How to reduce pollutants in harbours
Harbour emissions abatement
Maritime transport has increased significantly in recent decades, in parallel with the growth of the world's population and global trade. This increase has had a direct impact on the size and capacity of ports. Although this can be considered an indicator of economic development, as the size of a port increases, so does the risk associated with pollution, due to the intensification of ship traffic and port operations. Ship engines use diesel fuels, which are the main source of pollutant emissions in port areas, with significant consequences for the environment and air quality in adjacent cities.
The installation of a mobile barge system is planned, integrated with an automatic collection system patented by the partner Greener Process Systems Inc. (SETH®TM), designed to contain and reduce air pollution in urban areas where ship emissions can account for up to 70% of the total. The system is designed to intercept fumes from ship chimneys, conveying them through a modular robotic system to the treatment plant.
The mobile system, an integral part of Greener Process Systems Inc.'s patent, is fully electric and generates no additional CO₂ emissions. It stands out for its high adaptability and versatility, making it compatible with most types of ships and quay configurations. The treatment system consists of a Non-Catalytic Ceramic Filter associated with a Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR), with ammonia storage and a DSI (dry injection) system of calcium-based sorbent, which allows an effective reduction of the main pollutants: SOX < 85 mg/Nm³, NOX < 500 mg/Nm³, dust < 5 mg/Nm³. This also allows the use of fuels with a high sulphur content during port stopover operations.
The exhaust emissions of a single ship are equivalent to those produced by tens of thousands of vehicles. The mobile system represents an integrated solution for any type of ship or port configuration, guaranteeing a very high pollutant abatement efficiency (on average equal to 92%), with an impact on urban air of less than 10% compared to the total contribution of the port.