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PureNOx Prime, Alfa Laval's new PureNOx solution for water treatment in Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), is to be used on five very large ethane carriers (VLECs) to be operated by United Ethane Carriers (UEC). The order from MAN Diesel & Turbo comes only a short time after PureNOx Prime was introduced to the market.

UEC, a joint venture between Jaccar Holdings and Hartmann Group for the commercial management of ethane carriers, will be the operator of five VLECs to be built for ship owner JHW Engineering & Contracting. The newbuilds are to employ EGR as the means of reducing NOx emissions. For water treatment in the EGR circuit, engine provider MAN Diesel & Turbo has chosen PureNOx Prime.

Developed in collaboration with MAN Diesel & Turbo, Alfa Laval PureNOx Prime is a complete water treatment system for use in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) circuit, where it cleans both the circulation water and the bleed-off water for overboard discharge. Specifically for use with low-sulphur fuel, PureNOx Prime is a compact solution built on Alfa Laval PureNOx technology.

Using centrifugal separation, it protects the engine and the environment by removing soot and compounds from the fresh water in the EGR circuit. This water is recirculated in a closed loop, with additional water generated in the combustion process being cleaned and bled off in accordance with IMO criteria.

"Receiving this breakthrough order so soon after the introduction of Alfa Laval PureNOx Prime confirms that we've succeeded in our goals," said Kristina Effler, Alfa Laval Global Business Manager, Water Treatment Exhaust Gas Emissions. "PureNOx Prime retains the proven PureNOx performance, but its smaller footprint, leaner design and lower investment cost are all adapted to market demands. Clearly, the market is responding."

The five VLECs will be built in China by Dalian Shipyard. Like all ships built as of January 2016, they will be required to meet stringent Tier III NOx limits when operating in the Emission Control Area (ECA) off the North American coast.

Each vessel will be served by a PureNOx Prime 100 system, which is the smallest of the three PureNOx Prime capacities and comprises one centrifugal separator. PureNOx Prime will be integrated into the vessels' EGR engines, which will be manufactured for MAN Diesel & Turbo by Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery Division (HHI-EMD).