Switzerland: ABB Turbocharger Delivers 64% Return on Investment

An independent study conducted by Forrester Consulting has found that ABB turbocharger upgrades enhance engine performance and reduce fuel consumption. The study also found that it has delivered a 64% return on investments.

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Revenue from higher engine output on three engines in a power plant amounted to around $537,000 a year, with fuel savings of $470,000 per year.

The Study, titled the Total Economic Impact of ABBs Turbocharger Upgrade, looked at the return on investment on the upgraded ABB turbochargers for a power plant in the Caribbean. Data was looked at from the year before the upgrade and the year following it, and found a net present value of $1.4million, with an annual value of $824,000 and a payback period of 11 months.

ABB Turbocharger Green and Efficient

The turbocharger, which has many applications including in rail, uses engine exhaust energy to push more air into a combustion engines cylinders. This delivers higher engine output and efficiency. The upgrade replaces old turbochargers or components with up-to-date ones.

The technology not only delivers reduced fuel consumption and higher engine output, but also reduced maintenance cost and lowered emissions. The engine works more efficiently, with a longer lifecycle for components thus making it greener and more economical than predecessor engines.

In the Caribbean power plant which was the focus of the Study, new compressor wheels, which are more efficient and have wider speed margins, were fitted to six turbochargers on three engines. This led to fuel savings of 1.6%, which represents a saving of $470,000 annually.

Because of the wider speed margins of the compressor wheels, the turbochargers could run at faster speeds at high temperatures. Prior to the upgrade, the engines had to be slowed on hot days. Following the upgrade, power output increased by 2.4%, representing $537,000 additional annual revenue.

Oliver Riemenschneider, Managing Director, ABB Turbocharging said:

Benefits of upgrading our products are significant and we have always been confident that improved performance gives true value to our customers. The study analysis showing the financial benefits from a customer point of view helps us to even better support our customers, delivering on their needs – all in line with our Next Level strategy.

Around 200,000 ABB turbochargers are currently in use around the world, on diesel locomotives as well as ships, power stations, gen-sets, and large off-highway vehicles.