Starting January 1, 2020, new regulations passed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has limited the amount of SOx emissions from engines using heavy fuel oil to 0.1% Sulfur or equivalent. In order to remain compliant with these regulations, ship owners can switch to burning low sulfur fuel—a very expensive option due to pricing and availability. The other alternative is to install an SO2 Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS). These systems will ensure that emissions stay within the limits of the IMO regulations even when burning high sulfur fuels.
Lantec high-efficiency random packings are the preferred packing for EGCS systems of this kind, having been successfully installed on more than 150 ships world-wide in the last two years. Their patented modern designs provide a unique combination of high gas-liquid contacting efficiency, low pressure drop, and high resistance to fouling by solids, resulting in performance that is unmatched by any other tower packing.
Their flow-through structures use drip point technology and gas turbulence to create millions of small droplets, multiplying the surface area for gas-liquid contact while imposing minimal resistance to gas flow. Their high void fraction and uniform structures allow small solid particles to pass through without clogging. These characteristics allow system suppliers to offer scrubbers with lower capital costs, less power consumption, lower maintenance costs, and higher SO2 removal. Most importantly, scrubbers can be made with smaller footprints to fit aboard ships with severe space limitations.
Lantec packings are available in Duplex 2205, 304/316 stainless steel, and various thermoplastics.
