High-pressure pump for LNG marine engines

Marine pump specialist Svanehøj said it has developed a complete high-pressure marine pump unit for LNG fuel in two-stroke engines.

High-pressure LNG engines offer lower fuel consumption and significantly reduced methane slips, the company said. This is driving a surge in demand for crucial components for LNG high-pressure fuel supply systems, which Svanehøj is now ready to meet.

Drawing from extensive expertise in cryogenic solutions, the Danish company has developed a high-pressure fuel pump unit with a drive system and three combined cold ends designed for optimal flow and longer service intervals. The new solution is called HPP Triplex Unit.

“It is evident that more integrators of fuel gas supply systems are taking on a progressively substantial role in designing fuel supply systems, especially for LNG-powered vessels,” said Johnny Houmann, CSO in Svanehøj. “Therefore, they increasingly require critical components specially designed to operate under extremely low temperatures and high pressures. Based on decades of experience in low-pressure fuel and cargo pumps for LNG, we made a strategic decision to extend our scope and include a larger part of the LNG fuel supply system by developing a high-pressure pump unit, exclusively designed for maritime purposes.”

Svanehøj said it has designed the HPP Triplex Unit to meet the maritime industry’s demands for leak-free critical components with a long service life. The cold end includes a low-pressure sealing arrangement that reduces friction, ensuring longer service intervals. To further reduce maintenance costs, Svanehøj has developed a cartridge solution for swift sealing replacement. To ensure high efficiency and low-pressure drop, Svanehøj has also incorporated a new inlet valve design.

As part of its ESG strategy, Svanehøj is committed to directing 95% of its R&D investments at solutions and products that support the energy transition in the hard-to-abate sectors. This includes pumps and equipment for carbon capture, Power-to-X, and LNG. In recent years, Svanehøj has invested significantly in new products and services for the LNG segment, including a new submerged fuel pump, launched in 2022, and the acquisition of the US-based specialist in service and overhaul of LNG pumps, Complete Cryogenic Services (CCS), in 2023.

Svanehøj’s new HPP Triplex Unit is a high-pressure pump solution designed for LNG fuel. (Image: Svanehøj)

“In the ideal scenario, all ships would operate on carbon-free fuels tomorrow,” said Søren Kringelholt Nielsen, CEO at Svanehøj. “However, it will take several years to establish an infrastructure to meet the need for liquid renewable energy. Transition fuels are essential for a successful energy transition, and natural gas is by far the best option – with significant environmental benefits. In Svanehøj, we are committed to continuously innovating our product portfolio designs and service models at the lowest possible environmental lifecycle cost.”

The uptake of LNG has been high in recent years, especially among new buildings. According to the DNV database for alternative fuels, there are now 431 LNG-powered ships in operation and another 539 ships on order, bringing the total count close to 1,000 vessels. In 2021 and 2022 alone, 462 LNG-fueled ships were ordered, and in the first nine months of 2023, a further 104 ships were added to the global order book.