Energy-efficient air conditioning on
luxury cruise vessels
becoming increasingly interested in optimising the output of
the air conditioning systems on
their new ships. The energy-efficient and innovative air conditio-
Photo: Courtesy of STX Europe
Large cruise liner companies are
ning technology of Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas
and Allure of the Seas, the world’s
largest and most revolutionary
cruise ships under construction at
STX Europe’s yard in Turku for deliveries in 2009 and 2010 respectively, will be supplied by Finlandbased Koja Marine. Koja’s fan systems will be controlled by Vacon
AC drives.
S
ince 2000, Vacon has supplied Koja
Air conditioning and indoor air quality are some of the central issues affecting comfort on
board luxury cruise vessels.
Marine with approximately 3,500 AC
drives for the control of fans in Koja’s air
Vacon AC drives are silent since they
conditioning systems on board some 20
require no large built-in fans, and con-
luxury cruise liners – a majority of which is
sequently, the air conditioning system
sailing in the Caribbean. Fans often use ex-
does not cause any disturbing noise. All
cessive amounts of energy. Stepless speed
this adds to the passenger and person-
control of the fan by means of an AC drive
nel comfort.
can bring considerable energy savings. In
The Oasis of the Seas will be the first
some cases, the payback time can be as
cruise liner where the Vacon AC drives are
short as one year.
connected to the air conditioning system
More importantly, Vacon AC drives
via Profibus. Fieldbus technology reduces
control the temperature and the level of
the amount of wiring and the number
humidity in the staterooms and in the pub-
of connections, the costs of installation,
lic areas, thus guaranteeing better air qual-
commissioning and service, and makes
ity on board. On a vessel carrying thou-
the system more resistant to malfunc-
sands of guests, the varying need for air
tions. ■
conditioning is not a problem as adjusting
the Vacon AC drives according to changing needs is easy.
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Vacon’s scope of delivery to Koja Marine includes air-cooled AC drives up to 50 kW, mostly
380–500 V units in IP54 enclosures, providing a high degree of protection against humidity.