Green Port Products
Ports are faced with a host of environmental challenges as they strive to stay competitive. With each passing year, the situation becomes more complex. Part of the solution lies in technological advancements. Below is a sampling of some of the innovative products that are helping ports achieve their goals.
Company: Bromma
Product: GREENLINE Spreaders
Special Features: GREENLINE spreaders are available with touch-screen Bromma SCS3 technology, which can perform fast and specific on-line spreader fault diagnostics in the event of a spreader downtime event; make remote, online setting adjustments to shorten the duration of downtime events and optimize machine performance; identify on a predictive basis maintenance that should be performed on the spreader to prevent a problem from occurring; and capture “fact-based” data on spreaders for more informed preventive maintenance planning.
How it Works: All-electric GREENLINE crane spreaders enable terminals to reduce power consumption in their ship-to-shore and yard container handling operations. Due to higher reliability, Bromma all-electrics are also ideal for terminals with automated container handling operations. GREENLINE spreaders are lighter (lower spreader weight is directly correlated to lower crane power consumption), have fewer service points and consumables (no oil, no filters), and reduce spreader energy consumption by 85-90 percent, due to the elimination of the hydraulic powerpack. GREENLINE spreaders have significantly lower lifetime operating costs.
The spreaders are available in a full range of container handling models — single or twin-lift, 20-foot to 45-foot containers, separating or standard.
Customers: Many leading global terminal organizations (APM Terminals, DP World and Hutchison Port Holdings), as well as some of the highest-throughput terminals (CTB Terminal at HHLA, Hamburg in Europe, and the Port of Tianjin in China).
Website: www.bromma.com
Company: Cargotec
Product: Kalmar E-One², an all-electric Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane (RTG), Special Features: The through use of the Variable Speed Generator (VSG), an optional hybrid package and a viscous fan system, the E-One² provides operators with fuel savings of up to 60 percent compared to conventional RTGs. With these options the E-One² meets the latest environmental demands while remaining productive and cost-effective.
How it Works: With a VSG the engine runs at a lower RPM level when idling. The system automatically optimizes engine speed according to the power required, resulting in lower fuel consumption. Auxiliary loads, such as air conditioning and working lights, are powered continuously. When compared to conventional RTGs, CO2 emissions are reduced by 100,000 kg/year.
By eliminating the diesel engine and providing the crane with an electrical supply, the accumulated energy can be reused, maximizing energy efficiency. Zero Emissions RTG energy costs are roughly 20 percent of diesel-electric RTG energy costs, depending on the comparative costs of electricity and diesel fuel.
Clients: None provided
Website: www.kalmarind.com, www.cargotec.com
Company: Gottwald Port Technology
Product: Battery-driven AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles)
Special Features: The Battery AGV is highly efficient and economical technology that produces zero exhaust emissions in ports and terminals.
How it Works: A diesel-electric AGVs is retrofitted for battery operation. Although the battery AGVs aren’t in production yet, the testing has been successful. They perform well and the noise emissions are low. The next stages of development will focus on battery cell charging management, the battery-change station and the actual automated battery-changing process.
Clients: A range of clients covering 90 countries
Website: www.gottwald.com
Company: Konecranes
Product: cRTG — the new electricity-fed RTG
Special Features: The cRTG is equipped with a cable reel, a feeding cable and a transformer station, which feeds low-cost electricity from the grid to the crane. Using energy through the cable, the crane can be operated on one stack, and the feed point can be either at one end of the operating area or at the center.
The cRTG crane can also act as a small power plant, taking the electricity generated during braking action and feeding it back to the grid. The braking energy isn’t wasted and the terminal benefits from it because is uses less energy from the power station.
How it Works: The travel distance is dependent on the supply voltage. An operation area of up to 730 meters can be reached if the feed point is at the end of the stack, or up to 1,460 meters if the feed point is in the middle point of the stack.
To move the cable-reeled cRTG crane between stacks, the feeding cable is connected via a plug and a receptacle, and an auxiliary diesel generator unit is used. The generator generates enough energy to turn the wheels and drive the crane from stack to stack. Both trolley and low-speed hoist operations are available. Once the crane is in its new position, the electrical power feeding is connected and switched on again.
Clients: ports worldwide
Website: www.konecranesamericas.com
Company: Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH
Product: Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes (LHM 120 - LHM 600)
Function: The Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes are universal all-rounder and key assets for handling everything from containers to bulk goods, general cargo and even heavy lifts up to 208 metric tons. The range of Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes is suited exactly to the demand of the ship, port and transport industries. Liebherr offers an optimum solution for every type of vessel, for every cargo and every size of port or stevedore.
Special Features: With its headquarters located in an environmentally protected area, ecological issues have always been high on the agenda for Liebherr-Werk Nenzing. The implementation of “Economy-Control” software, bio-degradable oils and special noise insulation throughout its Mobile Harbor Crane range are just a few examples of Liebherr’s ecological awareness.
How it Works: The hydrostatic drive system in combination with the inhouse developed “Economy-Control” achieves a notable
reduction of diesel consumption of up to 25 percent. Once the designated speed of the crane movement is achieved, the software automatically calculates the minimal required rpm for the diesel engine.
Clients: Ports, ports operator, stevedore companies, etc.
Website: www.liebherr.com
Company: VYCON
Product: REGEN® Crane Energy Storage System
Special Features: The REGEN system has been proven to reduce emissions by up to 90 percent during lift cycles and 35 percent during overall operation. Test results conducted at Yantian International Container Terminal, in Shenzhen, China, showed that retrofitting RTG cranes with the VYCON REGEN system and optimizing the generator provided up to 38% in fuel savings. At the operation rates found at YICT of approximately 10 moves per hour, the REGEN system reduced fuel consumption by 30 percent.
How it Works: The high recycling capabilities of the REGEN energy storage system optimizes a RTG crane’s diesel generator operation by storing energy during lowering cycles (regeneration) and quickly releasing this regenerated energy during lift cycles. The transitions are seamless and instantaneous.
Each crane is powered by an on-board diesel generator set. Variable-speed AC hoist motors receive power from an inverter that provides the required voltage and frequency for the lift and lowering functions. These AC motors demand short-duration peak power from the generator for each lift cycle. When lowering the containers, the AC motors are used as brakes, becoming generators that create free energy, which can be put to use.
The VYCON REGEN system is designed to both store energy and discharge it on demand. The system charges each time the AC motors regenerate power, and then stores that energy to be used when the power demand burns the most fuel and produces the most emissions. With the instantaneous response of the REGEN system during every hoist cycle, the RTG crane’s efficiency is increased, creating a smart and clean energy storage device.
Clients: Major international and national ports and crane manufacturers
Website: www.vyconenergy.com
Company: Westport Innovations Inc.
Product: Westport HD GX Engine & LNG System
Function: The Westport GX engine brings natural gas to heavy-duty trucks, with class-leading emissions performance while maintaining equal horsepower, torque, and efficiency to a diesel-fueled engine.
Special Features: The Westport GX is fueled with liquefied natural gas (LNG) safe, cost effective, low carbon, and low emissions fuel. Westport HD technology is applied to the Cummins ISX engine, substantially reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) and other air contaminant emissions to well below U.S. EPA standards for heavy-duty on-road applications. Westport provides operators with fuel capacities ranging from 52 to 104 diesel-equivalent gallons. With matching or better fuel efficiency, vehicle range can be tailored to suit most operator applications.
How it Works: LNG fuel for the Westport GX is stored in the LNG tank, and drawn out with a unique pump. The LNG is injected at high pressure into the engine after a small diesel pilot (~5 percent). The Westport GX engine is electronically managed by the control units, allowing continuous adjustments to provide optimal and unparalleled engine efficiency. The Westport GX is currently available in factory assembled Kenworth T800 LNG and Peterbilt 386, 387, and 367 models.
Customers: fleet operators, port drayage, distribution centers
Website: www.westport.com
In This Issue
News, Trends & Analysis
New Items
The outlook is improving
Supply Chain
Federal chassis rules: Are you ready?
Working with the public sector
How will your company deal with Sarbanes-Oxley
Features
Gateway at a glance Southern California
Ports & infrastructure
Nowhere near a Peak Season this year
Port Products
Green port product review
Commentary
Sustainable: The new buzz word
On the Horizon
Expect to see more LNG fuel stations in the future
Home/Subscribe/Our Conferences/Ports Handbooks/Advertising Info/E-Cargo/Publishing Services/About Us
Contact/Classifieds/Industry Calendar/Past Issues/Upload Files
All contents of this site are copyright 2008 by Northwest Publishing Center and Cargo Business News and may not be reproduced in any way without express written consent of the author.