EFCF 2022 - Evaluation of a Hybrid SOFC & Battery Genset for Cruise Ship Applications

Matthias Metten, from German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics, will present the Evaluation of a hybrid SOFC & battery genset for cruise ship applications at EFCF 2022 conference that will be held in Lucerne in Switzerland on 5th – 8th July 2022. The conference paper was prepared together with other NAUTILUS project partners - Cem Ünlübayir from RWTH Aachen University and Stefan Diethelm from SOLIDpower SA.

Presentation will be held on 8th July 2022 at 13:45 at KKL Conference Centre in Lucerne within the session Products, Demonstration & Novel Concepts (session A16).

As the maritime transport industry accounts for a significant part of the global greenhouse gases and emissions, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is aiming at a 40 % reduction of CO2 by 2030 and 70 % by 2050. In addition, SOx, NOx and, black carbon emissions shall be decreased by 80 % in comparison to 2008. In order to achieve these goals, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are estimated to play a major role in power generation onboard, due to their high fuel efficiency, flexibility, and very low emissions.

In order to improve load change behaviour, SOFCs can be coupled with batteries to allow high power gradients that are characteristic for ship operation. In this contribution, the current status of an experimental proof-of-concept (PoC) in conjunction with transient simulations will be shown at the conference as a result of ongoing EU-funded project NAUTILUS.

The PoC examined by the NAUTILUS team uses a 32 kWe SOFC module and will be coupled with a lithium-ion battery. It represents a conceptional genset that is evaluated to gradually replace conventional gensets on cruise ships, considering its transient behaviour and scalability. The genset concept and its influence on the main key performance indicators for the targeted maritime application will be presented. Furthermore, first simulations of its load-following behaviour and control concept will be shown as well as first simulations of the transient behaviour of the used SOFC module.

The evaluation shows that such a genset has the potential to meet the technical requirements onboard, that the transient behaviour via hybridization with a battery can be improved. Also, it is a viable alternative for conventional gensets on ships considering higher efficiency of novel genset and its lower emissions. Evaluation also shows that the battery will mainly be used in the transition phases during the start-up of the gensets while its usage in peak shaving during steady state operation is restricted by the suitable battery volume on ships.

If you are interested in detail, please register on the NATUILUS workshop “Potential and challenges of innovative power systems and synthetic fuels for emission reduction in waterborne transport” that will one of special events at the EFCF conference on the 5th July 2022 (13.30 -17.00). You can accede the workshop in Lucerne in person or on-line via Zoom.

!!!! REGISTRATION via Eventbrite up to Sunday 3th July, 11.00 PM !!!!

NAUTILUS workshop Agenda

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About the EFCF conference

The 15th EUROPEAN SOFC & SOE FORUM 2022 addresses issues of science, engineering, materials, systems, applications and markets for all types of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), Solid Oxide Electrolysers (SOE) and Solid Oxide Electrochemical Reactors. Additionally, the more and more established issue of CO2 emission reduction and reuse is addressed as well.

Program of the EFCF conference

Articles you might want to read

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NAUTILUS is a short for Nautical Integrated Hybrid Energy System for Long-haul Cruise Ships.

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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 861647.