An Alfa Laval Smit Combustion system (FU type) has been installed at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre in Aalborg, Denmark.
The system adds inert gas production to the centre’s range of full-scale vessel applications.
Test & Training Centre
Inaugurated in 2014, the Test & Training Centre is essentially a full-sized machine room on land, with equipment from all of Alfa Laval’s marine product groups installed in process lines as they would be on a commercial vessel.
To support a focus on gas applications and combustion technology, the testing space underwent a major expansion in 2017, which added 1100 m2 and a gas fuel supply. The new Smit Combustion system fits neatly into that expansion, where flame tests and other activities are underway with the Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) and multi-fuel Alfa Laval Aalborg burner systems.
Inert Gas
Inert gas production is needed on ships that carry oil and gas products, where the inert gas replaces oxygen in the cargo space to ensure a non-combustible atmosphere. The gas is pumped into the cargo tanks during offloading, for tank inspections or in order to maintain tank overpressure.
Smit Combustion System
The Smit Combustion system is a low-pressure inert gas solution based on the Smit Ultramizing principle, which produces soot-free inert gas even when operating below stoichiometric conditions. The system installed at the Test & Training Centre is capable of running at full load, producing up to 2500 m3/h of inert gas with low (5%) oxygen content. It is also fitted with the Automatic Fuel Efficiency Module (AFEM), which provides up to 40% fuel savings by adjusting the amount of fuel oil and combustion air to the current demand.
The Smit Combustion system is complete with seawater cooling, delivery valve, purge valve and deck water seal, and it allows stepless adjustment of parameters such as oxygen content, supply pressure and capacity.
Picture: Alfa Laval Smit inert gas system in Alfa Laval Test and Training Centre.
