Teknotherm | Teknotherm Refrigeration

Teknotherm in the News Again

June 26, 2015 By Teknotherm

System being hooked up. Note the connectors below the deck where the water pipes will attach. When the container is removed, the connectors will simply be planked over, leaving a flat deck for crab pots.

The containerized RSW system for the F/V Wizard is now aboard ship and on its way to Alaska. This is such a fascinating project that Fishermen’s News ran an article about it. You can read it at http://www.fishermensnews.com/story/2015/07/01/features/portable-rsw-refrigeration-system-for-the-fv-wizard/338.html.

Chiller, high pressure receiver, and condenser.

Also, a video crew from Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch program was on board several times and got some footage of the container. A couple of our guys were there at the time and were interviewed on camera- maybe we’ll see their mugs on TV soon! So check out the article and keep an eye open during the next season of Deadliest Catch and you will see this unique system at work. And give us a call or email if you need anything refrigeration related…

Our Refrigerant Article in Fishermen’s News

June 3, 2015 By Teknotherm

A few months ago the nice folks at Fishermen’s News asked if we would write an article about the upcoming changes in refrigerant regulations. There is some confusion among fishermen about which refrigerants are okay to use, how soon others will be phased out, and which ones are banned outright, as well as whether they should retrofit or replace their current equipment to be in compliance with the ever-changing regulations. So we wrote an article on this topic, which is now available in the June issue. If you are not a subscriber you can pick up a hard copy here. Some of the features, including this article, can also be found on their web site. You can read the article in its entirety here.

Helping educate fishermen on refrigeration issues is one of our missions here at Teknotherm, and hopefully this article will prove useful. Feel free to contact paul@teknotherm-inc.com with any questions or comments…

Wizard Containerized RSW System has Left the Shop

June 1, 2015 By Teknotherm

In March we started an interesting project for Captain Keith Colburn of the F/V Wizard: two 85 ton RSW systems in a cargo container. This portable system can be hoisted onto the deck to provide chilled water during the summer tendering season and then removed for crabbing in the fall. These two very different duties put a unique stress on the ship’s refrigeration system. While tendering, the Wizard needs an efficient refrigerated seawater (RSW) system, but when crabbing she needs little more than a clear deck for all the crab pots, as the holds are filled with non-refrigerated water.

This unit uses Bitzer open-drive screw compressors and 100 hp motors. It also has proprietary TeknoLogic automation and controls for ease of use. As long as the boat has an internet connection, engineers and technicians can see exactly what is going on with every part of the system and diagnose problems from anywhere in the world.

Wizard containerized RSW system interior

A view down the length of the container. In the foreground is the motor, then compressor and refrigerant line. Behind are the twin 85 ton RSW systems at either side, and at the rear is where the electrical panel will be.

A chiller, condenser, and high pressure receiver are secured to each side of the container. Oil separators plus compressors and motors are at one end while controls are at the other. All the equipment is fully piped, meaning all connections are made to the flanged connectors on the exterior.

This unit will be loaded onto the F/V Wizard later this week. We will finish installing the controls, make final adjustments, and do full testing before the ship leaves port. An in-depth article with more photos will appear in the August issue of Fishermen’s News, so be sure to check it out if you want more information on this fascinating project.

Two More Trade Shows

May 21, 2015 By Teknotherm

We’ve been quite busy the past few weeks. First we attended the Workboat Maintenance and Repair Expo in New Orleans in mid-April. Then we sponsored the Bering Sea Fisheries Expo in Seattle on April 30. Then it on to Houston for the Offshore Technology Conference. Whew! I blogged about the Workboat show here.

The Bering Sea show was a lot of fun. We were one of the sponsors and had a table in the lobby area, along with a dozen or so other companies involved in the fishing industry. There were several interesting presentations, including speakers from Jensen Maritime Consultants and Guido Perla & Associates on the topic of new boats being built here in the Pacific Northwest. They talked about the design-build process, new technology, and a lot more. The value of harvesting every part of the fish was also discussed, along with new ways that fishermen are doing that. Other topics included regulatory issues, financing, and sustainable seafood products.

Dr Mallory from The National Bureau of Asian Research

Dr Tabitha Grace Mallory from The National Bureau of Asian Research gave a fascinating presentation at lunch about Chinese fishing and their growing impact on the global seafood market. She specializes in Chinese foreign and environmental policy and is writing a book about China and global fishery issues. This was a great conference: I met a lot of interesting people, answered questions, and enjoyed a lot of good food.

The OTC show was enormous, with nearly 3000 vendors from 130 countries and nearly 100,000 people in attendance. Occupying both the arena and Center buildings at NRG Park in Houston, this show covered pretty much everything having to do with the offshore industry. Oil rig designers, builders, and suppliers were everywhere of course, but also companies dealing with offshore energy projects, shipbuilding, maintenance, and support services of all kinds. We found several new suppliers at this show, adding to the vast selection of parts we already offer.

I went to this show with Chris Complita, the ace Parts guy here at Teknotherm. Good thing, because it took both of us to cover all that territory! Houston traffic lived up to its reputation and the hotel rooms were quite expensive, but the weather was nice for that time of year. We met with several of our good clients in the area, and even drove up to Bryan to visit some folks up there. A productive and interesting week.

Now Hiring Project Engineer

May 6, 2015 By Teknotherm

Teknotherm Refrigeration has an opening for a Project Engineer. The Project Engineer will report to the Senior Project Engineer. This is a good opportunity for an EIT wishing to get their license as they will be working with a PE. The Project Engineer’s work will primarily consist of design and drawings for industrial refrigeration systems, mostly for fishing vessels and shore plants. You would work with clients and Teknotherm engineering and technical staff in support of projects ranging from service work to full refrigeration plant design/build projects. Also, you would assist the Senior Project Engineer and sales staff in preparing quotes for new systems and to prepare service manuals for new systems.

Duties

Create P&ID and detail drawings using AutoCAD and Solidworks
Perform design calculations (heat load calculations, valve and equipment sizing, pressure vessel calculations)
Utilize software and hand calculations to size shell and tube heat exchangers
Meet with customers to ascertain their needs to properly size equipment and systems
Oversee fabrication in our shop and on fishing vessels and plants
Order materials and equipment for projects
Troubleshoot complex refrigeration systems
Assist with new product development
Create instruction manuals and technical documents
Prepare preliminary designs and cost estimates for quotes
Prepare formal written quotations

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial or Civil Engineering
Basic knowledge and coursework in thermodynamics and heat transfer
Basic knowledge of vapor compression refrigeration cycle and associated equipment
Ability to work with ASME, DNV, ABS and Lloyd’s codes for pressure vessels and piping systems
Strong computer skills (AutoCAD, Solidworks, Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, etc.)
Able to work with minimal supervision
Willing and able to work overtime as required

Teknotherm is a great place to work. We maintain a professional work environment and have an awesome, friendly team. Excellent pay. After 90 days, benefits include paid medical, dental, vision, 401k with company matching, vacation, sick days, and paid holidays. If interested, please e-mail a cover letter explaining why you are a good fit for this position, a detailed resume listing relevant skills and experience, and professional references.

Bering Sea Fisheries Conference Tomorrow

April 29, 2015 By Teknotherm

We are heading to the Bering Sea Fisheries Conference tomorrow. This is conference season for us: we went to the Work Boat Maintenance and Repair Expo in New Orleans two weeks ago, and will be attending the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston next week. Whew.

This show focuses on issues important to those work in the Bering Sea. From their web site: “Presented by Fishermen’s News each spring, the Bering Sea Fisheries Conference provides the only forum specifically designed to bring boat owners together with finance providers, shipyards and designers for candid and focused discussions about how we can work together to maximize the economic potential of fleet recapitalization.”

Topics include new vessel review, legislative issues, financing, marketing sustainable seafood, and more. The show will be at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Seattle. More info can be found on the web site at www.beringseafisheries.com.

Be sure to stop by the Teknotherm Refrigeration table and introduce yourself!

Back from the Work Boat Maintenance Show

April 23, 2015 By Teknotherm

I spent most of last week in New Orleans at the Work Boat Maintenance & Repair Expo. Met a lot of interesting people and saw some new products that we might start carrying or incorporating into our refrigeration systems. Also met the nice folks at Work Boat Magazine, who put on the show. I’ve corresponded with the Work Boat staff many times so it was good to finally meet them in person.

One of the highlights for me was Captain Nick Sloane’s presentation about salvaging the Costa Concordia. This was the cruise ship that ran aground off the Tuscan coast in 2012. Considered the largest and most expensive ocean salvage operation in history, the presentation was truly impressive. Between the massive logistical issues and the obstinate Italian government, it’s a miracle they were able to pull this off in just 30 months. A great review of his presentation can be found here: http://www.workboat.com/news-feed/2015/costa-concordia-salvage-master-at-workboat-expo

Captain Sloane and his very impressive presentation about salvaging the Costa Concordia.

New Orleans is a fun city. Spontaneous parades, good food, and strolling around the French Quarter; can’t go wrong. My hotel was just four blocks from the convention center. However the center is half a mile long and the show was, of course, at the far end of the building. I got some exercise for sure. The lunch spread was nice and you can’t argue with the open bar every evening. Made some new contacts, learned about new products, and came away with new knowledge so I’d call it a success.

There will be another, much larger Work Boat show in December. Contact Work Boat magazine for information on attending.

Off to the Work Boat Maintenance & Repair Expo

April 13, 2015 By Teknotherm

I’m off to New Orleans tomorrow for the Work Boat Maintenance & Repair Expo. This looks like a fun event, with keynote presentations from Captain Nick Sloane, Senior Salvage Master on Costa Concordia Wreck Removal Project, and Coach Terry Bowden. The exhibitors area will feature the latest in marine technology and services.

This show is different from the larger Work Boat Show in December. It is aimed at the people who are responsible for vessel maintenance and repair. There will be many presentations, from training new welders to lubricant regulations and understanding corrosion. Info on the show can be found at www.workboatmaintenanceandrepair.com/.

If you see me wandering around be sure to introduce yourself. Hope to see you there!

Another Work of Art from the Panel Shop

April 3, 2015 By Teknotherm

Vladimir and Jon recently completed a control panel for a 170 ton fishing vessel. In an earlier post we talked about Splitting a Two-Circuit RSW System, taking a system that had two chillers but only one condenser, one compressor, one receiver, and one ineffective control system, and making into two separate, complete systems. This is the panel for that boat.

You can see the controls are symmetrical; one half for one system and one half for the other. They are monitored on a single screen. Most major components “talk” to the controls, and the user can monitor each component via the touch-screen display. It includes pressure and temperature inputs, refrigerant levels, and other data from the chillers, compressors, motors, and other components.

Another great feature is that it can be operated from a smart phone or computer anywhere in the world. Whether its the engineer on the bridge or a technician in another country, as long as both you and the vessel have an internet connection and the log in information, you can monitor virtually every aspect of your refrigeration system and adjust many settings You can also chase down any problems that might occur, send a technician directly to the trouble area, and even trouble-shoot with the help of one of our techs thousands of miles away. Very cool.

Vladamir wrote custom programming for this project and Jon built the panel. Pretty much everything we do here at Teknotherm is custom designed for a specific ship or facility. No out-of-the-box panels for us! This control panel has multiple safeties and the highest quality components we can find. “Robust” is what they call it. This particular panel underwent three full days of testing and fine-tuning before it left our shop.

Amazing New Project Underway

March 18, 2015 By Teknotherm

This week we started on a large, unique project: two complete RSW systems inside a 24 ft cargo shipping container. This is designed for simplicity. The container can be lifted onto the deck by a crane, secured, and the water and power are hooked up. The controls will be in the container. By putting the refrigeration system on the deck, it frees up precious space below deck. Then when the ship changes from fishing to crabbing, the container is removed, allowing the full deck space for crab pots.

Custom built equipment trolley

Based on a new cargo container, it will be retrofitted with a man door on the side. A steel I-beam (shown above) runs the length of the space along the center of the roof. This supports a wheeled trolley to bring the heavy equipment inside, because there is no way to use a forklift. Doors and soft patches (access hatches) allow access to all sides of each piece of equipment for servicing.

The refrigerant will be ammonia. At Teknotherm we support all types of refrigerant but we are the ammonia specialists. With the increasingly broad bans on so many refrigerants, ammonia will be one of the few left standing in a few years. Because it is not ozone-depleting nor does it contribute to global warming, and is an excellent refrigerant, it is really the best choice out there.

Sparks are flying

When finished this unit will consist of two 80 ton refrigerated seawater systems using Bitzer screw compressors and 100 hp motors, with a complete ventilation and ammonia leak sensor system. And of course it will use our proprietary TeknoLogic automation and controls for ease of use. Our engineers and technicians can see exactly what is going on with every part of the system and diagnose any problems from the comfort of our Seattle office, no matter where in the world the boat is, as long as the boat has an internet connection.

This is a beautiful solution for the 155 footer’s seasonal refrigeration needs. In the coming weeks I will post in-progress photos of this fascinating and unique project.

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