Turbocharger cut-out retrofit solution attracts massive interest

Reducing fuel oil consumption with retrofit

28/07/2010

In the last six months, the turbocharger cut-out solution has attracted great interest from shipowners and managers as the solution has proven its worth during tests and installations.

As a response to the needs of the shipping market for a more flexible utilization of both full and part load operation, the turbocharger cut-out solution has been developed at MAN Diesel & Turbo. Optimal fuel consumption is now possible at both full and part load.

Flexibility in slow steaming
The sailing pattern of the largest container vessels, especially between Asia and Europe, has changed recently as a result of factors such as more available tonnage, increased fuel prices and general acceptance of slow-steaming as a viable strategy. Now there are often asymmetrical requirements to the shipping time (and thus engine load levels) on the Europe-Asia trading route. This makes it beneficial to change between full and part load, depending on route direction. Turbocharger cut-out with swing gate valves permits a frequent change between full and part load operation without manually having to install and remove blinding plates.

Proof-of-Concept
There is always a certain lead time for market acceptance of new developments. They have to be proven in terms of benefits, durability, etc., before first movers will invest in the solution.

“After the system for retrofit installation has been thoroughly tested and several of the biggest shipowners have placed orders, the interest and determination to install turbocharger cut-out on vessels have soared.” says Peter Rytter Jensen, manager of the retrofit department in PrimeServ Copenhagen. He continues: “The big advantage is that you have a flexible solution to save on fuel oil. A lot of customers need to be able to continue to have the possibility of running on full load, but at the same time saving fuel oil when they are slowsteaming”.

The turbocharger cut-out has been on the market for about a year, but the latest six months have been the most hectic in the department handling enquiries. “Now we have a handful of installations in service, but there is a huge number of orders from the last few months waiting to be installed. It really has the attention of the biggest shipowners out there”, Mr. Jensen adds.

Fuel oil savings
Recent tests have proven that large container vessels, powered by e.g. a 12K98MC on slow-steaming at 40% MCR, can save 8 grams HFO per kWh when one out of three turbochargers is disconnected. This corresponds to a reduction of approx. 5%. When there is a need for increasing power to full load, the turbocharger cut-out with swing gate can easily and safely be opened without manual work.

Installation
There is currently about three months delivery time for constructing the necessary parts. The installation itself is done in about 48 hours and can be carried out in these eight PrimeServ locations:

• MAN PrimeServ Benelux
• MAN PrimeServ Dubai
• MAN PrimeServ Hamburg
• MAN PrimeServ Hong Kong
• MAN PrimeServ Portugal
• MAN PrimeServ Singapore
• MAN PrimeServ Spain
• MAN PrimeServ Shanghai

MAN Diesel SE, Press Release