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Nautical Integrated Hybrid Energy System for Long-haul Cruise Ships

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Nautilus (Nautical Integrated Hybrid Energy System for Long-haul Cruise Ships)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-01-01 al 2023-06-30

Maritime transport, including long-haul passenger ships, emits greenhouse gases and pollutants. To reduce these emissions and comply with the International Maritime Organisation's targets for 2030 and beyond, the EU-funded Nautilus project will develop an integrated marine energy system that will use liquefied natural gas. The project will build a pilot technology that will gradually replace the internal combustion engine-based generators with a solid oxide fuel cell–battery hybrid genset. Moreover, Nautilus will work on a digital design and a demonstrator of an on-board energy system for vessels transporting 1.000 and more than 5.000 passengers, which will be evaluated according to the marine safety regulations.
Within conceptual parts of the project, for an on-board energy system of 60 MW based on fuel cell-battery hybrid system and fueled with LNG, the technical and economic requirements, and marine safety requirements were conducted and concluded. Furthermore, the genset performance with five potential future marine fuels (LNG, methanol, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, ammonia and hydrogen) have been performed. Within technical parts of the project, in order to perform the engineering of up to 60 MWe SOFC-Battery hybrid based on key performance indicators defined by analyses, the focus of activities was on the development of the process flow diagram, the optimization of the heat exchanger network and the development of the process and instrumentation diagram representing all operation modes and end-of-life condition. The design indicated excellent electrical efficiencies >60% and with integrated thermal management through optimization of heat exchangers network (HEN) total efficiency between >82% could be shown. Transient SOFC and Battery models were developed and tested against experimental data with high degree of agreement and first generation of genset models were successfully tested for feasibility and are in on-going development. A 30 kW Large Stack module (LSM) of SOFCs was assembled for experimental testing and in parallel, the testbench needed for the qualification of the LSM was put together. A unitized control algorithm was developed for the energy management unit of the LSM/Battery hybrid. Experimental characterization of the LSM was completed and the LSM/Battery load-following experiments with the developed power split control strategy in the energy management unit were completed. In addition, a first set of emissions analyses was carried out and SOFC module testing on an inclination pod subject to static and dynamic inclination was completed. Lastly, SOFC stacks have been manufactured and qualified for installation into the demonstrator SOFC component and a list of specifications, technical drawings and layout for the SOFC cabinet have been provided for integration of the demonstrator. The battery container was specified and commissioned from a subcontractor for the demonstrator.
The project will deliver three key results to bring forward an energy system offering significantly higher efficiency than state-of-the-art marine engine technology: A proof of concept, a digital twin simulator and a demonstrator. The first milestone has already been reached, with proof of concept results demonstrated at the laboratory scale. The next two milestones are on track to deliver the foreseen impact. Increasing public awareness is followed by an increasing demand for clean travelling options. Whereas the freight shipping industry has already largely moved to the Asian market, the European cruise shipping industry continues to command 95% of the market share in the leisure and travelling segment. Europe has the opportunity to assume a leading role in the innovative shipping operations that result in a significantly improved climate balance.

The efficient hybridization of solid oxide fuel cell with battery and optimization of heat integration makes of the NAUTILUS energy system a stride into this position, since the system is capable of demonstrating a net efficiency as high as 89%. Moreover, while using LNG as fuel, the NAUTILUS energy system has the potential to reduce GHGs by 50% because of the high conversion efficiency on one hand and on other hand due to avoidance of the methane slips. Moreover, other pollutant can be reduced by more than 98%.
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