Good take-up for lower-energy separators

The Unitrolplus technology permits full automatic monitoring and control of the treatment process, precisely measuring the water content and taking further measurements of the contents of the bowl with regard to sludge caking. This can help minimise oil losses and contributes tooptimum separation efficiency.

In fact the OSE Eagleclass is claimed to offer a 30% reduction in energy consumption in comparison with the previous generation separators. This is partly due to the smaller drive motors, which also mean a lower space requirement and a reduction in operating costs. The new bowl design has reduced the component count, leading to easier maintenance.

Despite the success of the new family, GEA Westfalia says it has not abandoned the previous OSD separators. The company will continue to build these for several more years, not only to fulfil existing orders but to ensure the availability of replacement units and spare parts. According to GEA Westfalia, company policy is to continue to supply ‘old technology’ separators and spares for some 10 years after a major type change.

Among the orders received by GEA Westfalia for the latest separators is a complete fuel processing installation for four ‘power ships’ – conversions of former bulk carriers into floating, self-propelled, mobile power stations, said to be the first of their kind.

The engine manufacturer MAN Diesel & Turbo has supplied 24 large engines to Turkish operator Karadeniz Powership for the four vessels. 21 engines are dual-fuel units operating on gas or liquid fuel, the remaining three being for HFO only. The fuel processing units for each ship are being supplied by GEA Westfalia under contract to MAN, each processing unit being delivered on a pre- assembled turnkey basis. Each comprises six OSE 80 separators for HFO processing, with a further nine OSE 20 units for lube oil, on base frames with pumps, pre-heaters, controllers and other peripheral equipment.

One GEA Westfalia marine product range which is the company says is producing considerable current interest is the EnergyMaster and FuelcoolingMaster, equipment of a type which the company says needs to be retrofitted to many ships allowing low-sulphur fuel to be used reliably and efficiently on board, as required by ports in the European Union, for example.

GEA Westfalia Separator Group is planning to build a separator production plant in the city of Wuqing, China. A contract has been signed for the land usage rights and production is planned to start in 2011. The company says that global production activities form part of itsproduction strategy with the goal of reducing process and production costs, minimising procurement times and achieving market proximity to major international partners. Production in Wuqing will therefore focus mainly on products which are in demand in the Asian markets.