Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems stand as a promising technological solution in the quest to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from maritime vessels.
The attractiveness of SOFCs lies in their conversion efficiency, minimal pollutant emissions and adaptability to various fuel sources, making them ideal for marine applications. On the other hand, their extensive deployment is limited by their high cost, low power density, and limited ability to handle fluctuations in a ship's energy demand.
In response to some of these challenges of SOFC-based power plant integration, the marine SOFC plant was modelled within the NAUTILUS project. The research conducted will be showcased in Lucerne at the EFCF 2024 conference (July 2-5, 2024) in a poster presentation given by Berend van Veldhuizen from Delft University of Technology. The poster focuses on the Dynamic simulation of a marine SOFC power plant. If you want to learn more, find poster A1208 on Thursday, July 4, 2024, from 13:15 to 15:00 at EFCF 2024.
The objective of the research presented is to evaluate how an SOFC power plant can be effectively integrated into seagoing ships to reduce emissions. A dynamic power plant simulation model was developed to compare different hybrid scenarios regarding required volume, mass, fuel consumption, and emissions.
The study took a detailed exploration, employing a large cruise ship as a case study to evaluate different hybridization scenarios. Central to the investigation are two integrated models: a static sizing model, which determines the optimal configuration of SOFCs, diesel generators, boilers, and battery systems based on the vessel's operational needs, and a dynamic operational model, simulating the power plant's behaviour over time, factoring in both electric and heat requirements. The second model is also used to determine the proper capacity dimensioning of the battery, which provides an additional energy source during load transients that SOFCs are unable to cater.
Preliminary findings underscore the potential for significant emission reductions enabled by SOFC systems used in high-power marine applications. The emission measurements on the demonstrator and their analysis are scheduled for the later phase of the project, so the poster focuses on intricacies of integrating SOFC technology within the maritime landscape. The study shows that the implemented hybrid power plant supported by batteries can meet the load of the simulated cruise ship. The power plant simulation demonstrates that a large improvement in fuel consumption and emissions is achievable, particularly in terms of reducing pollutant emissions.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 861647.
Stay in touch with us!
#NAUTILUS_2020 #propulsionsystem #sustainableshipping #battery #fuelcell #cruiseships
***
⇒ Follow us on Twitter/LinkedIn to be on board.
Follow #NAUTILUS_2020
NAUTILUS is a short for Nautical Integrated Hybrid Energy System for Long-haul Cruise Ships.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 861647.