Calnetix Unveils Breakthrough Technology

Calnetix Technologies announced the introduction of a revolutionary new system that produces up to 125 kW of power for the ship’s electric load from heat recovered out of the engine’s jacket water.

The Hydrocurrent™ system was developed by Calnetix in conjunction with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery and Engine Company (MHI-MME) and is being introduced to the worldwide maritime industry at SMM this week.

“Hydrocurrent™ pays for itself in a very short time by reducing the load on the ship’s bunker-fueled generators,” said Vatche Artinian, Calnetix chairman and CEO. “This can translate into fuel savings of up to 200 tons per year.”

Calnetix’s new waste-heat recovery technology uses an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) heat recovery process with Calnetix’s patented Thermapower™ and Carefree™ Integrated Power Module (IPM), which efficiently converts thermal energy into mechanical power. The Calnetix system is unique in that it can pull usable heat from a source with temperatures as low as 80°C (176°F) unlike other heat recovery systems that require much higher temperatures. The Hydrocurrent™ system converts excess waste heat into electric power without affecting engine performance, while still leaving sufficient heat in the jacket water for the fresh water maker.

The Hydrocurrent™ ORC module is a closed-cycle evaporator-condenser phase-change loop, using an organic fluid that has a very low boiling point. The fluid is pumped through an evaporator that pulls heat from the engine’s jacket water. The superheated vapor is expanded across the Carefree™ module, producing electric power, which is connected to the ship’s grid. The warm vapor then flows into a seawater-cooled condenser where it turns back into liquid form.

The Carefree™ IPM consists of a high-speed turbine expander and high-efficiency permanent-magnet generator in a single hermetically sealed housing. The friction-free magnetic bearings require no lubrication or maintenance.

The Hydrocurrent™ system has a small footprint and can be retrofitted easily in existing ships without making any major modifications to the engines. It is designed specifically for the shipboard environment and requires very little maintenance. Operator assistance is minimal; the system turns on and off automatically based on the heat source temperature.

The Hydrocurrent™ system is designed and built to ClassNK and Lloyd’s Register guidelines.

Calnetix has been working closely with MHI-MME since 2005 to develop technologies to improve ships’ energy efficiency without impacting vessel operation or performance through highly efficient and cost-effective pressure and heat recovery systems. Existing MHI-MME products with integrated Calnetix technologies include the MET Hybrid Turbocharger and the Electric Assist MET Turbocharger.