Navy plans design changes in ‘conventional’ ships

To make the Indian navy have a much smaller carbon footprint on the blue waters, the service has plans of making design changes of its ships in three categories: electrical, engineering and hull based. Studies have been instituted to make design changes in the ‘conventional’ ships of the navy.

In the electrical category, these include use of energy efficient equipment like canned motor pumps, and magnetic bearing compressors. Besides, there are waste heat recovery system, exhaust gas scrubber technology, use of fuel meters and energy efficient systems design.

The engineering category includes improving the hydrodynamic performance, adoption of tail flaps and their optimisation, green hull water coating and biocide-free paints. It also includes for the hull part, power factor improvement, high voltage power distribution system, energy efficient motors, solid state lighting, intelligent dashboard and variable frequency drives.

Once the studies are completed and the design changes incorporated, the naval vessels will be having a much smaller carbon footprint. Considering the IN is the fifth largest navy of the world, the service officials believe that they will one of the pioneers to undertake this kind of an exercise.

It has also instituted pre-feasibility study to garner ocean thermal energy conservation (OTEC) plant in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and (sea) wave energy converters (WEC) plant at Karwar. “Deliberations with all stakeholders are in progress to finalise the modalities of the project” official sources say.

The navy is continuously emphasising on various energy saving practices to reduce carbon foot prints in its shore-based facilities. Use of Turbo Fans in industrial units, use of Light Emitting Diode lights in offices and accommodations are being introduced in a large scale.

Use of solar water heaters in staff accommodations, photovoltaic panels placed on offices and accommodation rooftops, solar street lights, bio-gas plants, use of capacitor banks, use of energy efficient air conditioners in offices, use of battery operated vehicles, rain water harvesting and paperless offices have become almost universal for all facilities of the navy.