NES receives order for battery hybrid propulsion plant for PSV

The Quest technology is based on NES’s Quadro Drive diesel-electric propulsion system, but with the addition of a battery pack. This will be Fafnir’s second vessel with an NES drive system, and the first with the Quest system. The system is to be installed in Havyard hull no 126, a HD833 WE ICE platform supply vessel, scheduled to be delivered in July 2015 from Havyard’s Leirvik shipyard.

The ship is designed to operate as efficiently as possible in heavy sea, with the Quest system making it possible to run the system most of the time with just one diesel genset, with the batteries supplying additional power when needed. I normal running, spare power from the gensets will charge the battery pack.

NES has monitored fuel and power demand for various ship types, and from this has calculated the average level of power use and any subsequent boost power required from the battery. Whereas a diesel electric system can give fuel savings of 15%-50% over a mechanical drive system, depending on mode of operation, the Quest system is claimed to add up to and extra 15% fuel saving, as well as lower emissions, lower maintenance requirements and improved redundancy.

For the Fafnir order, NES is to supply: five main 690V generators rated at 1,350kW/1,500kVA at 1,800rpm; two main propulsion motors rated 2,100kW 0-1,200rpm; two 1,100kW bow thruster motors; one 880kW motor for a retractable azimuth thruster; one Quadro drive for each motor (five in total); main switchboard; BOSS (black out safety system); RAS (remote assistance system); and a Quest2 energy storage system (2 x 200kWh + 1 x 100kWh). In addition, the company will provide project management, electrical studies and analysis, commissioning and sea trials.