The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology

ABB’s engine performance software

(Posted on 17/06/19)

ABB Turbocharging has upgraded digital platform ABB Ability Tekomar XPERT, for use on a fleet-wide scale.

Offering an easy-access web portal interface, ABB Ability Tekomar XPERT for fleet provides accurate insight into engine performance from fleet to vessel level with all key indicators available at a glance.

Tekomar XPERT for fleet incorporates all standard features found in the original Tekomar XPERT application with additional fleet functionality specifically developed to support middle and top management decisions.

When installed on every vessel in a fleet, Tekomar XPERT can quantify deviations in engine performance and provide simple guidance on running engines at optimum levels of efficiency. The software also offers recommended corrective actions for the realization of potential fuel oil savings.

Deviations from actual service performance to shop trial reference are converted to a fuel penalty. This fuel penalty is broken down in reference to single parameters. For each parameter there is a recommended action to bring the performance back to optimum and realize the fuel oil saving. Following the advice provided by the software can result in significant fuel savings of typically 0.5 to 3 tons of fuel per day, per vessel.

This type of advanced diagnostics, combined with the sharing the information with onshore office, also allows ship operators to immediately focus on fixing potential problems, rather than initially spending many hours analyzing them.

Tekomar XPERT for fleet allows company-wide engine performance assessment with controlled and consolidated analysis across a fleet. It facilitates the benchmarking and ranking of engines, vessels and fleets and the user-friendly dashboard can be customized according to role.

Beat Güttinger, Head of Tekomar for ABB Turbocharging, says: “Tekomar XPERT for fleet makes keeping an overview on engine performance easy undertaking for fleet managers, ship operators and owners. This smart digital solution with the newly introduced Engine Health Index offers marine customers an instant overview of their entire fleet. Whether an operator oversees five ships or many more across an international fleet, they can benchmark their fleets, ships and engines and quickly drilldown into more details to identify potential low performers or late reporters, Tekomar XPERT for fleet takes away the time consuming analysis of engine performance and allows operators to immediately focus on fixing problems to reduce fuel consumption and minimizes downtime and maintenance costs.”

Tekomar XPERT can be used with any marine main and auxiliary engine, irrespective of manufacturer, type, age or size. There is no hardware to install and the application can be dropped into the shipping company’s normal IT system, accessible via PCs, tablets and mobiles.

Tekomar XPERT is subscription-based smart web solution, that is available through ABB Ability™, a unified, cross-industry digital offering. More than 1,400 vessels have been equipped with Tekomar XPERT to-date.