The project of installing a ballast water treatment system on the Klaipėda University research vessel Mintis

This paper presents a comparative analysis of ballast water treatment technologies, along with a detailed evaluation of the selection of treatment equipment, calculations of hydraulic pressure loss, and a theoretical layout of the equipment. The technology analysis assesses 13 different treatment methods based on six criteria for installing such systems in the space-restricted engine room, aiming to mitigate the threat posed by untreated ballast water to marine life. The selected technologies are filtration and ultraviolet (UV) as the primary and secondary ballast water treatment technologies. These methods ensure efficient, rapid, and environmentally friendly ballast water treatment. Another study component focuses on selecting and integrating the ballast water treatment system with the chosen technologies. It was determined that the PureBallast 3.2 Compact Flex ballast water treatment system, supplied by Alfa Laval, would be installed, offering a capacity of 85 m³/h and recognised as one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality water treatment solutions. Given the installation of the new system on board, hydraulic pressure loss calculations were conducted to assess whether the existing ballast pumps on the ship possess adequate capacity to support the treatment system. The results indicate that both pumps are insufficient to supply ballast water through the system at the required pressure. Practical solutions could involve replacing the impellers, adjusting the flow rate, or replacing the pumps.