Wärtsilä launches new lighter, smaller IQ Series scrubber

Compared to previous scrubbers with similar capacity, the new IQ Series scrubber from Wärtsilä is 30% smaller. [Image: © Wärtsilä]

Wärtsilä’s exhaust treatment business unit, based in Moss, Norway, has launched a new series of exhaust gas scrubbers, the IQ Series. The series has an innovative design that allows the same exhaust gas cleaning results to be achieved within a smaller footprint. The scrubber takes up 25% less space, is 30% lighter, and has 35% less volume, which minimizes the impact on a vessel’s cargo-carrying capacity, and therefore its profitability.

This makes the new scrubber particularly attractive for containerships, where space is a key commercial priority.

The scrubber can be configured for power ranges between 20 and 70 MW, depending on vessel requirements, and features the same modular design as Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment’s other exhaust gas cleaning solutions.

UPGRADE PATH TO EGR AND CCS

This means that the IQ Series can be upgraded with further technologies that enable other pollutants to be tackled within the stack, including exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) to cut NOx, a black carbon filter to cut particulate matter (PM), a depluming unit to cut visible steam from the stack, and even a carbon capture and storage (CCS) module that Wärtsilä is currently developing in its Moss test facility.

The IQ Series is also a more environmentally-friendly option for owners and operators looking at the impact of their investment decisions, with Wärtsilä manufacturing the scrubbers using 50% recycled steel.

“We believe that this new scrubber features several technology improvements that make it an obvious and front-running compliance option for interested owners and operators,” said Sigurd Jenssen, Director, Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment.” We have particularly designed IQ Series with our container segment customers in mind. There is huge demand in the container market for exhaust gas cleaning solutions that enable compliance and have a minimal impact on the profitability of the vessel. That’s why we have brought to market this new design that is lighter, smaller and lower volume, enabling us to respond to what our customers are asking for, while also maintaining the same high-quality engineering and results they expect from Wärtsilä.”