Researchers of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have developed a technique for improving scrubber technology.
Lynx Separator is a promising scrubber technology that is examined for possible use in marine exhaust gas scrubbers. Carlos Dorao and Maria Fernandino researchers of NTNU have developed through InnSep AS, a company established by the NTNU’s Department of Energy and Process Engineering in 2011. The Research Council of Norway’s Innovation Program MAROFF (Maritime activities and offshore operations)has funded this pilot project.
The process is, wet gas flows through the separator. A tubular metal sponge spins rapidly so the liquid is separated from the gas and thrown to the side and down, allowing dry gas to stream up to where it’s needed.
The pilot project has tested liquid at 20-30 degrees. Since ship exhaust typically ranges from 60-70 degrees, one of the goals is to incorporate heat exchangers into the developing technology. Valuable electrical engineering skills required for this project was contributed by Venezuelan student Jesus Silva who assisted Carlos and Maria in the project.
The simulated exhaust is flushed with saltwater, before being separated by the rotating metal foam cells. The theoretical calculations and testing show promising results for this cleaning treatment.
InnSep is planning to take the result of this pilot project to market players and figure out the fastest and cheapest ways to bring in the technology.
