Soaring fuel prices, global overcapacity and lower profits are forcing shipbuilder to rethink conventional power configurations. How about gaining up to 7% profit per year instead?
Next generation drive trains from The Switch are game changers when it comes to reaching the highest energy efficiency, lowering the costs of operation and helping merchant vessels comply with future environmental legislations. By combining our permanent magnet (PM) machine with our frequency converter, ships can stay afloat and profit in the sea of fierce competition.
The shaft generator has been successfully used on board ships for the past 30 years. Adding a shaft generator allows the main engines with lower and cheaper fuel consumption to produce electrical power, thereby reducing the use of auxiliary generators. But the propulsion machinery can only be run at constant speed.
Alternatively, ships can operate without a shaft generator, taking advantage of the main engine’s variable speed operation while auxiliary generators produce electricity on board. But this means higher fuel costs.
Now merchant vessels can use a game-changing solution that combines advanced control with The Switch PM drive train technology. Vessels can produce electricity with better efficiency for the entire ship’s network, lower costs by keeping auxiliary generators off – and allow the main engines to operate at variable speed.
Although new to the shipping industry, PM technology with its matchless design flexibility has reached unprecedented success in other industries. With high power density, PM machines are more compact, lighter in weight and smaller in size than traditional solutions.
Advantages for large merchant vessels are higher energy efficiency and lower operational costs. In terms of actual numbers, merchant ships can save up to 50% in energy consumption by lowering their speeds by 4 knots. Running the ship at lower speeds also requires less maintenance. Moreover, by adding the latest technology, a ship owner can save up to €50,000 per month in fuel costs, which may add up to 7% more profit per year.
Mika Koli
Business Development Manager