A Canadian laker with a sophisticated Berg diesel electrical drive prepare is already displaying important emissions reductions. Built by China’s Chengxi Shipyard for Canada Steamship Line (CSL) the 26,000 dwt self-unloader, M/V Nukumi arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in time to take up duties for the 2022 Great Lakes season. As we reported earlier, the vessel is a single level loader developed in collaboration with Windsor Salt to ship de-icing salt from Mines Seleine on the Magdalens Islands to be used on roads throughout Quebec and Newfoundland.
It is the primary bulk provider to function direct drive electrical — an built-in answer developed by Berg Propulsion to make excessive effectivity electrical propulsion simpler to undertake.
“Conventional electric propulsion systems feed power from the generator to the power distribution system, then on to the frequency controller and the electric motor before they reach the main propeller shaft via the reduction gear,” stated Jonas Nyberg, managing director, West, at Berg Propulsion. “This can be overly complex and hard to maintain, while energy is lost at every step. The direct drive electric solution features electric motors that are integrated to directly drive the propeller shaft.”
The removing of gears permits for shorter shaft traces, fewer bearings and a smaller engine room footprint, whereas very excessive torque meant the identical energy may drive bigger propellers, based on Nyberg.
“For Nukumi, the use of direct drive electric propulsion shows the value available when a shipowner, an equipment maker and a system integrator work together in the early ship design phase on prioritizing performance and sustainability,” says Nyberg. “This is a key reference for direct drive electric as a fuel efficient and easy to install technology which broadens the appeal of greener electric propulsion.”
Frederic Jauvin, vice-president, world technical providers, CSL stated that, in comparison with its predecessor, the ship’s mixture of optimized hull type, electrical propulsion expertise and Tier III diesel-electric engines would lower greenhouse gases by 25 p.c and different pollution by 80 p.c. The propulsion answer will even improve maneuverability within the shallow Magdalen Island channel, he stated.
“Nukumi charts new waters when it comes to safe, sustainable and efficient shipping in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Great Lakes region,” stated Jauvin. “Its efficiency and sustainability are truly exciting and Berg Propulsion’s integrated solution and its engineering partnership with Chengxi Shipyard has been key to securing all of the available performance enhancements.”
The efficiency and sustainability positive aspects of electrical propulsion are broadly acknowledged, particularly when ships demand variable load capabilities, however Berg believes the larger simplicity direct drive options deliver to the marine market may show decisive.
Berg says that vitality financial savings in comparison with different electrical options might be within the extra of 5%, with equal gas financial savings accessible. Additionally, direct drive electrical can be “future-proofed” to accommodate various vitality sources, utilizing a DC hub — or “superdrive” — to attract on most important engines or saved vitality from zero emission batteries and gas cells, as required.