Protoype development of ship-board modular resonant power converter for ballast water management systems

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Environmental damage to marine environments valued at $150bn globally arises from theinadvertent transfer of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in seawater ballast. In response to this,the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships Ballast Water &Sediments, proposed by the International Maritime Organisation, is expected to be ratified by2016, upon which ballast water treatment (BWT) systems will be mandatory in all ships over4,000T. (>55,000 ships globally). Although a number of approaches to BWT exist, electrochlorination(EC) is suitable for all vessels and has high efficacy without furtherenvironmental risk. However, widespread deployment of EC is limited by the size of high DCcurrent power supply, based on low frequency power converters, which require very largemagnetic rectifier components. Castlet Ltd aim to develop a novel power supply, typeapprovedfor EC of seawater ballast, providing a step-change in capability with respect toconventional EC power supplies. The outcomes of the project will be demonstrated throughtwo fully commissioned prototype demonstration units, to be used for industry engagementwith potential deployers of the technology.