Ship power plant with re-liquefaction installation for tankers transporting hydrogen

Abstract

The use of hydrogen as a fuel for tankers carrying liquefied hydrogen is discussed in the paper. As a solution to the problem of the world industry decarbonization, the possibility of competitive use of hydrogen as a fuel on sea tankers transporting liquefied hydrogen over long distances is discussed. The main reasons that encourage countries with sea and river vessels to develop in the direction of improving the ship power plants, in anticipation of tightening the national and international requirements for environmental pollution prevention, are indicated. A brief overview of the development of hydrogen energy is given on the example of leading projects in Europe and Asia, the most successful of which should include the transportation of compressed hydrogen by an experienced tanker of the Japanese company Kawasaki “Suiso Frontier” from Australia to Japan. A strategy for choosing the optimal propulsion unit for a liquefied hydrogen tanker is given. As research methods, the analysis of data obtained in similar studies, as well as the analysis of thermodynamic characteristics of promising systems, is used. Integrated power system designs and re-liquefaction systems for ocean tankers transporting hydrogen are proposed. Data on existing projects with low and high pressure gas engines, solid oxide fuel cells are given. Five prospective energy systems and a re-liquefaction system with a Claude cycle, using hydrogen and liquid natural gas as fuel and refrigerant, are suggested. Their technological feasibility and environmental impact are evaluated. The re-liquefaction systems’ exergy efficiency and specific energy consumption ranges are 26.79–46.27 % and 3–7.45 kWh/kg, respectively. A system with a low pressure engine, solid oxide fuel cells and a re-liquefaction system is determined to be optimal.