Reducing operating costs is one of the main concerns of shipping industry today. To help ship owners and operators boost the energy efficiency of their vessels, Deltamarin has been focusing on Energy and Environmental Efficiency (EEE), a new smart simulation tool that can bring fuel saving potential up to 3-6%.
The “EEE” ship design process includes several dimensions, such as practical design tools for modelling the energy consumption, a consistent follow-up method of the performance indicators and a bunch of useful project practices, that enable taking the design ideas and results and implementing them in real life. Energy flow modelling is at the heart of the EEE work, and Deltamarin has recently developed a new-generation design tool for this purpose.
The tool itself is a simulation platform at system level that can accept data in almost any format and at various levels of precision. Such flexibility is required, since the energy models are configured for various purposes. Examples of these are simple machinery or system studies for concept projects or feasibility evaluations of a new product or process for retrofit studies. It is also possible to establish follow-up of the key performance indicators of a ship from the feasibility stage to a detailed level of design within the same model, continuing with operational follow up.
The latest development efforts at Deltamarin with the simulation models are strongly focused on developing the waste heat recovery system. The solutions in this field are not only limited to the processes utilising waste heat, such as Organic Rankine Cycles, various turbines for exhaust gases or steam or absorption chillers; the heat recovery and production equipment must also be considered, such as boilers, heat exchangers in the diesel engine cooling water systems and even heat pumps.
According to the company, the improvement potential in ship fuel consumption with the waste heat recovery technologies available today could reach 4-6%, even with the primary machinery consisting of the most efficient (dual-fuel) diesel engines on the market. Reaching this goal or an even higher saving potential requires, however, taking a holistic view of all heat processes in the ship.
As improvement suggestions for an existing system require a fundamental understanding of the waste heat recovery and energy “potential” in the various ship heat flows, the latest version of the simulation tool includes a new feature: efficiency analysis of heat utilisation. The analysis method, unlike the traditional energy balance, is based on the second law of thermodynamics and helps in identifying the improvement potential in the heat systems, and ultimately in identifying the best sources of converting waste heat into electricity.