UK: Cathelco to Showcase New Ballast Water Treatment System at SMM 2012

Cathelco will launch its new ballast water treatment system at SMM Hamburg, giving visitors the opportunity to preview the equipment which is planned to enter the market in 2013.

The Cathelco BWT system is based on a combination of filtration and UV technology, well established processes which are effective against a broad range of marine organisms. The units are scalable for all sizes of ships and will be available with capacities from 50m3/hr to 2,400m3/hr.

“We have deliberately focused on a system that does not involve the use of chemicals”, said Justin Salisbury, managing director of Cathelco. “Our equipment will offer the reliability of filtration and UV, but combine it with some innovative features which put us ahead of our competitors”.

One of the key design features is the way in which the sea water passes through the UV chambers. Through computer analysis, Cathelco engineers have produced pipework which sends the water on the unique trajectory which creates a ‘helix’ in the flow. This means that the maximum surface area of the water is exposed to the UV lamps, increasing the efficiency of the process and ensuring that all organisms and bacteria are rendered harmless.

Cathelco also looked closely at the way in which the power to the UV lamps is regulated in relation to the turbidity (cleanliness) of the incoming seawater.

UVT sensors positioned in front of the reactor chamber, constantly measure the UV transmittance of the water and send a signal to the control panel which automatically adjusts the power to the lamps. This ensures the flow is thoroughly treated, whatever the condition of the water. It also ensures optimum power usage and extends the life of the lamps. In addition, each UV chamber is equipped with light intensity meters which measure the performance of the lamps, indicating when refurbishment is necessary.

Another important feature is the unique ‘ball’ cleaning system which ensures that the surfaces of the quartz sleeves surrounding the UV lamps are kept clean. When the cleaning cycle is initiated the UV chambers are isolated from the rest of the BWT system. A separate pump is activated enabling specialised foam balls to be introduced into the chambers from a reservoir. These gently polish away any residue that may have collected on the glass as well as cleaning the inside of the UV chamber, reducing the risk of corrosion. This approach eliminates the use of chemicals and overcomes the potential for damage when using mechanical cleaning methods.

[mappress]

Shipbuilding Tribune Staff, August 23, 2012; Image: cathelco