outline of vessel machinery

Project: Energy Efficiency in Shipping

The research in this project is conducted with an operational point of view, which means that using measured data from ships in operation is in focus. So far the energy system of a cruise ship has been studied, and a theoretical model of an Organic Rankine Cycle has been simulated against the exhaust gases.

Project information

Project manager
Fredrik Ahlgren
Subject
Maritime Science (Kalmar Maritime Academy, Faculty of Technology)

More about the project

The shipping sector is responsible for approximately 3 % of global CO2 emissions, which are expected to rise due to an increase of global trade. The most common fuel for ships is a residual fuel called heavy fuel oil, which besides CO2 also emits large amounts of sulphur and nitrogen oxides, as well as particles. The object of this project is to make ships' machinery more efficient.

The efficiency of propulsion engines has increased during the last decades. Today, a large two-stroke diesel engine has more than 50 % mechanical efficiency. Large ship engines are nowadays the most powerful and efficient engines used in the industry. There is, however, still potential to further increase efficiency by focusing on the entire energy system rather than on the individual component. Better synergies between individual components and utilizing wasted energy in the exhaust and cooling systems results in a better overall energy efficiency.

The research is conducted with an operational point of view, which means that using measured data from ships in operation is in focus. So far the energy system of a cruise ship has been studied, and a theoretical model of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has been simulated against the exhaust gases. The results indicate that a substantial part of the electricity requirements of a vessel could be produced with waste heat from the exhaust gases.

The project is part of the research conducted by the Maritime science research group.