Next Gen. Exhaust Scrubber - Lighter & Smaller

Wärtsilä has launched its new IQ Series exhaust scrubber (gas treatment system), designed by its unit in Moss, Norway.

The IQ Series is considered to be the latest advancement in maritime exhaust gas treatment technologies.
It features several improvements that make the technology especially well-suited to container vessels. This is due to the increased demand for scrubbers as a compliance option from the container market segment.

Improvements & Advantages

With an innovative design, the new generation exhaust scrubber achieves the same gas cleaning results within a smaller footprint. The module takes up 25% less space, is 30% lighter, and has 35% less volume, which minimizes the impact on a vessel’s cargo-carrying capacity, and therefore its profitability.

This makes the new scrubber particularly beneficial on container ships, where space is a key commercial priority.

Additionally, the customer can configure the scrubber to use between 20 and 70 MW of power depending on vessel requirements.

Potential with Upgrades

Nevertheless, the new generation unit features the same modular design as Wärtsilä’s other exhaust gas cleaning solutions.
This means that the IQ Series can have further technologies that enable it to tackle other pollutants within the stack.
The following exhaust gas technologies can enhance the IQ Series.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) to cut NO_x
Black carbon filter to cut particulate matter (PM)
Depluming unit to cut visible steam from the stack
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) module that Wärtsilä is currently developing in its Moss test facility.
However, such technology comes at a noticeable retrofit cost.

Moreover, the new generation exhaust scrubber is a more environmentally-friendly option for owners and operators looking at the impact of their investment decisions. To clarify, Wärtsilä manufactures the technology using 50% recycled steel.

What do the developers say?

“It is fantastic to be able to unveil our new IQ Series scrubber to the market. We believe that this new scrubber features several technology improvements that make it an obvious and front-running compliance option for interested owners and operators. We have particularly designed IQ Series with our container segment customers in mind. There is a huge demand in the container market for exhaust gas cleaning solutions that enable compliance and have a minimal impact on the profitability of the vessel. That’s why we have brought to market this new design that is lighter, smaller, and less voluminous, enabling us to respond to what our customers are asking for, while also maintaining the same high-quality engineering and results they expect from Wärtsilä.”
Sigurd Jenssen, Director, Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment

Source: Wärtsilä