MAN Diesel & Turbo has signed a cooperation agreement with Swedish energy and environmental technology company, Opcon, to merge Opcon’s ‘Powerbox’ waste-heat-recovery (WHR) technology with MAN Diesel & Turbo’s diesel engines for cutting fuel consumption and reducing emissions.
The companies will examine how best to exploit the possibilities offered by re-using waste-heat energy from low-temperature heat sources utilising the Powerbox technology. The first marine installation applying this technology is currently being built. Here, the Powerbox is being integrated with a two-stroke MAN B&W 8S60ME-C8 engine aboard a newbuilding owned by Wallenius, a Swedish shipping group.
Waste Heat Recovery
A waste-heat recovery unit is an energy-recovery heat exchanger that recovers heat from hot streams with potentially high energy-content. Waste-heat recovery is currently considered one of the most promising avenues within the shipping sector for reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by increasing energy efficiency.
Opcon Powerbox
The Powerbox is a stand-alone power plant that transforms waste heat from diesel engines to emission-free electricity. In recovering waste heat, both from exhaust gases and engine-cooling water, the Powerbox facilitates improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions for both newbuildings and retrofits. Its solid construction and easy installation, combined with microprocessor controls and remote operation, deliver high operational reliability.
Suitable for Smaller Engines
The Powerbox is unique in that it caters for low-temperature applications and uses robust technology. Accordingly, it can be integrated with smaller engines in contrast with existing WHR units that are targeted at higher-temperature applications and larger engines.
5-10% Fuel Reduction
The Powerbox directly influences the performance of ships by reducing the amount of fossil fuels they consume during operation by 5-10%. It significantly reduces consumption and directly cuts carbon, NOx and sulphur emissions. There are currently around 16,000 registered marine vessels in the world with power outputs above 10 MW, while the global, commercial-shipping fleet is considered to account for between 4 and 5% of global carbon emissions.
Picture: The Opcon Powerbox produces fuel-free, emission-free electricity from waste heat (Source: https://www.mandieselturbo.com/1015680/Press/Press-Releases/Trade-Press-Releases/Marine-Power/Low-Speed/MAN-Diesel-and-Turbo-Engines-Exploit-Energy-Efficiency-Technology.html[MAN Diesel & Turbo])
