Supported by the Danish Maritime Fund, the centre currently has 250 sq m of testing space mocking-up a full-sized commercial vessel, replete with a 2 mw diesel engine and equipment from all of Alfa Laval’s marine product groups.
The facility will now be expanded with an additional 1100 sq m, and the new space will be dedicated to burners, heating systems and other equipment associated with LNG and other alternative marine fuels, with operations expected to begin in early 2017.
“LNG and other fuel alternatives will play a key role in meeting the marine industry’s environmental and energy challenges,” says Peter Leifland, head of Alfa Laval’s Marine & Diesel Division. “Through the expansion of the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre, we will support this shift with cutting-edge technology development.”
“This is a remarkable change, driven in part by the successive tightening of NOx and SOx regulations by IMO,” said Bodil Nielsen, Test & Training Centre Manager. “LNG is an attractive solution, because it reduces NOx by 85-90% and virtually eliminates SOx.”
By moving from petroleum-based fuels to LNG, vessels can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% overall. However, as Nielsen pointed out, “Advanced technology is a prerequisite for making the switch.”
“The Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre today is a focal point for advanced development of diesel fuel systems and related environmental technologies. With the new expansion for gas, it will have the same strong role when it comes to LNG and other fuels,” concluded Neilsen.
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