Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. system enables energy efficiency for newest Aida project

The two 125,000 gross tonnage (G/T) 3,250 passenger ships, the largest ever constructed for AIDA Cruises and due for delivery in 2015, will be equipped with Halton’s unique M.A.R.V.E.L. system, enabling direct savings from the galley ventilation system – savings that have never before been available for cruise ship operators.

One of the main targets for the engineering of the new vessels was investment in energy efficient solutions,such as Halton’s M.A.R.V.E.L. system.

Halton’s M.A.R.V.E.L. system is an automatic, responsive and flexible demand controlled ventilation (DCV) system for galleys designed to work to together with Halton hoods. Compared to traditional hoods, the Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. system, combined with the Halton Capture Jet technology, can save up to 50% in galley energy consumption. This also contributes to reduce impact on the environment.

Traditional systems maintain the galley ventilation at a constant volume. With the Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. system the ventilation exhaust and supply air volumes are adjusted according to the real ventilation demand, as determined by its automatic cooking equipment status detection system, which uses dedicated sensors and an algorithm designed for galley applications to adjust the air volumes. The M.A.R.V.E.L system also ensures comfortable conditions by maintaining pre-set temperature levels inside the galley while adjusting the exhaust and supply levels to the required minimum. The end result achieved with the M.A.R.V.E.L. system is optimized energy consumption based on actual ventilation needs.

The Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. demand based ventilation system helps to reduce energy consumption and improve the profitability of cruise ships. It has been estimated that 30% of the total energy consumption of a cruise ship consists of the air-conditioning of public spaces, including accommodation and galley ventilation. This has also been acknowledged in the shipbuilding markets and the demand for more energy efficient systems and greener technologies has increased. The Halton M.A.R.V.E.L. demand based ventilation system has been developed to respond to this demand by offering significantly more energy efficient solutions and increasing profitability.

M.A.R.V.E.L. advantages and features

• Individual and independent operation of exhaust ventilation for each hood module
• Automatic system fine-tuned for demand requirements
• Reduction in the energy consumption related to cooling fresh air
• Permanent optimization of the power consumption of the fan motors due to variable air flow rates and pressure regulation
• The air flow control units of the M.A.R.V.E.L. system are part of the common monitoring platform. M.A.R.V.E.L. is 100% compatible with UV-light technology monitoring systems.
• The system is pre-set at the factory. Therefore its commissioning, performed by a professional Halton technician, involves only adjustments in accordance with the actual site configurations and the equipment’s final conditions of use.

Halton has delivered its M.A.R.V.E.L. system to over 50 land-based projects. The system has been awarded with the Finnbuild 2010 Highlights Innovation Award (Finland), the Food Hospitality Innovation Award 2010 (The Netherlands), the EuroGastro 2011 Award (Poland) and the Food Service Consultant Society International’s (FSCI) Honourable Mention for Innovation 2011.