TMC signs ALS compressor contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries
Published by Jessica Casey,
Editor
Hydrocarbon Engineering,
TMC has been awarded a contract by Hyundai Heavy Industries to deliver its air lubrication system (ALS) compressors to seven LNG carriers that the Korean shipbuilder is constructing for Capital Gas Corp.
TMC has developed a range of marine compressors for use in combination with ALS to help ships further reduce fuel consumption and emissions to air.
Under the contract, TMC will supply three marine ALS compressors to each of the seven LNG carriers, 21 compressor units in total. TMC will also provide its ALS control system that is integrated in a specially designed control cabinet. TMC has not disclosed the value of the contract.
The equipment will be manufactured in Norway and shipped to Hyundai Heavy Industries in Korea.
Hans Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development said: “During the past 15 years, TMC have more or less constantly tried to identify new ways of reducing energy consumption and the environmental footprint of its compressors. Identifying new usage areas for the compressors, such as ALS, is part of the company’s commitment to making shipping greener. Landing such a significant contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries is a fantastic seal of approval for the new range of ALS compressors.”
ALS is a method used to reduce the resistance between the ship’s hull and seawater by using air bubbles. The air bubble distribution across the hull surface reduces the resistance working on the ship’s hull, creating energy-saving effects.
The seven LNG carriers in question will be equipped with Hyundai Heavy Industries’ self-developed Hi-ALS air lubrication system. According to Hyundai Heavy Industries, its Hi-ALS system can cut fuel consumption by up to 8%.
TMC’s marine compressed air systems for ALS will be coupled with the Hi-ALS system to generate the required stream of air bubbles that passes continuously beneath the ship’s surface. This will help reduce frictional resistance between the hull and the seawater, producing the desired energy-saving effect.
“Given the significant operational cost savings that ALS offer shipowners, TMC expects this technology to become mainstream in the coming decade. To play a part in this trend through the marine compressor technology is certainly one of the company’s key objectives going forward,” adds Hans Petter Tanum.
The seven LNG newbuilds will each have a cargo capacity of 174 000 m3, and will be delivered in 2020 and 2021.
Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/the-environment/23012020/tmc-signs-als-compressor-contract-with-hyundai-heavy-industries/
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