R.W. Fernstrum Equipment Enhanced
WEKA Boxcooler™
Uncoated 90/10 copper-nickel boxcooler mounted inside a sea chest — closed-circuit cooling for engines up to 10,000 kW with in-hull protection from ice, debris and grounding; built in the USA by R.W. Fernstrum under licence from WEKA Marine.
Description
The WEKA Boxcooler™ is a compact, closed-circuit cooling system mounted in a sea chest within the vessel's hull. R.W. Fernstrum & Company partners with WEKA Marine (Netherlands) to manufacture copper-nickel boxcoolers in the United States and supply the North and South American markets.
How it works
Engine coolant flows through a U-tube bundle suspended in the sea chest. Seawater warmed by the tubes rises, creating a natural convection flow that enters through inlet slots at the bottom of the sea chest and leaves through outlet slots near the top. Vessel motion adds forced circulation, so the cooler works both underway and alongside.
Advantages
- Seawater never enters the hull; no raw-water pumps, strainers, filters, seacocks or seawater piping
- Zero-discharge, low-maintenance solution — cools engines up to 10,000 kW
- Mounted inside the hull: superior protection from ice, sand, debris and submerged obstacles
- Removable bonnet — routine maintenance without dry-docking, with no seawater ingress
- Uncoated 90/10 copper-nickel tubes — no coating and no ICAF (impressed-current anti-fouling) system required
- Fully isolated from the hull; combined with the WEKA Protector Type T the copper-nickel keeps its natural anti-fouling layer
- WEKA Guard protects the cooler from welding currents during construction
Configurations
- Single or multiple heat sources (multiple circuits) on one unit
- Stepped boxcoolers for tight spaces
- Athwartship or longitudinal orientation
- Top-down or bottom-mounted installation for repowers and added equipment
Applications
Propulsion and auxiliary engines, generator sets, reduction gears, bow thrusters, hydraulics, HVAC, compressors and electrical equipment on tugs, ferries, supply vessels, dredgers, fishing vessels, barges, cargo ships, carriers, tankers and icebreakers — the preferred choice for icy, sandy or debris-laden waters.
Service notes
Maximum test pressure 4.5 bar (65 psi). Replace the bonnet gasket whenever the bonnet is removed; replace the WEKA Protector every 5 years.
Specifications
| Type | Boxcooler (in-hull sea-chest cooler, closed circuit) |
|---|---|
| Tube material | Uncoated 90/10 copper-nickel |
| Cooling capacity | Engines up to 10,000 kW |
| Max test pressure | 4.5 bar (65 psi) |
| Anti-fouling | Natural Cu-Ni; no coating or ICAF required (with WEKA Protector Type T) |
| Configurations | Single / multiple heat sources, stepped, athwartship or longitudinal, bottom mounted |
| Maintenance | Removable bonnet in the water; no dry-docking |
| Licensor | WEKA Marine B.V. (Netherlands) |
| Manufactured in | Menominee, Michigan, USA |
Documents
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