Safeguarding shipping operations via a novel modular high frequency power converter to boost installation and performance of ballast water treatment systems

Información del proyecto

HF-BWT

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 744574

DOI

10.3030/744574

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 21 Noviembre 2016

Fecha de inicio 1 Diciembre 2016

Fecha de finalización 31 Marzo 2017

Financiado con arreglo a

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Coste total

€ 71 429,00

Aportación de la UE

€ 50 000,00

Coordinado por

CASTLET LTD
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HF-BWT (Safeguarding shipping operations via a novel modular high frequency power converter to boost installation and performance of ballast water treatment systems)

Período documentado: 2016-12-01 hasta 2017-03-31

Resumen del contexto y de los objetivos generales del proyecto

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since the introduction of steel hulled vessels 120 years ago, sea water has been used to stabilise vessels. The spread of invasive species between oceans is now recognised as one of the greatest threats to the ecology of the planet. The International Marine Organisation's (IMO) convention comes into force on 8 September 2017, when all shipping lines will have until 2022 to install Ballast Water Treatment (BWT) equipment. This will involve some 55,000 vessels, of which approxinately 30,000 will require BWT using an electrochlorination process.

This will create a huge market of €750 million for high current dc power supplies which are used to power electrochlorination processes. Installing the new equipment on existing vessels will be a problem as space is limited.

Castlet has developed a low voltage high current switch mode power supply to reduce the size for the same power output to 30% of existing Transformer Rectifier 50/60Hz power supplies. The other advantage is modules of 500Amp output can be put in parallel for larger current requirements. Should one module fail in service the system will automatically operate at lower power until a replacement module is fitted.

Trabajo realizado desde el comienzo del proyecto hasta el final del período abarcado por el informe y los principales resultados hasta la fecha

At the start of this Feasibility Study Project on 1 December 2016, Castlet had reached the TRL 5/6 level with a 300Amp module. Our objective was to develop a 500Amp module and take the prototype up to TRL9 level. A significant part of the study was how could Castlet exploit this significant market against worldwide competition.

Castlet's engagement with two stakeholders is the cornerstone of their exploitation plan. A significant amount of work has taken place on the output voltage rating of Castlet's power supply to match the cell rating of the stakeholder's.

Our technical development road map has concentrated on how to increase the current output from 300Amps to 500Amps, together with a significant amount of mechanical engineering to allow for mass production.

To allow our new module power supplies to be used on board vessels, it was necessary to carry out regulatory compliance Type Testing to Lloyds register Tech 1 standards for electrical appliances. Currently Castlet is obtaining USCG type test approval for their module system. This testing is more severe than the Lloyds Regulator Testing, but necessary in order for vessels to enter USA waters.

Avances que van más allá del estado de la técnica e impacto potencial esperado (incluida la repercusión socioeconómica y las implicaciones sociales más amplias del proyecto hasta la fecha)

This feasibility study has been very useful in helping to identify what needs to be done in order for this product to be viable on the worldwide market.

Additional staff will be required from 2018. By 2021 we will have created 15 new jobs for manufacture, test and service.

Castlet Team