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Passenger ferry at sea illustrating marine main engine lubrication and oil filtration in operation.

Reduced operating costs by replacing centrifuges on passenger ferry main engines

CJC® Oil Filters delivered oil quality equal to or better than centrifuges while reducing power consumption and oil losses.

Case study written by Gustav H. Frederiksen & Thomas H. Thorsing, C.C.JENSEN A/S, Denmark

Application Snapshot

Factory icon representing industrial application or sector.
Industry:

Marine

Globe icon representing geographic location or country.
Country:

Denmark

Oil droplet icon representing oil type or lubrication fluid.
Oil type:

Engine lube oil (Castrol MHP 154)

Executive summary

The passenger ferry M/F Tycho Brahe used conventional centrifuges to clean the lube oil on its diesel electric propulsion units. One centrifuge was used per two engines, resulting in annual operating costs of EUR 26,000, primarily due to oil heating.


CJC® Oil Filters were installed on two main engines for comparison. The results showed oil quality equal to or better than the centrifuges, with reduced power consumption, lower oil and diesel consumption and reduced sludge handling. The test period confirmed significant operational and environmental benefits.

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Lightning bolt icon representing lower power consumption in the oil treatment system.

Reduced power consumption

Power required to heat the oil was significantly reduced.

Oil degradation icon representing less sludge production and reduced disposal needs.

Reduced sludge handling

Sludge production and disposal requirements significantly reduced.

Downward arrow icon representing reduced lube oil and diesel oil consumption.

Lower oil consumption

Lube oil and diesel oil consumption reduced on engines with CJC® Oil Filters.

CO₂ cloud icon representing reduced diesel use and lower carbon emissions.

Lower emissions

Reduced power consumption led to lower diesel use and reduced CO₂ emissions.

Large marine diesel engine used in passenger ferry propulsion.

Client brief

The passenger ferry M/F Tycho Brahe, operated by Scandlines on the Elsinore–Helsingborg route, uses diesel electric propulsion with Wärtsilä main engines.

Technician comparing dark contaminated oil and clearer filtered oil samples.

Challenge

Conventional centrifuges were used to clean the lube oil, with one centrifuge per two engines. Operating costs amounted to EUR 13,000 annually per centrifuge, mainly due to oil heating requirements.

Test tubes showing oil samples used to compare cleanliness before and after filtration.

Solution

CJC® Oil Filters HDU 27/108 Standard and HDU 27/108 Prototype were installed on main engines DG3 and DG4. The centrifuges on DG1 and DG2 were kept in operation as reference installations.

Blotter spot test papers comparing oil appearance from engines using centrifuges and CJC® Oil Filters.

Comparing centrifuges with CJC® Oil Filters

The objective was to deliver results equal to or better than the centrifuges. This objective was achieved on both the standard and prototype CJC® HDU Oil Filters.


The crew reported visual oil appearance as “new oil” on the engines equipped with CJC® Oil Filters and a clear difference compared to the engines still using centrifuges.

Measurable results and operational impact

Installing CJC® Oil Filters resulted in reduced power required to heat the oil, lower lube oil and diesel oil consumption, fewer man-hours and chemicals used for maintenance, reduced sludge handling and reduced CO₂ emissions. Over a test period of more than 12 months, the results confirmed that the CJC® Oil Filters delivered oil quality equal to or better than the centrifuges while significantly reducing operating costs. Payback time for a standard solution was less than seven months, and slightly over one year for the prototype solution.




“The installation has been an absolutely positive experience. The quality of the oil is as good as it was before, well actually better in all aspects. The appearance of the oil has changed from dark to light and looks like new oil. We are saving man-hours and chemicals, reducing sludge production and saving lube oil.”

– Henrik Fald Hansen, Senior Chief Engineer

Table comparing specific lube oil consumption for main engines using centrifuges versus CJC® Oil Filters.

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