Energy storage focus for ABB

Based at Billingstad just outside Oslo, ABB Marine & Cranes division focuses on five key product areas that it describes as centres of excellence: oil and gas vessels, cruise and ferry, propulsion, cranes and harbours, and vessel information and control systems. The division also has major centres in Singapore, China, Finland and Sweden, and a total of 23 service centres around the world.

Jostein Bogen, vice president sales, oil and gas at ABB Marine & Cranes told Norwegian Solutions: “ABB aims to be a complete solutions provider.” One of its key products, which has become the basis for ABB marine electrical systems, is its Onboard DC Grid.

Onboard DC Grid is a solution for low-voltage vessels, such as offshore support vessels, ferries and yachts. Mr Bogen said it increases efficiency by up to 20 per cent, with a reduction in weight of up to 30 per cent and a smaller footprint for the electrical power system. It allows more flexible placement of electrical equipment and a more functional layout of vessels.

“Our research and development is focusing on further development of the Onboard DC Grid and on energy storage and integrated operations. We are looking at how we can improve predictive servicing and maintenance, including diagnostics to continue to move more maintenance from offshore to shore.” The first vessel fitted with Onboard DC Grid was the OSV Dina Star delivered in April 2013. In January 2014 Onboard DC Grid achieved a significant step forward when it was granted Approval in Principle by class society ABS.

Mr Bogen said that electric and hybrid propulsion has a big future, which will benefit a specialist such as ABB. “Electric propulsion has become the technology of choice for sophisticated vessel segments due to the fuel efficiency and low emissions. It will emerge as the solution for new merchant vessel segments, such as container and other dry cargo vessels.” He pointed out that DNV GL has projected that electric or hybrid propulsion vessels will represent 20 per cent of new vessels in 2020.

“Energy storage is an important development with a lot of potential applications, especially for offshore support vessels, to increase availability of the assets and reduce fuel consumption. Similarly in offshore drilling it has the potential to reduce the risk of black-outs, as a back-up power system, so the rig can continue critical drilling operations. It also saves maintenance requirements as diesel generators are run for less time,” Mr Bogen said. “The challenge in the drilling market is that the rig operator is not paying for the fuel. But, for example, Petrobras in Brazil is launching incentive programmes to share the benefits.”

Mr Bogen said that batteries are one option for energy storage but, where there are quick loading cycles, supercapacitors are another option. “Batteries are becoming more efficient and more compact and costs are reducing so there are likely to be more applications in the marine environment.”

A major focus on power systems includes ring net applications. “About 60-70 per cent of enquiries in the drilling sector ask about this technology. It can save fuel and maintenance as it can shut down more efficiently systems you do not need,” Mr Bogen said. DNV GL is developing rules for ring net applications.

ABB is installing a ring net system on two Sevan Marine accommodation vessels built by Cosco (Nantong) Shipyared in China. ABB is delivering complete power distribution and automation systems for the vessels, as well as an electric propulsion system. “This is a breakthrough for ABB – to provide an integrated solution that combines not only an electric propulsion system and Azipod but also the automation system,” said Mr Bogen. ABB will provide power distribution systems for the two vessels, including generators, switchboards and main transformers, as well as propulsion transformers and frequency converters. The automation package will be based on ABB’s System 800xA Extended Automation platform. This is a version of ABB’s industrial automation platform adapted for marine applications, including vessel and power monitoring, emergency shutdown, and fire and gas monitoring, as well as automation of helideck monitoring systems and loading computers.

Mr Bogen said that Petrobras has been a driver of ring net systems and new class rules put a greater focus on it. Petrobras sets a requirement for units to have this system. “This technology will develop further and focus on safety, with fast disconnection of faulty circuits to meet new rules. It will also lead to greater system efficiency. Using four engines at 20-30 per cent load can be replaced with using just two or three engines so that it is more efficient and saves fuel. Further development of the technology could increase efficiency further, taking bigger load variations using batteries rather than the engines.”

Another priority area of development is using remote diagnostics and monitoring to switch more maintenance from ship to shore. “We can do diagnostics from shore and some preventative and condition-based maintenance. You have better diagnostics from shore, enabling owners to save on maintenance crews and the need to transfer personnel between ship and shore,” Mr Bogen told Norwegian Solutions.

ABB has a dedicated remote diagnostic systems (RDS) centre based in Billingstad, the ABB 800 system. “We receive reports of any problems and can log on and do diagnostics and can schedule maintenance from here and can identify possible upcoming problems and any need for component replacements before they fail in operation.”

A dedicated RDS room has computer screens showing systems onboard offshore and other vessels, to enable diagnostics and problem solving. It also enables advance planning of any maintenance and repair work before the vessel gets to port and engineers go onboard so everything is prepared. This means time is saved and the vessel only needs to spend a minimum length of time in port for the necessary work to be done. NS