Original engine, turbine parts vital in complying with IMO Tier II regulation: ABB

As a the leading manufacturer of turbochargers for two and four stroke engines in the power range above 500 kW, ABB Turbocharging is strongly committed to assisting end users to keep their turbochargers in peak condition and operating at optimum performance.

From January 2011, this task takes on new significance.

“In just over three month’s time, a new era in marine emissions abatement starts,” notes Axel Kettmann, ABB Turbocharging’s Senior General Manager responsible for global service activities.

“It is widely agreed that the introduction of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier II at the start of next year marks the first really stringent emissions requirements for marine engines,” Kettmann said.

“To achieve long term emissions compliance, it will be necessary to keep marine engines in top condition,” Kettmann added.

“Clearly, the optimum way to ensure the emissions levels of an engine certificated to IMO Tier II is to keep the engine as close to its original specification as possible,” Kettmann stressed.

On engines having ABB turbochargers as original equipment, this is a further incentive to fit original ABB Turbocharging parts. They embody all the knowledge, technology and know-how available only to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and, importantly, include all the modifications and enhancements introduced progressively over the lifetime of every ABB turbocharger.”

A major part of this is ensuring peak turbocharger performance and to ensure this in the case of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), the IMO Marine Pollution (Marpol) 73/78 Annex VI includes a “NOx Technical code” which designates certain internal turbocharger parts as “NOx influencing components”. These have to be clearly identified and listed in the Technical File which the engine builder delivers with an IMO Tier II compliant engine and which must always be aboard the ship.”

The listing of such parts is designed to simplify the verification of IMO Tier II compliance.

According to ABB, potentials for efficiency loss due to poor geometry and surface quality apply to both the turbine and compressor and their cumulative effect can lead to perceptible increases in fuel consumption, citing that a specific fuel consumption of 200 g /kWh, 7000 operating hours per year and a fuel price $500 per ton, just 1% lower efficiency on a 10 MW medium or high speed engine translates into 140 tons of additional fuel per year worth USD 70,000.

It added that the higher fuel consumption leads to higher emissions of greenhouse gases while increased harmful emissions due to poor turbocharger condition could lead to penalties and loss of incentives, e.g. in Swedish and Norwegian waters; prohibition from entering certain ports; and in the case of cruise ships and ferries, an impaired ambience for passengers.

“Our goals are helping the engine operator attain consistently optimized levels of engine performance, reliability, safety, availability and fuel efficiency – and as of January 2011, emissions according to IMO Tier II.

ABB Turbocharging is the world leader in turbocharging diesel and gas engines in the 500 kW plus power range. Some 190,000 ABB turbochargers are in operation worldwide, on ships, in power plants, on locomotives and in large off-highway vehicles.

With more than 100 service stations in 55 countries across the globe, the company guarantees fast, high quality service whenever and wherever it is needed.

Production, R&D and sales and marketing are based at headquarters in Baden, Switzerland, where the spare parts center is also located. ?