BP - Krystallon - Environmental Control Solutions for the Marine Industry

Krystallon, a joint venture formed by BP Marine and Kittiwake Developments, provides innovative abatement solutions that remove sulphur and particulates from exhaust emissions.

The technology, known as sea water scrubbing, has been developed in response to the pressure on the marine industry to reduce its environmental impact. Installations of Krystallon's sea water scrubber technology have proved that 100% of sulphur and 80% of particulates are consistently removed, even when using High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO).

Krystallon sea water scrubbing solutions can be applied to vessels within any marine sector and are appropriate for use on both auxiliary and main engines (maximum engines size currently = 9MW to 11MW).

THE CHALLENGE OF REDUCING AIR EMISSIONS - THE ALTERNATIVE TO LOW SULPHUR FUEL OILS

A raft of environmental legislation is coming into force around the globe, including SECAs (Sulphur Emission Control Areas), EU directives and individual port controls, to reduce the marine industry's impact on air quality. As a result, it appears that the use of more cost effective high sulphur fuels may be significantly restricted.

Sea water scrubbers are an alternative to switching to Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) or shore-side power, both of which have major cost and availability issues.

Krystallon sea water scrubbers have been recognised by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and EU as a solution to reducing emissions and are an accepted method for compliance.

With environmental legislation likely to become even stricter, Krystallon sea water scrubbers give vessels the flexibility to operate within any environmentally-controlled area, while using cost-effective energy supplies, now and in the future.

OUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY - ONE INVESTMENT, LIFETIME PROTECTION

Krystallon's objective is to provide solutions of sound design, minimal user intervention, high reliability and advanced monitoring. With a 25-year life-span, investing in a Krystallon sea water scrubber will future-proof from further legislation and last the lifetime of a vessel.

Monitoring technology ensures the sea water emitted at the end of the scrubbing process is made up of the same constituents as that drawn in at the start. By using the buffering qualities of sea water, sulphur in exhaust emissions is removed without any new substances being added. This is the safest, quickest and least harmful way of returning sulphur to the sea.

THE ADVANTAGES OF KRYSTALLON SEA WATER SCRUBBERS

• Effective compliance with environmental legislation and controls
• Enables continued use of cost-effective fuels, such as HSFO
• Retro-fitting occurs during normal dry-dock periods
• Removes sulphur and eliminates black smoke emissions in environmentally-friendly way
• By-products are handled by normal vessel disposal procedures
• Rapid return on investment