Sustainable charging of your batteries
Permanent magnet generator
Generatorsets, whether or not with a variable speed, have been used on ships for (emergency) power supply for a long time. In short, nothing new under the sun, you might think, but Daan de Jong and Dinis Bax from Pon Power truly see it differently. "For large yachts, Pon Power, in consultation with a shipyard, has developed something special, and a particular type of generator plays a key role in this: the permanent magnet generator."
A strong drive to innovate in the superyacht segment
Daan de Jong, Manager Sales Marine, starts enthusiastically when we ask him about the special developments he's referring to. "In the superyacht segment, there is a strong drive to innovate, especially in terms of sustainability. Every yacht owner wants to stay ahead and is eager to use the latest technologies. It's no surprise that large yachts are equipped with significant battery packs, but how do you handle charging those batteries? How can you do that efficiently and environmentally friendly, without having to go to shore?"
Hardly any energy waste and maximum comfort on board
“That’s exactly what we’ve found a solution for together with a customer,” continues Dinis Bax, Marine Project Manager, just as enthusiastically. “We placed a permanent magnet generator behind a Caterpillar engine, a special type of generator that generates electricity with permanent electromagnets. Add to that a control system that is fully set up for charging as efficiently as possible and you have an innovative, efficient and environmentally friendly combination. Hardly any energy is wasted because the generator delivers no less than 97 to 98% efficiency compared to the generated engine power.”
“However, maximum comfort on board was just as important when developing this solution,” says Daan. “In that respect too, the permanent magnet generator is a good choice. It is more compact, with fewer moving parts, so there’s not as much vibrations and noise. But there are more aspects to comfort and durability, like residual heat recovery. The water that is used to cool the engine and as a result heated up is transported by means of a heat exchanger to other places on the ship that could use some heat, such as a swimming pool.”
“And then there’s the after-treatment system with catalytic converter and particulate filter,” Dinis adds. “Because of that filter, the installation is even ‘greener’ than required. So, you know for sure that your yacht meets the requirements IMO III requirements with this engine installation.”
"The propulsion system must be as sustainable as possible, from efficient battery charging with minimal emissions and residual heat recovery to reducing engine maintenance intervals by using less fuel."
Complex calculations and extensive tests
You don’t just build a generator set like this one. Daan: “It involves complex calculations. First of all, you look at which engine and generators are best, based on the (expected) power demand on board. Then, based on calculations, you determine the most favourable speeds for particular situations for that specific yacht. What is the ‘ideal pivot point’ for each charging situation, the point at which combustion is optimal?”
You have to test whether those calculations correspond to reality. Dinis: “To properly do that, you need a floor that is comparable to the foundation of a ship. That’s why we casted large soleplates in the test bed foundation in Papendrecht. We can also firmly anchor the engine in it.”
"We are challenged to innovate and push boundaries for more efficient energy use and greening, similar to Formula 1, which then flows into the commercial market."
The propulsion system must be as sustainable as possible
“So, the generator sets run on the basis of the power demand,” Daan explains. “Which operating point is chosen depends on that power demand. The control system then fixes the generator sets at the optimum point for that moment, whereby the fixation point differs from generator to generator. The captain doesn’t have to do anything, it’s all done automatically. You could compare it to cruise control in your car.”
“The superyacht segment is a bit like Formula 1,” says Dinis. “We’re being challenged to innovate and push the limits of what is technically possible to achieve our goals: using energy more efficiently and becoming greener. Just like in Formula 1, all those efforts are reflected in the commercial market. That way, we all benefit.”
Daan nods in agreement. “The propulsion system must be as sustainable as possible. From charging the batteries as efficiently as possible with the lowest possible emissions and the recovery of residual heat to reducing the number of engine maintenance intervals because you use less fuel. This sustainable propulsion system ensures that the TCO, the Total Cost of Ownership, is significantly reduced.”
“We’re proud that Pon Power can devise these types of solutions together with Caterpillar and in consultation with customers,” Daan and Dinis conclude, “and that we have the facilities, colleagues, customers and suppliers here in Papendrecht and the surrounding area to make such sustainable engine installations.”
More info
Want to know more about these special generator sets for yachts? Please contact Daan de Jong, Manager Sales Marine.
