Ulmatec Pyro - Sustainable energy solutions
Green energy utilized to the utmost
The new long liner F/V “Blue North” for Blue North Fisherieswill be the first fishing vessel in the USto install the new generation ofwaste energyrecovery system from Ulmatec Pyro in Norway, a system that will reduce fuel consumption as well as emissions by exploiting excess heat from the exhaust and cooling systems on board.
The vessel, a ST-155L designed by Skipsteknisk in Norway, is built at Dakota Creek Shipyards in Anacortes, Washington.The choice of waste energy system emphasizes the ship owner´s determination to embed sustainability in everything it does.
Fisheries leads on
“The fisheries fleet has always been in the forefront when it comes to introducing new technology, and this is also true for energy efficiency improvement and environment friendly technology,” says Jan PetterUrke, Managing Director of Ulmatec Pyro.
Norwegian fishing vessel owners were the first to install the system when Ulmatec Pyro launched its waste energy recovery system in the spring of 2011. Since then, Ulmatec Pyro has sold more than 80 such systems, of which several have been delivered to fishing vessels, ferries, offshore vessels and to the oil rig market.
Blue North Fisheries will be the first in the US to install the new generation of waste energy recovery system from Ulmatec Pyro.
Mobilizes wasteenergy
On board many ships only 30% of the energy in the fuel is efficiently utilized. For every 1 000 kW of energy supplied to a diesel engine, only 300 kW will normally be used to drive the ship.
“This means that at least 600 kW of the energy produced can be lost through exhaust gas and cooling water. With an efficient waste energy recovery system, utilizing the energy from both cooling water and exhaust gas, the total energy utilization can be increased from 30% to minimum 60%, giving substantial financial and environmental gains,”claims Mr Urke.
“Our waste energy management system mobilizes this otherwise lost energy for use on other applications. We see a great many opportunities for huge savings by transferring energy consumption from electricity to waterborne heat,” Urke emphasises.
Environment-friendly R&D
He points out that surplus heat has many applications, from warming accommodation areas, tank heating, de-icing of decks, stairways and railings, to ballast water treatment. Put briefly, this helps to cut fuel consumption and emissions to the environment.
“Therefore we have spent at least NOK 24 million (USD 3 million) on research and development in recent years, securing a number of patents related to exploiting waste energy from exhaust and cooling systems on ships or rigs.”
Vessel heated for free
“The annual savings on fuel and emissions can be substantial for Blue North Fisheries. Most of the year the F/V “Blue North” probably will not use additional fuel to generate energy for heating on board by utilizing the waste energy in the exhaust and cooling water,” says Mr Urke. He explains through the following figures.
“A normal diesel engine uses 52.835 gallons of fuel(200.000 litres) a year to produce 100 kW electrical energy for heating.A fuel fired hot water heater uses 26.417 gallons of fuel (100.000 litres) to produce 100 kW for heating.From a diesel engine of 1000 kW, at 70% engine load, normally 300 kW can be utilized for heating on board by heat recovery.In practice, the vessel is heated for free”, concludes Managing Director of Ulmatec Pyro, Jan PetterUrke.
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