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VOC-FUEL (VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS USED AS FUEL ONBOARD OIL TANKERS)

Objectif

VOC-fuel will provide utilisation of energy which today is wasted into the atmosphere and causing a serious environmental problem. The objectives are :

a) To develop a prototype system for recovering and condensing hydrocarbon gas (VOC) emitted from the oil cargo during loading and transit and to use VOC-condensate as replacement of conventional fuel for the vessel propulsion engines.

b) To build a sufficient experience from such a prototype system to be able to decide implementation of a first-generation commercial system on several ships.

c) To verify and document the potentials of reductions of VOC-emission, heavy fuel oil consumption and the related exhaust gas emission.
Use of condensate (VOC) as engine fuel is verified through engine tests in Copenhagen.
1. Innovative technology of the project :
Instead of emitting substantial amount of VOC vapour to the atmosphere during loading of crude oil, it is condensed, stored and injected as additional fuel to the ship propulsion engines.Up to approx.95% of the energy can be supplied from the VOC whereas the rest is supplied from HFO (Heavy fuel oil) or diesel oil required for the ignition of the VOC gas. The engines are able to operate on any combination of HFO and VOC in dual fuel or in single fuel (diesel) mode.
2. The context in which the technology is operating :
The project shall result in a working VOC-fuel demo processing plant at full scale based on condensation. The VOC-fuel shall be used for dual fuel combustion in one of the two MAN B&W diesel engine installed onboard a Statoil buoy-loading crude oil carrier operating in the North Sea. The system's performance during operation shall be monitored.
3. Economic aspects of the technology i.e. overcost compared to conventional equipment, cost of energy produced if appropriate : A reduction of 95% of the fuel oil consumption for a North Sea shuttle tanker can be obtained. HFO expenses amounts to about 30% of total operating expenses on a tanker. Environmental considerations are the real objection for this project, but due to the potential energy savings, it may be possible to have a good payback on the investment dependant upon the siling route of the ship and how much VOC can be trapped and utilised.
4. Monitoring if of particular note :
Operating experiences and recorded data shall give a firm basis for deciding if a broad implementation shall take place for VOC-fuel systems on crude oil carriers.

Appel à propositions

Data not available

Régime de financement

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinateur

DEN NORSKE STATS OLJESELSKAP A.S R&D CENTRE
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Adresse
BOX 910
1301 Sandvika
Norvège

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