ABB technology helps ship enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions
Beijing, June 17, 2010 –ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced it will supply the advanced Azipod® electric propulsion system to China’s locally designed and manufactured multipurpose oceanography research vessel. The advanced ABB technology will help the research vessel enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions significantly.
ABB will equip the research vessel with two 1.9 MW Azipod electric propulsion systems as well as four sets of generators, switchboards, transformers, frequency converters, power management systems, integrated automation systems and control systems. It is the first ABB Azipod propulsion system used in an oceanographic research vessel of this kind.
The ABB electric propulsion system is equipped with variable speed drives to enable the precise control of the ship’s propellers and offers top class hydrodynamic force and operational efficiency. It consumes about 10% less fuel (20%-25% at most) compared with conventional mechanical counterparts, with significantly lower emissions.
Since its introduction, the ABB Azipod system has accumulated about 5 million operating hours, saving 64M kwh of electricity, equivalent to the annual power consumption of 3,000 households. In addition, the system features low noise, low vibration and highly flexible operation. It also allows for more flexible use of space on board vessels.
Heikki Soljama, vice president of ABB group and manager of ABB’s Business Unit Marine and Cranes, said, “The contract demonstrates that the superior economical and environmental profile of Azipod C propulsion is gaining wider and wider acceptance among ship owners, designers and yards. After dozens of successful deliveries and over one million hours of operation, Azipod C propulsion has established its reliability and shown that it can significantly reduce fuel consumption. We believe that the new contract was won partly on the strength of our past project execution and ability to deliver on our promises.”
To date, the ABB Azipod electric propulsion system has been applied globally in over 80 vessels of various kinds, including semi submersible drilling platforms, ferries, offshore supply vessels, scientific research vessels and private yachts. In China, the system has been installed in a variety of major vessels, including the ferry line between Yantai-Dalian and China’s first independently designed 3,000-ton comprehensive marine surveillance vessel. Compared with conventional diesel-mechanical systems, ABB Azipod system helped the Yantai-Dalian Ferry reduce fuel consumption by 20%-30%.
The oceanographic research vessel was designed by the China Marine Design & Research Institute and manufactured by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), one of the largest ship builders in China. CSIC manages 46 industrial enterprises, 28 research institutions and China’s largest shipbuilding and repair base. It delivers the most comprehensive and complete shipbuilding equipment in China.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 117,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including research and development, manufacturing, sales and services, with 15,300 employees, 30 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 60 cities.