Superyacht sewage system assessment

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Client: Confidential
Service division: Optimisation; Engineering
Sector: Marine

AFECO was commissioned to carry out an independent process evaluation of the sewage system on board a privately owned superyacht to identify the causes of the on-going poor performance. The installed sewage treatment system was designed to meet the effluent standards detailed in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) resolution MEPC.2(VI) which was subsequently replaced by resolution MEPC.159(55) but had failed to meet operational standards.

AFECO was commissioned to survey and re-commission the plant to determine whether the system could be optimised to meet consent requirements as well as to assess the systems performance and carry out an evaluation of the design . The system was re-commissioned following an extensive on-board survey which included identifying all possible sources of influent to the system and reviewing the products used for cleaning to ensure they were suitably biologically friendly. The process performance was evaluated using supporting laboratory analysis and the causes of the operational problems identified and detailed in an extensive report.

The work carried out by AFECO included:

  • Plant loading assessment
  • Full system evaluation including tracing of all possible plant inputs and yacht product usage
  • Process performance evaluation including laboratory analysis
  • Identification of process problems
  • Recommendations for system improvement supported by detailed reporting

Superyacht sewage system optimisation

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Client: Confidential
Service division: Optimisation; Engineering
Sector: Marine

AFECO was commissioned by a privately owned superyacht to act as independent process experts in identifying the causes of the poor performance of the on-board sewage treatment system to support an on-going warranty claim. The installed sewage treatment system was designed to meet the effluent standards detailed in the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) resolution MEPC.2(VI) which was subsequently replaced by resolution MEPC.159(55) but had failed to meet operational standards since its installation.

AFECO was commissioned to survey and re-commission the plant to determine whether the system could be optimised to meet consent requirements as well as to assess the systems performance and carry out an evaluation of the design and previous performance information. The system was re-commissioned following an extensive on-board survey which included identifying all possible sources of influent to the system and reviewing the products used for cleaning to ensure they were suitably biologically friendly. The process performance was evaluated using supporting laboratory analysis and the causes of the operational problems identified and detailed in an extensive report.

The work carried out by AFECO included:

  • Design evaluation
  • Plant loading assessment
  • Full system evaluation including tracing of all possible plant inputs and yacht product usage
  • Process performance evaluation including laboratory analysis
  • Identification of process problems
  • Recommendations for system improvement supported by detailed reporting

Waste heat to power

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Client: EcoGenR8 Ltd
Location: n/a
Service division: Engineering
Sector: Power

Waste heat from industrial processes has a real value with an opportunity for revenue generation and carbon reduction. Many processes produce heat at temperatures and quantities where conversion to electricity is viable but the principal barrier to uptake is typically length of payback which can vary from 3 to 8 years.

EcoGenR8, of which AFECO is a trade name, were awarded a Technology Strategy Board (TSB) Smart Grant to carry out a market assessment investigating the recovery of low grade waste heat. Smart Grants are awarded to assist businesses to engage in research and development projects in strategically important areas to enable the successful emergence of new products, processes and services and EcoGenR8 were awarded the grant to assist in the development of their waste heat recovery business, which will be delivered through AFECO.

AFECO have used the grant, which was matched by our own funding, to determine whether energy recovery systems, such as Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC’s), can be successfully matched with industrial sources of low grade waste heat and to develop a business plan to roll out a successful heat to power business. The scope included:

  • Identification of technology solutions
  • Identification and prioritising of industrial applications
  • Development of a viable technical and commercial model for identifying suitable sites
  • Building a business case and funding structure for new investment into this market

To learn more about our waste heat to power business please click here.