Babcock LGE Introduces ecoAPEX Reliquefaction Architecture

Marine engineering specialist Babcock LGE has introduced a new reliquefaction architecture named ecoAPEX, designed to optimize energy utilisation aboard fuel-carrying commercial vessels.

The system, designated as Advanced Performance Extraction, addresses a structural thermodynamic inefficiency inherent in dual-fuel gas carrier operations. In conventional setups, ships consume power to chill cargo boil-off gas back into liquid form while simultaneously applying heat to fuel streams to achieve proper operating temperatures for propulsion machinery.

According to the engineering firm, ecoAPEX reconciles these opposing thermal processes. By consolidating the simultaneous heating and cooling demands into an integrated cycle, the technology allows onboard systems to recover and redeploy thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted.

The system is engineered for application under design conditions for liquefied petroleum gas and ammonia carriers, providing an integrated energy management solution for gas transport operations.