A methanol dual fuel retrofit arrangement for a large container ship

Abstract

The application discloses a methanol dual-fuel retrofitting arrangement scheme for a large container ship, which comprises the following steps: a cargo hold of the large container ship is retrofitted into a methanol storage hold and small cargo holds on both sides of the methanol storage hold; a fuel preparation room is arranged between the two small cargo holds, on the top of the methanol storage hold and between the methanol storage hold and a small hatch cover above the methanol storage hold; and a fuel tank is arranged below the two small cargo holds; and a methanol filling station is arranged at an outermost container position on a layer above a main deck of the large container ship.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a methanol dual-fuel conversion scheme for large container ships, and more particularly to the field of methanol dual-fuel conversion design for large container ships. Background Technology

[0002] Due to the need for decarbonization in the shipping industry, major international container shipping companies have been seeking alternative fuel conversion solutions for existing ship types. Green methanol fuel is one of the increasingly popular alternative fuels. The challenge of converting container ships to dual-fuel methanol is to minimize container space loss while meeting fuel storage tank capacity requirements. Currently, the mainstream conversion solution involves converting one 40-foot bay (hereinafter referred to as a bay) into a methanol storage tank, with a fuel preparation room and nitrogen equipment room (hereinafter referred to as the fuel preparation room) located above the storage tank, and the refueling station positioned above the main passageway on the upper deck. This conventional layout results in significant container space loss, impacting the shipping company's operational economics. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a methanol dual-fuel conversion layout scheme for large container ships, which can minimize the loss of container space while meeting the capacity requirements of fuel storage tanks.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides a methanol dual-fuel conversion layout scheme for large container ships: the cargo holds of the large container ship are converted into methanol storage tanks and small cargo holds on both sides, with the space between the two small cargo holds, the top of the methanol storage tank, and the space between the small hatch covers above the methanol storage tank serving as a fuel preparation area, and the fuel tanks arranged below the small cargo holds on both sides; a methanol refueling station is arranged at the outermost container position on the upper deck.

[0005] Preferably, the methanol storage tank, small cargo tank, and fuel tank are arranged symmetrically.

[0006] Preferably, the methanol refueling station is arranged within the length of a container, and its width does not affect the opening of the hatch cover.

[0007] Preferably, the small cargo hold is used to place container one; the small hatch cover is used to place container two; and container three is placed on top of container two.

[0008] Preferably, an isolation compartment is provided between the outer cargo compartment, fuel tank and methanol storage compartment.

[0009] Preferably, the methanol refueling station is located inside a frame box.

[0010] More preferably, the methanol refueling station is located inside a frame box.

[0011] More preferably, the bottom of the frame box is an opening for easy insertion into a methanol refueling station, and no connecting structure is provided in the opening.

[0012] Furthermore, the frame container one and frame container two are arranged along the length of the ship's hull, and each is a container space.

[0013] Preferably, the fuel preparation room is provided with a small skid for installing a methanol supply unit, and the bottom of the skid is recessed below the main structural panel of the fuel preparation room.

[0014] The modification layout scheme of this invention is mainly aimed at the methanol dual-fuel conversion of large container ships. This scheme considers converting part of a bay's cargo hold into a methanol storage tank and part into smaller cargo holds. The methanol storage tank is located in the middle of the cross-section, and the smaller cargo holds are located on both sides of the methanol storage tank. The methanol conversion scheme places the fuel preparation room below the hatch coaming. This scheme uses only the outermost row of container bays closest to the hull side to house the methanol refueling station. This scheme uses a movable frame container outside the refueling station to resolve the conflict between the removal of the small cargo hold hatch cover and the support of the upper container. This scheme uses a distributed skid-mounted configuration, replacing large skids with smaller skids that are sunk between the top crossbeams and longitudinal girder of the methanol storage tank to solve the problem of the magnetic pump installation height.

[0015] The aforementioned use of movable frame containers to resolve the conflict between opening the hatch covers of the small cargo holds and supporting the containers above refers to the need to ensure unobstructed access above the hatch covers in order to open them on both sides of the methanol storage tank, while requiring support columns on the hatch covers to support the outermost row of containers on the deck. This invention employs two 2-foot frame containers, placed at the outermost, bottommost layer of containers. A methanol refueling station is located in one frame container, and a ramp is installed in the other 20-foot frame container to facilitate personnel access to the refueling station and support the containers above. During unloading, the frame container can be hoisted out, the hatch covers of the small cargo holds opened, and the containers inside hoisted out. After loading the cargo into the small cargo holds, the frame container is hoisted back in to support the containers above and ensure access to the refueling station via the ramp. This ensures that the small cargo holds can be opened smoothly for easy loading and unloading, while also ensuring that the outermost row of containers on the deck is supported by support columns at the bottom level.

[0016] The aforementioned distributed skid-mounted approach, where skids are sunk between the upward-folding strong crossbeams and longitudinal girder of the methanol storage tank, addresses the installation height issue of the magnetic pump. To mitigate the impact of the fuel preparation compartment's floor height on the methanol supply system during the retrofit, a distributed skid-mounted approach was adopted. Small skids are sunk between the upward-folding strong crossbeams and longitudinal girder of the main structural components, saving approximately 600mm of installation height. The floor of the methanol day tank can be lowered by 600mm. For shipowners with significant day tank capacity requirements, this method effectively avoids the day tank occupying excessive space in the fuel preparation compartment, thus significantly reducing structural weight and streamlining the fuel preparation compartment layout.

[0017] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: during the methanol dual-fuel conversion process, the loss of container space is minimized, reducing the economic losses for ship owners; the use of frame containers effectively solves the technical difficulties of opening the hatch covers of small cargo holds in refueling stations; and the use of a disassembled skid-mounted method combined with a sunken arrangement of skid blocks solves the problems of room height and layout in the fuel preparation room in the conversion scheme, ensuring that the installation height requirements of the methanol supply unit and the methanol day use tank are met without increasing the height of the fuel preparation room, thus minimizing the loss of container space. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 Cross section of the methanol dual-fuel conversion layout scheme for large container ships provided by the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 A methanol refueling station embedded in a frame box;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the frame box;

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the installation height requirements for the methanol supply unit (LFSS) and the methanol day use tank;

[0022] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the layout of the existing pry bar.

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the AA plane;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the skids in the fuel preparation room of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the BB plane. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the present invention more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Example

[0028] This invention provides a methanol dual-fuel conversion scheme for large container ships. Figure 1-8 The image shown is an embodiment of the present invention, as follows: Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-section of the methanol dual-fuel conversion area of ​​a large container ship. The central part of this cargo hold area has been converted into a symmetrical methanol storage tank 1. The original fuel tanks 2 are retained on both sides of the cargo hold. Above the fuel tanks 2, two symmetrical small cargo holds 3 have been converted. The fuel tanks 2, small cargo holds 3 and methanol storage tank 1 are separated by an isolation compartment 4. A fuel preparation room 5 is arranged above the methanol storage tank 1. Small hatch covers 6 are located above the small cargo holds 3. Methanol refueling stations 7 are arranged on both sides above the main deck. Container 1 31 is arranged in the small cargo holds 3. Container 2 61 is arranged above the small hatch covers 6. Container 3 71 is arranged above the methanol refueling station 7. To solve the problems of supporting container 3 71 above the methanol refueling station 7 and opening the small hatch covers 6, a 20-foot frame container 1 8 is placed over the methanol refueling station 7. To facilitate access to the methanol refueling station 7 via the inclined ladder, a frame container 2 9 is also arranged longitudinally.

[0029] Among them, frame box 8 and frame box 9 are movable, such as... Figure 3 As shown, it can be lifted out like a container; ensuring that it does not obstruct the opening of the small hatch cover 6 while ensuring that container three 71 can be effectively supported, thus acting as a movable column. Frame container one 8 is a specially designed frame container that can be placed outside the fixed methanol refueling station 7. Frame container two 9 is also a specially designed frame container that ensures that personnel can enter the refueling station via an inclined ladder.

[0030] The installation height requirements for the methanol supply unit (LFSS) and the methanol day tank are as follows: Figure 4 The standard skid 10 is relatively large and requires a significant amount of space in the fuel preparation room (see...). Figure 5 , 6 For converted container ships, the height of the fuel preparation compartment is limited to minimize the loss of container space. However, the pump inlet of skid 10 and the methanol day tank also have installation height requirements (see...). Figure 4 This results in the methanol daily use tank occupying a large space in the fuel preparation room. Considering that the top strong crossbeam and longitudinal girder 11 of the methanol storage tank 1 are turned upwards, forming a 3044mm×2520mm recess, the present invention disassembles the skid 10 into smaller skids 12 (see...). Figure 7 , 8 The small, disassembled pry bar 12 is placed in the recess, which reduces the installation height of the pry bar by about 600mm, thus solving the floor height problem. At the same time, the methanol storage tank 1 does not need to occupy too much area, greatly improving the layout of the fuel preparation room 5.

[0031] In summary, the methanol dual-fuel conversion layout scheme for large container ships provided by this invention is an innovative and comprehensive design scheme for methanol dual-fuel conversion. This scheme comprehensively considers the characteristics of container ships and the needs of shipowners. It adopts a form of methanol storage tank combined with cargo hold to minimize container space loss. Through the innovative design of small refueling stations, combined with the form of movable frame containers, it solves the problems of opening small hatch covers and supporting containers above the refueling station. By using distributed skids and sunken installation, it solves the floor height requirements of the methanol LFSS fuel supply unit to prevent damage to the magnetic pump. It also optimizes the layout of the fuel preparation room. Verified on actual ships, this is a method with great practical value and promotion potential.

Claims

1. A methanol dual-fuel conversion scheme for large container ships, characterized in that, The cargo hold of a large container ship is converted into a methanol storage tank (1) and two small cargo holds (3) on its sides. The space between the two small cargo holds (3), the top of the methanol storage tank (1), and the small hatch cover (6) above the methanol storage tank (1) serve as a fuel preparation room (5). The fuel tank (2) is arranged below the small cargo holds (3) on both sides. A methanol refueling station (7) is arranged at the outermost container position on the upper deck. The small cargo hold (3) is used to place container one (31). Container two (61) is placed above the small hatch cover (6). Container 3 (71) is placed above the methanol refueling station (7); an isolation compartment (4) is provided between the outer small cargo compartment (3), fuel tank (2) and methanol storage tank (1); the methanol refueling station (7) is located inside frame box 1 (8); the bottom of frame box 1 (8) is an opening for easy insertion of the methanol refueling station (7), and there is no connecting structure in the opening; frame box 2 (9) is arranged in the longitudinal position of the methanol refueling station (7), and frame box 1 (8) and frame box 2 (9) are arranged along the length of the ship, and each is a container space.

2. The methanol dual-fuel conversion and layout scheme for large container ships as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The methanol storage tank (1), small cargo tank (3), and fuel tank (2) are arranged axially symmetrically.

3. The methanol dual-fuel conversion and layout scheme for large container ships as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The methanol refueling station (7) is arranged within the length of a container, and its width does not affect the opening of the hatch cover (6).

4. The methanol dual-fuel conversion and layout scheme for large container ships as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel preparation room (5) is provided with a small skid (12) for installing a methanol supply unit. The bottom of the small skid (12) is below the main structural panel of the fuel preparation room (5).

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