The Aalborg XS-TC7A waste heat recovery (WHR) economizer from Alfa Laval is designed specifically for a ship's auxiliary engines.
Waste heat recovery systems after the main engines have proven lucrative for decades for many ship owners, says Hans-Henrik Jensen, Alfa Laval Vice President, Marine & Diesel Division. Taking advantage of the waste heat from a ships auxiliary engines is the natural next step, which is now possible thanks to the Aalborg XS-TC7A. The product has been very well received by the shipping industry, where many of the leading companies are investigating the possibility of installing the Aalborg XS-TC7A onboard.
Firing the auxiliary boilers to sustain a ships steam requirements now costs much less both in terms of fuel oil and impact on the environment thanks to the Alfa Laval Aalborg XS-TC7A. Capable of completely supplying or supporting ship steam requirements during manoeuvring and port stays, this new waste heat recovery economizer turns waste heat from a ships auxiliary engines into usable energy and cuts carbon emissions.
With its small footprint and low weight to output ratio, the Alfa Laval Aalborg XS-TC7A promises to reduce fuel costs for oil-fired auxiliary boilers. After two years of testing at sea, a major Danish shipping company is among the first to capitalize on the full potential of using waste heat recovery economizers both after the main engines and auxiliary engines on its fleet. To begin with, the company signed a contract in January 2012 to install the Alfa Laval Aalborg XS-TC7A on 20 newbuildings and a larger number of retrofits over the coming years.
Return on investment for the entire installation can typically be realized within 12 to 18 months; in some cases, payback only takes six to eight months. Drastically reduced fuel costs and reduced maintenance requirements for oil-fired auxiliary engines contributes to fast ROI because the Aalborg XS-TC7A is able to supply, or support, a ships in-port steam requirements.