WE's Direct-drive PM Shaft Generator Solutions for New Chemical Tankers

Posted by Michelle Howard September 2, 2016

A 17,500 dwt chemical tanker owned by Rederiet Stenersen AS of Bergen, Norway. (Image: Rederiet Stenersen)

Energy efficiency solution provider WE Tech Solutions said it has received an order to deliver its direct-drive permanent magnet (PM) shaft generator solution to a series of two 17,500 DWT IMO class II chemical tankers, with an option for two more.

The Switch, a technology specialist of megawatt-class PM machines for advanced marine drive trains, will deliver the PM shaft generators to be used in the solutions provided by WE Tech. The tankers will be built by the Chinese shipyard Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. for Bergen-based Norwegian shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS.

The direct-drive PM shaft generator solution from WE Tech provides the vessel’s electrical network with up to 1,500 kW electrical power in Power Take Out (PTO) mode.

“WE Drive provides the advantage of being able to run our two-stroke main engine at variable speed, resulting in significant fuel savings compared with fixed speed," said John Stenersen, Director Ship Management, at Rederiet Stenersen AS. “The operating hours of the auxiliary generators are dramatically reduced, thanks to the use of the We Drive. We don't need to run the auxiliary engines when using variable speed for the main engine.”

In Power Take In (PTI) mode, WE Drive is used as an auxiliary propulsion drive when the main engine is out of operation. It converts auxiliary generator power to propulsion power by employing the PM shaft generator as an electrical motor.

“There is lower mechanical loss from the main engine to the propeller when using the direct-drive PM shaft generator instead of a standard tunnel gear solution,” Sternersen continued. “This results in a decreased power requirement from the main engine and lower fuel consumption.”

Thanks to the modular design of the WE Drive, the solution has been extended to include shore connectivity and will utilize the common DC-link for energy-efficient DC power distribution in the bow thruster.

The delivery from WE Tech to the first vessel is scheduled in quarter two of 2017.