Svanehøj develops new fuel pump for LNG-powered ships

Svanehøj, a Danish manufacturer of specialized deepwell pumps for vital applications within fuel, cargo (gas, P&C) and offshore, as well as high-end measuring systems for LNG and LPG tanks on ships and land-based terminals, has launched a completely new electric submerged pump design for LNG-powered ships. The new CS (cryogenic submerged) pump has been presented at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg.

Svanehøj’s new CS (cryogenic submerged) pump is designed for LNG-powered ships. (Photo: Svanehøj)

In recent years, Svanehøj has positioned itself as a supplier of long-shaft deepwell pumps, where the motor and other electrical parts are located on deck. The CS pump is a submerged pump that is installed at the bottom of the tank. Svanehøj said it is the first supplier in the industry to offer both deepwell pumps and submerged pumps for electric fuel systems.

“With the new CS pump for LNG, we are strengthening our position in a rapidly developing market,” said Johnny Houmann, director of Sales & Projects at Svanehøj. “We will differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering advice that is neutral in terms of technology selection. In this way, we want to ensure that the customer always gets the solution that best suits the specific project.”

The launch of the CS pump takes place at a time when investments in LNG-powered ships are growing strongly. According to the classification society DNV, at the end of August, a total of 316 LNG-powered ships were in operation, while a further 511 ships were on order. In 2021, 240 LNG-powered ships were ordered, which is more than in the four previous years combined. The growth continues in 2022, where the order level is approximately 10% higher than the record year 2021.

Among LNG-powered ships with submerged fuel pumps, clogging of the pumps due to impurities in the gas is a well-known problem. Clogging makes a pump less efficient, causes increased wear and operational disruptions. In the design of the CS pump, Svanehøj has aimed to solve this challenge by developing a special self-cleaning LNG filter that ensures optimal flow.

Svanehøj has also developed its own electric permanent magnet motor especially for the CS pump. With the assistance of external specialists, Svanehøj said its engineering team has succeeded in achieving a significantly higher degree of efficiency and lower energy consumption than other engines on the market. In this way, Svanehøj meets the need for solutions that comply with the stricter requirements for ships’ emissions.

“Our ESG focus is about developing technical solutions for ships to support the transition to cleaner energy types. With the CS pump, we meet some technical challenges to ensure a higher efficiency of the pump and improve uptime during operation,” said Houmann.