consumption of a Panamax containership and an Aframax tanker operating a 640 mm diameter oil-lubricated propeller shaft bearing versus the same ships operating an open COMPAC seawater-lubricated bearing system. Each vessel was assumed to run on VLSFO (very low sulphur fuel oil) at a global average price of US0/mt, operating for 70% of the time. »Fuel costs will depend on the operational profile of the vessel, but we conservatively estimate annual savings of at least US$10,000 per vessel,« said Elena Corin, Senior Manager, Special Marine Projects. »This is in addition to the other life cycle cost savings associated with a Thordon seawater-lubricated bearing system.« Thordon Bearings is now carrying out research to assess the carbon emissions reduction attributes of vessels using a seawater-lubricated system to help shipowners meet CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) requirements. 50 HANSA – International Maritime Journal 10 | 2022
SMM HUB TRANSFLUID New electric engine combines performance and low cost Eco-sustainable navigation is now the future, says electric-engine maker Transfluid, guaranteeing greater protection of lakes, rivers and seas, offering numerous advantages such as: the absence of noise and vibrations for a silent navigation that allows better contact with the surrounding nature, the absence or reduction of exhaust gases with less environmental pollution, high yields in favor of lower energy consumption and, last but not least, the reduction of particularly heavy wave motion in inland waters. The new Transfluid electric machine, called EM375–200 is described by the company as a »mix of excellent performance and low cost«. The machine delivers up to 260 kW (350 hp) at 2,300 rpm as an engine and produces up to 190 kWe as a generator. The engine, liquid-cooled and with limited weight, can be combined with marine gear, or a waterjet or sterndrive. Applications range © Transfluid from commercial passenger boats, to work boats of all kinds, such as fishing boats, transport, support and to boats for defense and control of the seas. Transfluid-Bellmarine specialises in »plug and play« systems for electric and hybrid propulsion, putting a focus on simplicity, speed of installation and ease of use. ALFA LAVAL Successful testing of an HT-PEM fuel cell In Q2 of 2022, Alfa Laval started up a small-scale methanol fuel cell system at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre. Based on positive test results, the project is on track for a 200 kW installation. Ultimately, it will provide the marine industry with a scalable energy supply that does not involve combustion. Alfa Laval is the driving force in a marine fuel cell development project funded by Danish EUDP (Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program). The project’s aim is an efficient and cost-effective energy solution based on high-temperature proton exchange membrane (HT- PEM) fuel cells. In the first step, a 10 kW (2 x 5 kW) installation has been running at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre since July. The fuel cell system in development uses carbon-neutral renewable methanol. It comprises modules of HT- PEM fuel cell stacks that can be combined in racks of 200 kW, creating a standardized, scalable system for many megawatts of power. Alfa Laval is responsible for the overall system infrastructure, as well as the distribution systems needed to support the fuel cells. In the current phase of testing, two modules containing one fuel cell stack each are being run with the distribution systems. The operational data will then be used to fine-tune the 200 kW module and rack setup. made by Schaffran VERSTELLPROPELLER FESTPROPELLER ® SCHAFFRAN Propeller + Service GmbH Bei der Gasanstalt 6-8 I D-23560 Lübeck Tel: +49 (0) 451-58323-0 I info@schaffran-propeller.de www.schaffran-propeller.de Präzision ist unser Schlüssel zum Erfolg HANSA – International Maritime Journal 10 | 2022 51
