The machines will be used for a major contract covering five K130 Braunschweig class corvettes. Due to its special design, the Marenum is ideally suited for use on the high seas.

Marenum chillers from Engie Refrigeration provide a completely reliable cooling supply even in heavy seas - a fact of which Noske-Kaeser Maritime Solutions, which has been part of the Engie Group since 2018, was well aware. Together, the refrigeration specialist from Lindau and the specialist for maritime air conditioning, refrigeration and firefighting technology from Hamburg are involved in a works contract for the five K130 class corvettes.

It is an upgrade purchase relating to five K130 class ships that are already under deployment, and is being realised on behalf of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) by the K130 consortium – which consists of Lürssen Werft, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and German Naval Yards Kiel.

The units, which are 89 metres in length, are scheduled to be handed over to the German Navy successively from 2022.

Marenum fulfils the strictest requirements

Engie Refrigeration’s strongly application-oriented approach was crucial in winning the contract. This is because the new chillers must fit into the existing corvette design, which offers only very limited space.

“For the contract from the K130 consortium, we individualised a Marenum chiller that fits compactly into the existing space and achieves maximum performance and maximum reliability with a small footprint,” said Jochen Hornung, chief executive of Engie Refrigeration. 

He added: “Our chiller also complies with the most stringent shock, noise and vibration requirements. Thus, it meets the strictest technological demands.”

For the chilled water units, Engie Refrigeration uses maintenance-friendly and especially quiet compressors with magnetic bearings.

The chiller and the installed hydraulics are intelligently interconnected, which also ensures reliability and completely dependable operation.

Like all Marenum chillers, the models involved in this upgrade purchase are characterised by maximum energy efficiency in operation.

The special design of the tube sheets and the high-performance ribbed pipes guarantee a particularly high level of resistance to seawater.

Competent service from Engie

Engie Refrigeration also scores with its network of branch offices throughout Germany, which includes a separate site in Hamburg.

Bows and sterns are produced at different wharves and then brought to Blohm+Voss, a Lürssen site in Hamburg, where they are combined, fitted with their final equipment and put into service.

This procedure ensures that paths are short during the construction, installation and subsequent operation of the Marenum machines, as the Engie experts in Hamburg can provide quick and competent assistance on all matters throughout the project.

Mr Hornung is looking forward to July 2019, when the first chillers will be delivered to the K130 consortium: “Together, Engie Refrigeration and Noske-Kaeser Maritime Solutions have developed the ideal refrigeration solution for the K130 corvette. On this basis, we are already looking forward to expanding our cooperation further in future.”