SVANEHØJ - Experts & Thought Leaders

Marine pump specialist Svanehøj is expanding its product portfolio for the emerging green ammonia market. At SMM in Hamburg, Germany, the company launches the world’s first high-pressure centrifugal pump for ammonia fuel applications. HP NH3 Fuel Pump A growing interest in alternative fuels for maritime transport is driving a surge in demand for specialised critical components capable of handling highly corrosive and toxic carbon-free liquids safely and efficiently. Drawing on extensive experience in ammonia applications, Svanehøj has developed a dedicated high-pressure ammonia fuel pump capable of delivering a fuel injection pressure of up to 100 BAR. The compact solution, named “HP NH3 Fuel Pump”, will be revealed at the SMM maritime exhibition in Hamburg, Germany, this week. Deep well low-pressure fuel pump The new pump has a small footprint of 2,100x780x1,450 mm, making it a perfect fit for the TCS The new high-pressure pump is based on the design of Svanehøj’s patented deep well low-pressure fuel pump, a centrifugal low-pressure pump, which has sold more than 1,000 units since its introduction, with 100 of those units being used for ammonia. The new pump has a small footprint of 2,100x780x1,450 mm, making it a perfect fit for the Tank Connection Space (TCS) in an ammonia fuel supply system. Centrifugal pump design "We have long been encouraged by customers and partners to develop a high-pressure ammonia pump of the same high standard as our low-pressure fuel pump. Early in the R&D process, we determined that our existing centrifugal pump design would be the optimal solution in terms of efficiency and maintenance," said Johnny Houmann, Chief Sales Officer at Svanehøj. "As a result, we have developed a pump with a design that already has a proven track record, and we are confident it will meet our customers' high expectations." Ensuring safe operation and maintenance Because ammonia is highly toxic and corrosive, shipowners and fuel system suppliers must ensure that onboard operations and maintenance are as safe as on conventionally fueled vessels. To meet the highest safety standards, Svanehøj introduces several innovative features. The HP NH3 Fuel Pump is hermetically sealed with no mechanical shaft seals and designed with a magnetic coupling that ensures the transmission of torque from the motor. Optional fail-safe mechanism The coupling containment shroud is made from magnesium-stabilised zirconium oxide The coupling containment shroud is made from magnesium-stabilised zirconium oxide, ensuring high-temperature stability. For pumps installed in engine rooms or on deck, Svanehøj has added an optional fail-safe mechanism as a second barrier. In the unlikely event of a breach in the containment shroud, this mechanism will activate to contain the pumped media inside the coupling housing. One media-lubrication In terms of maintenance, the pump is fully drainable and can be lifted out in one piece. It is designed with only one media-lubricated and easily changeable ceramic ball bearing for all axial loads. For the power transmission, Svanehøj has a heavy-duty drive with a carbon-reinforced and easily accessible timing belt system. Green ammonia solutions “Although no commercial ships are operating on ammonia fuel yet, the maritime market has shown a growing appetite for investing in green ammonia solutions." "Ammonia-fueled ship engines will be commercially available by 2025, and at Svanehøj, we are proud to support the energy transition of shipping by offering both low- and high-pressure pump solutions for the emerging green ammonia market,” said Johnny Houmann. Svanehøj HP NH3 Fuel Pump – technical info Flow: 37 m3/h Pressure: 85 bar discharge (65 bar pump Δp) Footprint: 2,100 x 780 x 1,450 mm (H*W*L)

Svanehøj adds a significant reference to its expanding portfolio within ammonia applications. The Danish liquified gas equipment specialist has been awarded a contract to supply 32 deep well fuel pumps for a new series of ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers.  A new series of 210,000 DWT ammonia-fueled bulk carriers will be equipped with deepwell fuel pumps from Svanehøj. DW NH3 Fuel Pumps As a subcontractor to the AFSS supplier SunRui Marine Environment Engineering Co., Ltd., Svanehøj will provide four Deepwell (DW) NH3 Fuel Pumps for each of the first eight vessels in the series, totaling 32 fuel pumps with the first delivered in Q4 2024. With over 2,000 ammonia-ready marine pumps in operation or on order, including nearly 100 fuel pumps, Svanehøj's proven track record and vast experience in ammonia applications significantly influenced the decision to choose Svanehøj's specialised deep well pump design for the new ammonia-fueled bulk carriers. Zero-carbon transition "Being among the world's first ammonia-fueled bulk carriers, this project is crucial to our ambition to support the zero-carbon transition. The contract results from a rewarding process in which we have configured the optimal fuel pump solution for this new ship design," said Johnny Houmann, Chief Sales Officer at Svanehøj. He adds, "We are privileged to contribute our expertise and experience to such a pioneering project, which will set a benchmark for the future use of green ammonia in shipping." Safe operation and maintenance All electrical components are placed outside the tank, ensuring easy access during service Another decisive factor in choosing Svanehøj deepwell pumps was safety. As ammonia is highly toxic and corrosive, it has been pivotal to the shipowner and its partners to ensure safe operation and maintenance onboard, equivalent to conventionally fueled vessels.  Svanehøj's deepwell design presented some significant advantages. As deepwell pumps are long-shafted (in this case, 13 metres long), all electrical components are placed outside the tank, ensuring easy access during service, and preventing excessive heat from the motor to increase boil off gas and pressure inside the tank. MagDrive coupling The Svanehøj pumps are designed with a hermetically sealed MagDrive coupling, which completely separates the gas in the tank system from the surroundings. For this project, the pumps will be installed in caisson pipes with a patented retraction system, which enables pumps to be extracted for repair, even with liquid gas in the fuel tank. The new bulk carriers will be built at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding (QBS) in China and mark a significant step in making ammonia technology a commercially available option for long-distance shipping, as the global fleet prepares to adopt green fuels to meet long-term decarbonisation targets.

As demand for LNG-fueled vessels remains high, the marine pump specialist Svanehøj can offer a high-pressure pump solution for two-stroke engines, a compact unit with three combined cold ends designed for optimal flow and longer service intervals. High-pressure LNG engines offer lower fuel consumption and significantly reduced methane slips. This is driving a surge in demand for crucial components for LNG high-pressure fuel supply systems, which Svanehøj is ready to meet. High-pressure fuel pump unit Drawing from extensive expertise in cryogenic solutions, the Danish marine pump specialist has developed a high-pressure fuel pump unit with a drive system and three combined cold ends designed for optimal flow and longer service intervals. The new solution, called “HPP Triplex Unit”, is pre-launched at Kormarine in Busan, Korea. Designing fuel supply systems They increasingly require critical components specially designed to operate under extremely low temperatures" "It is evident that more integrators of fuel gas supply systems are taking on a progressively substantial role in designing fuel supply systems, especially for LNG-powered vessels. Therefore, they increasingly require critical components specially designed to operate under extremely low temperatures and high pressures," says Johnny Houmann, CSO in Svanehøj. He adds, "Based on decades of experience in low-pressure fuel and cargo pumps for LNG, we made a strategic decision to extend our scope and include a larger part of the LNG fuel supply system by developing a high-pressure pump unit, exclusively designed for maritime purposes." New inlet valve design Svanehøj has designed the HPP Triplex Unit to meet the maritime industry's demands for leak-free critical components with a long service life. The cold end includes an innovative low-pressure sealing arrangement that reduces friction, ensuring longer service intervals. To further reduce maintenance costs, Svanehøj has developed a cartridge solution for swift sealing replacement. To ensure high efficiency and low-pressure drop, Svanehøj has also incorporated a new inlet valve design. Investing in products and services for the LNG segment Svanehøj has invested significantly in new products and services for the LNG segment As part of its ESG strategy, Svanehøj is committed to directing 95% of its R&D investments at solutions and products that support the energy transition in the hard-to-abate sectors. This includes pumps and equipment for carbon capture, Power-to-X, and LNG. In recent years, Svanehøj has invested significantly in new products and services for the LNG segment, including a new submerged fuel pump, launched in 2022, and the acquisition of the US-based specialist in service and overhaul of LNG pumps, Complete Cryogenic Services (CCS), in 2023. Environmental benefits "In the ideal scenario, all ships would operate on carbon-free fuels tomorrow. However, it will take several years to establish an infrastructure to meet the need for liquid renewable energy," says Søren Kringelholt Nielsen, CEO at Svanehøj. He adds, "Transition fuels are essential for a successful energy transition, and natural gas is by far the best option with significant environmental benefits. In Svanehøj, we are committed to continuously innovating our product portfolio designs and service models at the lowest possible environmental lifecycle cost." LNG-powered ships In 2021 and 2022 alone, 462 LNG-fueled ships were ordered, and in the first nine months of 2023 The uptake of LNG has been high in recent years, especially among new buildings. According to the DNV database for alternative fuels, there are 431 LNG-powered ships in operation and another 539 ships on order, bringing the total count close to 1,000 vessels.  In 2021 and 2022 alone, 462 LNG-fueled ships were ordered, and in the first nine months of 2023, a further 104 ships were added to the global order book. HPP Triplex Unit – technical info A triplex-type high-pressure piston pump for LNG, with the belt drive system, is installed on a skid for easy transportation and installation. 3 pcs. of cold ends ATEX motor downrated for VFD operation. Media: LNG Capacity: 11,5 - 72.0 l/min (0.7-4.3 m3/h) Inlet pressure: 7-14 bar Operational design pressure: 350 bar Maximum working pressure: 380 bar Minimum operation temperature: -163°C Unit dimensions: 3000x1390x1100 mm