Study of Hybrid Propulsion Systems for Lower Emissions and Fuel Saving on Merchant Ship during Voyage

Abstract

The hybrid propulsion system is a vehicle propulsion system with two or more sources of propulsion such as diesel, batteries, and other renewable energy. The use of hybrid propulsion systems is not new, and they have been adopted worldwide. There are many applications for hybrid propulsion systems, from powering land-based vehicles to marine vessels. With the success of hybrid propulsion systems, many large vessels still rely on two-stroke engines for power generation. In this paper, the benefits and feasibility of using battery systems or hybridizing existing conventional two-stroke engines onboard large intercontinental vessels is studied and simulated. The merchant ship, a bulk carrier with 82,000 deadweight tonnage capacity, is used. The model vessel travels along a simulated route of up to 4000 nautical miles using weather routing software to generate data for estimating emissions with the help of widely adopted empirical formulas. A reduction of up to 3.4 tonnes of emissions and fuel consumption of not more than 1 tonne per kWh from peak shaving and boosting applications for a 12-day voyage were observed.

Design and Optimization of an Integrated Power System of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Marine Low-Speed Dual-Fuel Engine

“…The economic analysis in this paper considers the saving of gas on a voyage based on operating load characteristics. The shaft generator (Chin et al, 2022) can be used because the excess power could replace a diesel or dual-fuel generator at full load operating SOFC and ICE, which will save additional money.…”

“…In addition, SOFCs demonstrate poor transient performance (Sapra et al, 2021). Chin et al (2022) reported that a full fuel cell system is still only viable for small to medium vessels, while a hybrid system is practical for large ships. Furthermore, Xing et al (2021) reported that reliability and durability will be achieved by integrating SOFC with batteries, photovoltaics, turbines, and engines, which can also maximize efficiency.…”

A Data-Driven Approach to Ship Energy Management: Incorporating Automated Tracking System Data and Weather Information

“…While lessemitting propulsion systems can be retrofitted and partially replace ICEs, ships can also be redesigned implementing fully electrified powertrains. Research into zero-emission drive systems for marine applications is focused, in particular, on fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries (LIB) [4]. Ferries and other smaller vessels can already be powered entirely by batteries, as the energy density of LIBs is sufficient for these routes [5].…”