The Alfa Laval E-PowerPack
The Alfa Laval E-PowerPack converts waste heat directly into clean electrical power, giving marine vessels a plug-and-play efficiency upgrade for meeting sustainability requirements. Based on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology, this compact and easily installed module can make use of a wide variety of gas and liquid heat sources on board. It thus provides an all-in-one solution that lowers fuel costs, reduces emissions and shrinks carbon footprint.
Power your way to energy savings and compliance
- Convert onboard waste heat directly into electrical power
- Increase fuel efficiency
- Reduce emissions and carbon footprint
- Improve Energy Efficiency Index (EEDI/EEXI)
- Improve Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII)
The E-PowerPack is a game-changing advance in marine sustainability. It turns waste heat into freely available power, generating electricity from both high-temperature and low-temperature sources. Heat in the engine exhaust gas accounts for 50% of the energy from combusted fuel, and further energy can be recovered from sources like jacket cooling water – or the excess steam resulting from the switch to low-sulphur fuel.
By reducing fuel consumption, emissions and carbon footprint, the E-PowerPack provides a cost-saving tool for meeting sustainability requirements. No matter which fuel is used, it improves both EEDI/EEXI and CII. This enables vessels to achieve the necessary index and maintain a favourable rating for longer.
Compact and modular, E-PowerPack units with a net electrical output of up to 100 kW or 200 kW can be combined in a larger system.
Documents
Services
Start-up
- Installation supervision
- Commissioning
Maintenance
- Spare Parts
Support
- Troubleshooting
24/7 Service & Support
How it works
The E-PowerPack generates electricity by means of an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), a closed thermodynamic system where the liquid-vapour phase change of an organic refrigerant is used to drive a generator. High-temperature waste heat is fed into the E-PowerPack by means of a heat exchanger and an intermediate hot water loop, whereas low-temperature fluids are fed into the unit directly.
Within the E-PowerPack, a continuous process occurs:
- The heat evaporates the liquid refrigerant, producing superheated vapour that passes into an expander
- The vapour’s expansion turns rotary screws that drive the unit’s generator, producing electricity
- The refrigerant is reliquefied in a condenser and repressurized by the feed pump, allowing the cycle to begin again
Potential heat sources
- Exhaust gas (max. 550°C)
- Saturated steam (120–180°C)
- Thermal oil (120–180°C)
- Jacket cooling water (75–109°C)
Savings with the E-PowerPack
The following example shows how much the E-PowerPack can save on a given vessel. Reduced fuel costs enable payback and profit in just 2–3 years.
Conditions
- Steam surplus: 2300 kg/h
- Avg. power output: 150 kW
- Operating hours per year: 7200
- Annual power output: 1080 MWh
Annual savings and payback time
VLSFO ($530/tonne)
- Cost savings: $115,000 per year at $0.10/kWh
- CO2 savings: 670 tonnes
- Payback: 2.9 years
LNG ($800/tonne)
- Cost savings: $138,000 per year at $0.13/kWh
- CO2 savings: 475 tonnes
- Payback: 2.4 years
Supporting the transition to zero carbon
The E-PowerPack can be used on any vessel and with any fuel. As the marine industry decarbonizes, it will be instrumental in the move to methanol – and later to ammonia. These fuels are less energy-rich than today’s fuels, so vessels will need to maximize the value from the fuel they carry. Alongside other Alfa Laval solutions, the E-PowerPack will be critical to the energy balance.
