Energy Efficiency

Integrated heat recovery and reuse system
The reuse of waste energy relates, in particular, to engine cooling water and smoke gas heat. A massive amount of heat is produced on board, mainly through the LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) fuel combustion process. Further, since LNG is kept chilled during storage at -160ºC, it provides an additional source of heat exchange when heated to the engine combustion temperature.

The Ecoship’s radical waste energy reuse system takes advantage of these energy sources through smoke gas turbo generators, adsorption chiller plants, fresh water generators, domestic water heating and LNG cooled HVAC chiller water circuits.

The energy produced will be mainly used by the Hotel, especially the HVAC system, which represents about 50% of the hotel load making it one of the most energy-consuming systems on any cruise ship.
In addition to this, energy waste prevention measures will also be implemented including highly insulating 4-layer glass windows that will keep out most thermal radiation. Remote control and central monitoring systems will be programed to use HVAC according to occupancy. Also, “sensitive furniture” such as cooling mattresses, will help reduce the energy consumed at night by avoiding the wasteful cooling of whole spaces.

Thermal energy used for air-conditioning (absorption chiller)
Reference: thermalhydraulics.wordpress.com

Fuel adaptability and future readiness
As of 2015, it is expected that the Ecoship will run on 4 different fuels, namely, LNG, Bio-gas (methane), MDO and bio-diesel from non-edible crop by-products. These fuels will cover 95% of the propulsion needs and 60% of the hotel load needs, the rest being covered by renewables or waste energy re-use. However, as research progresses and as existing technologies are adapted for maritime use, the ship has been designed to allow cost effective retrofitting for these new technologies.