Alfa Laval’s Aqua freshwater generation system is now available to a wider range of vessels
The company has now rolled out a more compact version of its existing generator - the Aqua Blue Mini.
The technology uses a three-in-one process where evaporation, separation and condensation occur in a single plate pack. The Aqua Blue Mini produces 1–18 m3 of fresh water per day – creating a smarter alternative to bunkered water or reverse osmosis. It has a reduced footprint and operating expense compared to its predecessor.
The Aqua freshwater generator can produce up to 60 m3 of high-quality fresh water per day, the Aqua Blue C-type and S-type offer space and energy savings over previous freshwater generators. Alfa Laval admitted that for vessels that needed fewer cubic metres, the capital investment in the existing technology could sometimes outweigh the efficiency. The company says the Blue Mini is specifically designed for 1–18 m3 per day. Alfa Laval head of marine heat transfer sales Serdar Sengun said “The Aqua Blue freshwater generator cuts seawater needs and electrical power consumption in half compared to previous solutions. The Aqua Blue Mini nearly cuts this in half again, and brings Aqua benefits to the smallest capacity range,” adding “For vessels with smaller needs, such as those previously served by the Alfa Laval JWP freshwater generators, the Aqua Blue Mini balances capital cost with capacity.”
The company said this new solution was also developed to attract new customers such as fishing boats and small coastal vessels who have never used a thermally driven freshwater generator. It hopes the Blue Mini will prove a more attractive alternative to bunkered water or reverse osmosis.
Reverse osmosis is electrically driven but the Blue Mini runs on waste heat and uses only a small amount of electrical power. Maintenance is limited to occasional cleaning and changing the gaskets.
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