(Originally written in 2014)
Revolutionary ballast water treatment
Ulmatec Pyro has developed a revolutionary ballast water treatment system that
can be ran practically at no cost, by utilising green energy from waste heat. The
system has passed major tests, now the company awaits the requirements from
the market and that the IMO convention enters into force, before launching it into
the market.
For every 1 000 kW of energy supplied to a diesel engine, only 300 kW will normally be used to
drive the ship. This means that at least 600 kW of the energy produced can be lost through
exhaust gas and cooling water. At least 60% of the energy already produced, can have a financial
and environmental gain by being utilised. Norwegian Ulmatec Pyro has developed an attractive
proposition - a ballast water treatment solution based on recovery of otherwise wasted energy.
The big picture
Managing Director of Ulmatec Pyro, Mr Jan Petter Urke starts with the big picture; “Our holistic
approach, the Pyro Waste Energy Management System, which utilises waste heat from engine
cooling and exhaust systems, can be used for a variety of purposes to enable substantial fuel and
cost savings to be made, in addition to the major environmental benefits.
Almost free
Then Mr Urke goes for the jewel in the crown: “One of our hottest applications is the
revolutionary ballast water treatment system that almost is for free; at least running it is
practically at no cost, by utilising green energy from waste heat generated from the engine
exhaust and other shipboard machinery. Especially as the heat is recovered from the ballast
water heating process itself,” he claims.
The energy generated from cooling down the water would then be recovered and fed back to the
waste heat recovery system, resulting in a ballast water treatment system that is completely
cost-free to operate.
Like milk
The closed pressurised heating system for maritime installations based on thermal fluid
circulation, and a working temperature up to 100 degrees Celsius, is now ready to be used as an
energy-free method of killing alien aquatic species. Pyro utilizes waste energy to heat and cool
the ballast water so that living organisms do not survive, and are transported from one area to
another. “We are treating the ballast water similar to the treatment of milk, by heating it to
between 65 to 100 degrees Celsius. This has previously been considered unrealistic due to the
energy needed to heat large volumes of ballast water,” says Urke.
Meeting requirements
The solution is patented, and it has, with positive results, been independently third party
validation lab-tested by DHI (www.dhi.no), which is accredited as U.S. Coast Guard tester. In the
development of the IMO standards for treatment of ballast water, the US, and especially the US
Coast Guard, are the nation and the governmental body with the strictest demands to the
industry. “We have got indications that we are meeting these requirements,“ states Managing
Director of Ulmatec Pyro, Mr Jan Petter Urke.
The company has also, in partnership with the Aalesund University College acquired equipment
for testing – also showing that this is possible to achieve.
Straight forward
The testing and the development process have showed that the technology seems
straightforward to operate. Installation costs is also insignificant as the rerouting of existing or
installation of new pipework would be minimal. Filtration would still be needed, but no UV or
chemical dosing stages would be required.
Ready to launch
“The prototype is designed and ready for production, but we do not want to commercialize fully
before we know the requirements set by the IMO and the US Coast Guard, and of course the
demands from the ship owners, which basically cites the importance of energy efficiency,
simplicity, reliability, seaworthiness and ease of operation. Final testing and type approval will
be performed as soon as the convention enters into force. We are ready to launch as soon as we
know the final requirements,” concludes Jan Petter Urke, managing director of Ulmatec Pyro.
Improved ship efficiency through residual waste energy
While marine diesel and gas engines are presently among the most efficient prime movers, a
substantial part of the energy available in the fuel is typically discarded as residual heat in the
exhaust gas and in the cooling water. The recovery of this otherwise wasted energy can lead to
meaningful gains. Pyro waste energy management mobilize this lost energy for use on other
applications, including the warming of accommodation areas, de-icing of decks, stairways and
railings, tank heating and now - ballast water treatment.
The small and big players in the market have acknowledged the Pyro Waste Energy
Management System by Ulmatec commercially, by a total sale of 50 systems since late 2011.
All ships now have to be fitted with ballast water treatment systems. There are various technologies
currently available employing different methods such as, chemical treatment, heating, filtration,
ultraviolet light, etc.
The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
also allows for the adoption of prototype technologies in certain ships if agreed upon by the IMO. There
are effective technologies already in existence with the scope for further innovation and research.
Removing organisms from ballast water goes a long way to ensuring that alien species do not invade
fragile marine ecosystems.
Source: Green Ship Technology Book, by the European Marine Equipment Council