ERMA FIRST SA, presents a RETROFIT case study

03.04.2015

ERMA FIRST SA, presents a RETROFIT case study based on an MR Chemical tanker with submergible pumps. The size of the ballast pumps is 750 m3/hr and the number two (2). Due to this, two (2) ERMA FIRST BWTS 800 have been selected.

Konstantinos Stampedakis, Chemical and Process Eng. MSc, Managing Director, ERMA FIRST ESK Engineering Solutions S.A

The lack of ballast pump room leads to the design of two (2) separate deck houses, one port and the other starboard, for accommodating the two systems. The location of these deck houses, on the weather deck which is categorized as Hazardous Zone 1, requires the installed equipment to be certified for installation in such zones. ERMA FIRST equipment planned to be installed is certified according to ATEX and IECEx therefore it is suitable for such installations.


In addition to the two BWTS for main ballast pumps a third system will be installed on the lower platform of the E/R to serve the GS and Fire pump. This pump is used for ballasting/ de- ballasting the APT. The suitable system for this case is an ERMA FIRST BWTS FIT 300.


The presentation focuses on the installation of the 2 main systems and not on the APT.


For this project, a 3D laser scanning of the ballast tanks with the submergible pumps along with the weather deck was conducted prior any other works. Based on the developed cloud two deck houses were designed to accommodate the main components of the BWTS which were the filters, the electrolytic cells the Total Residual Oxidants (TRO) sensors, the flow meters and all the auxiliary sensors. Following this, two new lines (one PORT and one STBD) from the ballast pumps delivery to the deck house were designed. Another two new lines were designed as returns from the BWTS to the ballast tanks.


The electrical components of the system along with the neutralizing module will be installed on the E/R and the Cargo Control room.


This study is considered as a complete and the ship owner currently is conducting the cost investigation for such installation at different ship yards.


The flexibility of the ERMA FIRST BWTS along with its components certification for installation in Hazardous Zones 1 and 2 make the system installation feasible and attractive to this kind of vessels.

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