The hybrid turbocharger contributes to a further reduction of CO2 emissions
Japanese shipowner Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has taken delivery of a new 180,000dwt 292m bulk carrier,Shin Koho, at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation’s Tsu Shipyard.
The 93,031gt Shin Koho is claimed to be the first ship to be fitted with a hybrid turbocharger. This system was jointly developed by four Japanese companies, ie: NYK, the Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The 292m long, 45m wide newbuilding will transport iron ore from Australia and other countries.
In addition to the normal turbocharger’s function of using waste energy to boost the output power of the engine by enabling it to aspirate at a higher level, a hybrid turbocharger uses the extra rotational power generated by the turbine to generate electrical power. According to NYK,Shin Koho can meet all its onboard electric power requirements for normal operation by using a hybrid turbocharger instead of diesel generators and by reducing the use of the diesel generator, the hybrid turbocharger contributes to a further reduction of CO2 emissions.
The technology development of the hybrid turbocharger has been selected as a subsidised project by the Japanese ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism under the ‘Support for technology development for curtailing CO2 from marine vessels’ project and supported by ClassNK through a joint research scheme.
NYK says it is continuing to be proactively involved in environmental issues through further technological innovations.
Source: The Motroship
