Abstract
The paper focuses on the analysis of innovative energy systems onboard ships with the aim to evaluate, in a preliminary stage, which can be the most promising solution depending on the considered application. For this purpose, the dedicated tool HELM developed by the authors’ research group is employed. The tool uses maps reporting the main indicators (weight, volume, costs and emissions) for each component in relation to the installed power and the operational hours required (given by the user as an input), then it compares the results providing the best solution depending on the considered application. The maps have been built from a database developed throughout a wide analysis of the available market solutions in terms of energy generation devices (i.e. fuel cells, internal combustion engines), fuels (hydrogen, natural gas, diesel, methanol) and related storage technologies. The main strong point of HELM resides in its flexibility: it can be used for different typologies and sizes of ships (e.g. ferry boat, cruises, yachts); moreover, the database can be easily updated with more technologies. In this work, the focus is particularly on hydrogen application with PEM Fuel Cells and the use of innovative fuels (methanol, ammonia) in Internal Combustion Engines. Analysing different applications, it will be highlighted how the specific characteristics and priorities of the application affect the results of the best solutions. Furthermore, considering the regulation roadmap for the next years in the maritime context, promising technologies are highlighted also for future scenarios.
Highlights
Nowadays, ship transportation represents the most efficient solution for the distribution of large amounts of goods for long distances
The impact that volumes and weights have in maritime applications cannot be neglected [7]: compared to other fuels, H2 presents a low energy density, resulting in practical drawbacks related to its storage on board, if compared with the currently employed liquid fuels, such as Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) [8]
Methanol engines benefit from the low cost, similar to the cheapest solution ('Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs)+FO'), while ammonia treatment section has a negative impact on the investment required by the 'ICE+NH3' technology, which receives a lower score in the 'cost' category
Summary
Ship transportation represents the most efficient solution for the distribution of large amounts of goods for long distances. In order to reach this ambitious target, the introduction of innovative and sustainable technologies for ship propulsion, combined with the substitution of HFO with more low environmental impact fuels is one of the hey points [4] In this context, the introduction of PEM Fuel Cells, fuelled by pure hydrogen, for maritime applications are one of the most promising solutions, as they are a zero-emission system [4][6]. The author’s research group [9][10] has developed a software tool named HELM (Helper for Energy Layouts in Maritime applications) for this purpose, applying it in some recent works to compare H2 PEM fuel cells with currently employed solutions, in particular internal combustion engines fuelled by HFO and LNG [8]. In the present research work, innovative solutions, based on ammonia and methanol fuels, which are attracting research in these years [2][5], are implemented in the tool and investigated considering different applicative cases
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