Alfa Laval’s New EGR Boiler Ready for the Tests

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) has firmly shown its ability to comply with Tier III NOx limits, which will enter into force in January 2016. Developed by MAN Diesel & Turbo, the EGR process already relies on Alfa Laval’s PureNOx, which provides the vital cleaning of the scrubber water.

Now Alfa Laval is cooperating with MAN Diesel & Turbo to implement an EGR boiler, which could potentially add major energy benefits to the secure emission compliance.

Over 1000 hours of EGR operation have now been achieved aboard the Maersk Cardiff, a container newbuild from A.P. Moller-Maersk with a two-stroke MAN B&W 6S80ME-C9 engine. Having demonstrated reliable compliance with Tier III NOx legislation, as well as the potential for fuel savings in Tier II operation, the vessel’s EGR installation will soon be expanded with another remarkable technology: a pressurized EGR boiler from Alfa Laval.

Potential savings within the EGR circuit

Employing the Aalborg XW-HPX within the EGR circuit could create synergies within the EGR system itself. By removing some of the exhaust gas heat prior to the wet scrubber, it might allow the already compact PureNOx water cleaning unit to be downsized.

Ready for testing at sea

The theory behind the EGR boiler is solid, and land-based concept tests have already shown that a smaller installation can withstand the operating extremes. What remains to determine, however, is the boiler’s effect on the NOx abatement process. This is the reason for adding an Aalborg XW-HPX to the existing EGR installation on the Maersk Cardiff.

Supported by the Danish Energy-Technological Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP), the project continues the close partnership between MAN Diesel & Turbo, Alfa Laval, A.P. Moller-Maersk and Aalborg University.

Testing of the Aalborg XW-HPX aboard the Maersk Cardiff will begin in the second half of 2014, and Nielsen foresees no interference with the EGR system. On the contrary, he anticipates that the EGR boiler will add to the overall attractiveness of EGR as a NOx abatement strategy.

[mappress]

May 27, 2014