Efficient shaft generator boosts ice-class vessel
The variable speed permanent magnet shaft generator solution consists of the variable frequency drive WE Drive and the direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, which utilises an efficient generator type. The solution significantly decreases the vessel’s fuel consumption, operation expenditure and maintenance cost by turning off the Auxiliary generator during sailing. In Power Take Out (PTO) mode, up to 700kW of electrical power is generated with shaft generator driven by the Viiki’s two-stroke MAN B&W 5G45ME main engine, which also drives the main propeller of the vessel.
The ice-classed Handysize vessel is due to operate in the Baltic and the Gulf of Bothnia, which features significant winter sea ice coverage, and forms part of a sulphur emission control area (SECA). WE Tech’s Power Take In (PTI) mode is particularly helpful for ice-class vessels, helping the propulsion system adjust to rapid changes in main engine load that can arise operating in sea ice.
“The Power Take In (PTI) mode can be selected,” Mårten Storbacka, Managing Director of WE Tech said. “This converts auxiliary generator power to propulsion power by employing the direct-drive permanent magnet shaft generator as an electrical motor. In doing so, an added 1250 kW of mechanical power can be harnessed to boost the propulsion system, ensuring effective operation in Ice Class 1A.”
WE Drive has compact modular design and dedicated power management system. It can be operated alone or in parallel with auxiliary generators. The permanent magnet shaft generator contains Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets with a very high flux density to make it more compact, lightweight and smaller in size.
WE Tech’s hybridization solutions display proven and highly reputed technologies that are now in operation on 30 vessels across a variety of shipping sectors, including 22 vessels with the support of The Switch permanent magnet shaft generators.
