{"id":14138,"date":"2018-10-03T08:55:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T06:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=14138"},"modified":"2024-01-08T14:22:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T12:22:36","slug":"nigel-calder-and-the-integrel-9kw-alternator-on-steroids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/03\/nigel-calder-and-the-integrel-9kw-alternator-on-steroids\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigel Calder and the Integrel 9kW ‘Alternator on Steroids’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The screenshot above is that of world renowned yachting systems author Nigel Calder in the Triskel Marine lab with their new to market Integrel product, which makes some powerful claims – up to five to ten times the output of a conventional alternator.<\/p>\n

Integrel stands for Intelligent Generation of Electricity and as you can see – Victron products are part of the system. But what exactly is Integrel?<\/p>\n

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Integrel gives high power outputs whilst cruising and at anchor when in standalone generator mode by using the spare power capacity available in a marine diesel cruising engine. This is achieved with the help of permanent magnets, intelligent loading and management of the system. As a product it is classed as ‘an advanced generator replacement technology’.<\/p>\n

The system was revealed at the recent Southampton boat show. Don’t worry if you missed it and want to see the system, there’s an on the water opportunity at METS. More of that later.<\/p>\n

Who needs a standalone generator…<\/h3>\n

As a fellow sailor friend (MD of OceanTools<\/a>) said when I told him about Integrel: “I’ve been saying for years that a cruising yacht doesn’t need two engines.”<\/p>\n

Or as Nigel puts it: “This system is the one I’ve always wanted in my own boat for the last 35 years and now it has been finally achieved.” In fact he calls it – his retirement present to the cruising community – which over the years represents around ten million dollars in grant and R&D investment with both lab and on the water testing.<\/p>\n

By doing away with a separate generator, Triskel get typical standalone generator outputs using just Integrel. This has many benefits; for instance less space required, fewer through hulls, less expensive than an equivalent separate generator and as efficient as one, no extra separate generator running hours or maintenance.<\/p>\n

Having satisfied themselves of the reliability and efficiency of the system, Integrel is now available commercially and it looks like it may become the de facto standard for cruising yachts. Who needs a separate generator anyhow…<\/p>\n

Summary video<\/h3>\n\n\n