MARINE VESSEL POWER GENERATION SYSTEM

• US 20090311923A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wartsila Italia SPA (Wartsila Oyj Abp)
• Original Assignee: Wartsila Corporation (Wärtsilä Corporation)
• Inventors: Levander, Oskar
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 440/3
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 2003/002 by using electric power
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/02 from propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/04 from power plant other than propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A marine vessel power generation system comprising a conventional machinery arrangement, such as an internal combustion engine (2) and a generator (3), a propulsion system, and a main switchboard (6). In order to provide an environmental friendly power generation system, when the marine vessel enters, leaves or is in port, said system is provided with an H₂O operated power generation arrangement (8) for generating H₂O from seawater in order to produce electrical energy.

Claims

1. Marine vessel power generation system comprising a conventional machinery arrangement, such as an internal combustion engine (2) and a generator (3), a propulsion system, and a switchboard (6), characterised in that the said power generation system further comprises an H₂ operated power generation arrangement (8) for generating H₂ from seawater in order to produce electrical energy.

2. Marine vessel power generation system according to claim 1, characterised in that the H₂ power generating arrangement (8) includes an H₂ electrolysis device (81), an H₂ storage (82) and an H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83).

3. Marine vessel power generation system according to claim 2, characterised in that the propulsion system includes a mechanical propulsion unit (5) or a combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50), the internal combustion engine (2) is arranged to drive the mechanical propulsion unit (5) or the combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50) and the generator (3), the generator (3) is arranged to provide electrical energy for the H₂ electrolysis device (81), and in that the H₂ electrolysis device (81) is arranged to provide H₂ to the H₂ storage (82).

4. Marine vessel power generation system according to claim 3, characterised in that the H₂ storage (82) is arranged to provide H₂ to the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83), and in that the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83) is arranged to provide electrical energy for an electrical propulsion arrangement (7), the combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50), and/or hotel consumers (9) by way of the switchboard (6).

5. Marine vessel power generation system according to claim 1, characterised in that the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83) is an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell.

6. Method for power generation on a marine vessel, which comprises a conventional machinery arrangement, such as an internal combustion engine (2) and a generator (3), a propulsion system, and a switchboard (6), in which method the internal combustion engine (2) drives the propulsion system and the generator (3), characterised in that an H₂ operated power generation arrangement (8) is provided, and in that electrical energy provided by the generator (3) powers the H₂ operated power generation arrangement (8) for generating H₂ from seawater in order to produce electrical energy.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the H₂ operated power generation arrangement (8) includes an H₂ electrolysis device (1), an H₂ storage (82) and an H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83), in which method electrical energy provided by the generator (3) powers the H₂ electrolysis device (81) for generating H₂ from seawater, and in that the H₂ electrolysis device (81) supplies H₂ to the H₂ storage (82).

8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the H₂ storage provides H₂ to the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83) for producing electrical energy, and in that the electrical energy produced by the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83) is supplied to an electrical propulsion arrangement (7), a combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50), and/or hotel consumers (9) by way of the switchboard (6).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the propulsion system includes a mechanical propulsion unit (5) or a combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50), and in that power generation is carried out in two modes:

in a first mode when the marine vessel is at sea, the internal combustion engine (2) drives the mechanical propulsion unit (5) or the combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50) and the generator (3), the generator (3) provides electrical energy to the H₂ electrolysis device (81) by way of the switchboard (6), and the H₂ electrolysis device (81) generates H₂ from seawater and supplies H₂ to the H₂ storage (82); and

in a second mode when the marine vessel enters, leaves or is in port, the H₂ storage (82) supplies H₂ to the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83), the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83) provides electrical energy to the electrical propulsion arrangement (7), the combined mechanical and electrical propulsion unit (50), and/or to hotel consumers (9) by way of the switchboard (6).

10. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell is provided as the H₂ operated power generation apparatus (83)