Pump company Framo says that its Submerged Turbine technology has been recognised by the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) with the OTC Spotlight on New Technology award, to be presented at the 2023 event in Houston.
The Framo Submerged Turbine is designed to increase the efficiency of the cooling water system used on offshore installations by as much as 20 to 30%, while lowering CO2 emissions created in the system by some 3000t – 5000t per year.
Offshore, huge volumes of seawater are lifted from the sea to deck level for use as a cooling medium for onboard processing. The used seawater is then dumped back to the sea, meaning that substantial quantities of energy are left unexploited in the dumped seawater. The Framo Submerged Turbine generates electric power as the cooling water flows from the deck to the sea. The unique feature of the turbine is that it is submersible, enabling the full energy potential to be harnessed from the dumped water. In this application the additional static height can contribute to as much as 50-70% additional energy recovery compared to a topside mounted turbine.
Generated power from the turbine technology will contribute to the total power supply on the offshore facility, thereby reducing gas fuel consumption for power generation. By liberating gas that would usually be utilised for energy production onboard, the solution contributes to better earnings potential via increased gas exports. This benefit is in addition to reducing CO2 emissions and operational costs. This technology is understood to be the first to reuse the unexploited energy in cooling systems on offshore installations.
Sigve Gjerstad, Framo Director Offshore Pumping Systems said: “Stricter global environmental regulations and cost considerations are significantly affecting offshore operations. This new technology not only increases the sustainability and operational efficiency of offshore installations, it also considerably helps to reduce their operating costs.”
Paul Jones, chairperson, OTC Board of Directors said: “At OTC we take pride in recognising the companies transforming the future of the offshore energy sector. The Spotlight on New Technology Award is one of the many ways we like to show our appreciation. Revolutionising the field is no easy task. It requires collaboration, intense consistency, and the brightest minds in the industry to drive innovation. This year’s recipients exemplify these efforts and we are proud to acknowledge them.”
The Framo technology will deliver the greatest effect on installations located in areas with higher water temperatures. Over the past decade, seawater cooling quantities have typically increased by a factor of more than two to three. This is due to larger offshore process facilities and combined cycle power generation modules. This emphasises the potential Framo’s technology offers in regenerating power from waste cooling water.
The Framo Submerged Turbine is suitable for both new installations as well as for retrofitting to existing facilities, with performance verified through analytical calculations.
