The turbocharger is an integral part of the ship’s marine engine as it reuses the exhaust gases in order to increase the overall efficiency of the engine. It consists of two parts – blower and turbine sides - which need equal attention while carrying out routine maintenance procedures. Marine turbochargers operate on the principle of using exhaust gases from the engine to drive a turbine, which is connected by a shaft to a compressor. The compressor then supplies compressed air to the engine’s combustion chamber to increase its power output. The process works as follows: the exhaust gases leave the engine and are directed into the turbine, causing it to rotate. This rotation is transferred through the shaft to the compressor, which increases the pressure of the intake air. The compressed air is then fed back into the engine, where it combines with fuel to create a more powerful combustion process, resulting in increased engine output.

This mechanism is used as a waste heat recovery system that supplies about 10% of exhaust gases to power the turbine that drives a generator. Hybrid marine turbochargers have a generator inside their housing and require similar space as traditional turbochargers, with only minor adjustments needed for conventional diesel engines.

By virtue of bidirectional frequency converters, a turbocharger can function both as an engine and a generator. To implement this, the generator needs to be small enough to fit inside the turbocharger. Before installing it on a ship, the compressor needs thorough testing to ensure it complies with the engine and vessel requirements. A hybrid turbocharger with a generator uses exhaust gas energy to create electricity, similar to a standard gas power turbine. However, a hybrid turbocharger has several advantages over a conventional power turbine, such as:

  • Installing the turbocharger requires minimal engine modifications, and the upgrade is relatively simple. There’s hardly any increase in external dimensions, given that exhaust gas piping and valve regulators are not required.
  • A hybrid turbocharger delivers higher efficiency due to the absence of heat and pipeline losses. 
  • The turbocharger can be accelerated by using the generator as an engine.



Modifié le: vendredi 25 octobre 2024, 11:24