Inland river methanol cargo ship of efficient methanol fuel system

Abstract

The invention relates to an inland river methanol cargo ship, and belongs to the technical field of green ship power. The cargo ship comprises a ship body, an electric propulsion system, a methanol fuel supply system, a methanol fuel generator set, an energy storage system, an energy management system and an intelligent navigation control system. The methanol fuel generator set generates power by taking methanol as single fuel and supplies energy to the propulsion system and the ship power utilization system, the energy storage system is used for peak load shifting and emergency power supply, and the energy management system carries out cooperative scheduling on power generation and energy storage, so that the overall energy efficiency is improved. The intelligent navigation control system realizes navigation assistance and safety control based on multi-sensor fusion. The system has the advantages of being high in energy efficiency, low in emission and good in sailing safety.

Description

An inland waterway methanol cargo ship with an efficient methanol fuel system Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of marine engineering, and in particular to an inland waterway methanol cargo ship with an efficient methanol fuel system. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous expansion of inland waterway shipping, traditional inland cargo ships, primarily powered by internal combustion diesel engines, suffer from high fuel consumption, large pollutant emissions, and low energy efficiency, making it difficult to meet increasingly stringent energy conservation and emission reduction policies and the requirements for green shipping development. Particularly in inland waterways, emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and sulfur oxides have a significant impact on the riparian environment and urban ecology.

[0003] To reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, existing technologies have proposed ship solutions using liquefied natural gas (LNG), dual-fuel power, or battery power. However, these solutions generally suffer from problems such as complex fuel systems, strong dependence on infrastructure, limited energy density, or insufficient adaptability to inland waterways. Furthermore, most solutions still require the retention of traditional diesel fuel systems, making it difficult to achieve a completely clean power system.

[0004] Methanol, as a low-carbon, sulfur-free, and renewable clean fuel, has advantages for inland waterway vessels in terms of combustion characteristics, safety, and storage and transportation conditions. However, in current inland waterway vessel applications, methanol is mostly used as an auxiliary fuel or dual fuel. Its power system, fuel supply system, and energy management methods have not yet formed systematic and engineered solutions for the operating conditions of inland waterway vessels. In particular, there are still technological gaps in stable power supply, electric propulsion coordination, and intelligent navigation adaptation under single methanol fuel conditions.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a methanol-fueled single-fuel ship solution for inland waterway cargo ships, which can achieve clean, efficient and intelligent operation of the power system while meeting the requirements of inland waterway navigation regulations and safety. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To overcome the problems of complex fuel types, high emissions, and low energy efficiency in existing inland waterway cargo ship power systems, this application provides an inland waterway methanol cargo ship with a high-efficiency methanol fuel system. By constructing a power supply system with methanol as the sole fuel, combined with an electric propulsion system, an energy storage system, and an energy management system, the ship's power system achieves efficient and low-emission operation. Furthermore, through the coordinated scheduling of methanol fuel power generation and energy storage systems, the adaptability of the power system to complex navigation conditions in inland waterways is improved. And through an intelligent navigation control system, the navigation status is assisted or autonomously controlled. Under the premise of ensuring navigation safety and compliance with inland waterway navigation rules, the economy, reliability, and intelligence level of ship operation are improved.

[0007] This application provides a high-efficiency methanol fuel system for an inland waterway methanol cargo ship, employing the following technical solution: An inland waterway methanol cargo ship with a high-efficiency methanol fuel system includes a hull, an electric propulsion system, an energy storage system, an energy management system, an intelligent navigation control system, a power system, and a fuel supply system. The fuel supply system is a methanol fuel supply system, configured to continuously supply methanol fuel to the power system as operating fuel. The cargo hold is located in the middle of the hull, with the bow at the front and the electric propulsion system, energy storage system, energy management system, and power system at the rear. The hull is adapted to inland waterways A, B, and C. The low-resistance hull structure of the class waterway, the hull (1) resistance curve is matched with the high-efficiency range of the propulsion motor, and an energy-saving appendage structure is set. The energy-saving appendage structure and the smooth coordination of the twin propeller propulsion reduce the cavitation loss of the propeller blades, so as to reduce the navigation resistance and the energy consumption of the whole ship; the methanol fuel supply system includes interconnected methanol storage units, methanol transportation units, methanol pressure regulating and metering units and methanol supply units; the power system includes at least one methanol fuel generator set. The methanol fuel generator set, through stable operating conditions, combustion characteristic matching and emission control design, ensures that the nitrogen oxide emissions meet the emission requirements of no more than 3.5 g / kWh for inland waterway vessels. The system meets the emission requirements for inland waterway vessels; the power system is adapted to methanol fuel and obtains energy through the methanol supply unit to drive the propulsion system and enable vessel navigation; the energy storage system includes a lithium battery pack for coordinating power supply with the methanol fuel generator set to achieve peak load shaving and valley filling and emergency power supply; the electric propulsion system includes at least two permanent magnet electric propulsion motors and a dual-propeller propulsion device connected to them, the permanent magnet electric propulsion motors are powered by the methanol fuel generator set and / or the lithium battery pack to drive the cargo ship; the energy management system constructs a methanol-electric multi-objective optimization model, which introduces a dynamic resistance compensation factor including real-time water depth and flow velocity data of the inland waterway to achieve a dynamic balance between energy consumption and speed, and coordinates the scheduling of the methanol fuel generator set and the energy storage system, supporting the stable operation of the generator set. The energy storage peak shaving and valley filling mode avoids frequent start-stop of generator sets and realizes dynamic switching between methanol-driven and electric-driven modes. With speed, energy consumption and emissions as constraints, the methanol fuel generator set and energy storage system are coordinated and scheduled to achieve dynamic switching between methanol-driven and electric-driven modes. The intelligent navigation control system is used to sense, make decisions and control the ship's navigation status, realize assisted or autonomous navigation in inland waterways, and comply with the requirements of inland waterway navigation rules and collision avoidance rules during operation, and support manual intervention and takeover.The intelligent navigation control system (5) is based on multi-sensor information fusion. The multi-sensors include radar, AIS, visual cameras, infrared sensors, and GPS. The obstacle avoidance assist is based on DS evidence theory to realize multi-sensor fusion decision-making, to perceive the surrounding environment and navigation status in real time, and to realize course maintenance, speed control, and obstacle avoidance assist functions under the premise of meeting navigation safety rules. The methanol fuel supply system does not contain functional modules for storing, transporting, or supplying non-methanol fuel in its structure. The power supply under normal ship operation is completed by the methanol fuel system. By adopting the above technical solution, the methanol fuel supply system can continuously and stably provide methanol fuel to the power system, ensuring the reliable operation of the ship under different speed and load conditions, while nitrogen oxide emissions are not higher than 3.5%. To achieve clean and low-emission environmental goals, the energy management system, combining lithium battery energy storage systems with methanol fuel generator sets, enables peak shaving and valley filling, fuel economy optimization, and rapid dynamic switching between methanol and electric drive, improving overall energy efficiency and fuel utilization. The low-drag hull design and energy-saving appendages further reduce navigation resistance, allowing the vessel to operate efficiently in Class A, B, and C inland waterways. The intelligent navigation control system uses multi-sensor fusion to achieve real-time perception, decision-making, and control of navigation status, supporting assisted or autonomous navigation and possessing manual intervention and takeover capabilities, improving navigation safety and operational convenience. The electric propulsion system utilizes permanent magnet synchronous motors. The magneto-driven twin-propeller propulsion system balances high torque output with low maintenance requirements, ensuring rapid power response and flexible maneuverability of the vessel. It improves the energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, navigation safety, and automation level of inland waterway cargo ships. Under normal operating conditions, the ship relies entirely on the methanol fuel system for power, without storing or supplying other fuels. This achieves a single and exclusive power source, simplifies the fuel system structure, reduces the potential risk of mixing fuels, ensures the efficient utilization and stable supply of methanol fuel, improves the reliability of the power system, and ensures that the emission characteristics are highly matched with the characteristics of methanol fuel. The ship can achieve low-pollution, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly efficient navigation in inland waterways.

[0008] The methanol fuel supply system also includes a methanol fuel pretreatment unit, which performs filtration, temperature regulation and / or state stabilization treatment on the methanol fuel. The methanol fuel filtration accuracy is ≥5μm, the temperature regulation range is 5-40℃, and the state stabilization treatment includes dehydration and degassing to meet the working requirements of the power system and improve energy utilization efficiency.

[0009] By adopting the above technical solution, methanol fuel undergoes filtration, temperature regulation, and state stabilization treatment in a pretreatment unit before entering the power system. This effectively removes impurities, optimizes fuel properties, ensures the stability and efficiency of combustion and energy conversion processes, improves the utilization efficiency of methanol fuel and the output performance of the power system, reduces the risk of system failures caused by fuel instability, enhances the reliability and safety of the entire vessel operation, and ensures continuity and energy-saving and environmental protection effects during inland waterway navigation.

[0010] Optionally, the power system is a methanol internal combustion engine system, a methanol fuel cell system, or a combination of the two, and its structural parameters, control strategies, and operating logic are matched with the combustion characteristics and energy conversion characteristics of methanol fuel.

[0011] By adopting the above technical solutions, the power system can flexibly select methanol internal combustion engine, methanol fuel cell or a combination of the two, so that the power output is highly matched with the combustion characteristics and energy conversion characteristics of methanol fuel, achieving efficient energy utilization and stable power supply, optimizing propulsion efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, enhancing the system's adaptability to load changes and navigation conditions, improving the reliability and economy of ship operation, and providing environmentally friendly, efficient and safe power guarantee for inland waterway navigation.

[0012] Optionally, the methanol fuel supply system is equipped with a systematic safety design adapted to the physicochemical properties of methanol fuel, including but not limited to leak detection, ventilation, explosion-proof and safety shut-off devices. The leak detection adopts an electrochemical methanol sensor with a detection threshold of ≤1000ppm, the ventilation system has an air exchange frequency of ≥10 times / hour, and the safety shut-off device has a response time of ≤0.5 seconds, so as to meet the safety and regulatory requirements of inland waterway vessel operation.

[0013] By adopting the above technical solutions, the methanol fuel supply system can monitor the fuel status in real time and take protective measures quickly in case of abnormalities, effectively preventing fuel leakage, accumulation or accidental combustion, and ensuring the safety of ships operating in inland waterways.

[0014] Optionally, the energy management system is configured to operate the methanol fuel generator set within a high-efficiency and stable operating range, and the energy storage system is used to absorb load fluctuations, thereby reducing the unit energy consumption of methanol fuel and extending the service life of the power system.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solutions, unit energy consumption is reduced, fuel utilization efficiency is improved, and the service life of key components of the power system is extended, ensuring the stability and reliability of ships under different navigation conditions. This achieves an organic combination of energy saving, durability and efficient operation, and enhances the overall economy and operational benefits of inland methanol cargo ships.

[0016] Optionally, the energy storage system is used as an electrical energy buffer and emergency redundancy energy source, and does not constitute an independent fuel source. Its energy source is the electrical energy generated by the methanol fuel generator set and / or shore-based supplemental electrical energy.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solutions, the energy storage system can serve as an electrical energy buffer and emergency redundant energy source, balancing load fluctuations and providing instantaneous power support during navigation, and ensuring the stable operation of critical systems in case of emergencies. Since its energy source depends entirely on the electrical energy output from the methanol fuel generator set or shore-based supplemental electrical energy, the energy storage system does not constitute an independent fuel source, thus maintaining the single fuel characteristic of ship power.

[0018] Optionally, the electric propulsion system adopts a twin-propeller arrangement to improve propulsion redundancy and maneuverability, making it suitable for narrow inland waterways and complex water conditions.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solutions, the electric propulsion system with a twin propeller arrangement can provide higher propulsion redundancy during navigation. Even if one propulsion unit fails, the other can still maintain normal navigation of the ship, ensure safety, and improve the ship's maneuverability. This enables the ship to achieve precise steering and efficient speed regulation in narrow inland waterways, winding waterways, or complex water environments, improve the ship's maneuverability, reduce the risk of accidents, and adapt to diverse navigation conditions.

[0020] Optionally, the intelligent navigation control system is based on multi-sensor information fusion. The multi-sensor includes radar, AIS, visual camera, infrared sensor and GPS. The obstacle avoidance assistance is based on DS evidence theory to realize multi-sensor fusion decision-making, realize real-time perception of the surrounding environment and navigation status, and realize heading maintenance, speed control and obstacle avoidance assistance functions under the premise of meeting navigation safety rules.

[0021] By adopting the above technical solutions, the intelligent navigation control system can integrate radar, AIS, visual cameras, infrared sensors, and GPS in real time. The obstacle avoidance assistance is based on DS evidence theory to achieve multi-sensor fusion decision-making, accurately perceive the surrounding environment and navigation status, and realize auxiliary functions such as course maintenance, speed control, and obstacle avoidance. During operation, the system strictly follows the inland waterway navigation safety rules and collision avoidance specifications, while supporting the switching between automated decision-making and manual intervention, improving navigation safety and ease of operation, reducing crew workload, and improving the autonomous navigation capability and navigation efficiency of inland waterway cargo ships under complex waterway conditions.

[0022] Optionally, the low-drag hull structure is designed in conjunction with the electric propulsion system, methanol fuel power system, and energy management system to achieve the comprehensive optimization goal of improving the overall energy efficiency and reducing emissions of an inland methanol cargo ship with an efficient methanol fuel system.

[0023] By adopting the above technical solutions, the ship's hull resistance, propulsion efficiency, and energy utilization efficiency are optimally matched, thereby achieving a comprehensive improvement in the ship's energy efficiency, reducing navigation fuel consumption, and reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide through the clean combustion of methanol fuel and efficient energy management, thus achieving energy conservation and emission reduction goals, improving the ship's navigation stability and maneuverability, and meeting the requirements of green inland waterway shipping and environmental protection regulations.

[0024] The energy management system is configured with at least one methanol fuel generator set.

[0025] In summary, this application includes at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: Clean power: This invention targets inland waterway cargo ships, realizes methanol as the sole fuel for power supply, completely replaces the traditional diesel system, significantly reduces emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and carbon dioxide, and meets the requirements for green shipping of inland waterway vessels.

[0026] High-efficiency energy utilization: Through the coordinated scheduling of methanol fuel generator sets and lithium battery energy storage systems, combined with the methanol-electricity multi-objective optimization model, peak shaving and valley filling and dynamic switching of power system load are achieved, thereby improving fuel economy and overall energy efficiency.

[0027] Intelligent navigation: It integrates multi-sensor information fusion, heading / speed control and track tracking algorithms to achieve assisted or autonomous control of the navigation status of inland waterways, supports obstacle recognition, collision avoidance warning and human-machine intervention, and improves navigation safety and automation level.

[0028] Seaworthiness and reliability improved: The hull lines and energy-saving appendages have been optimized through CFD simulation and model testing. Combined with the power system design that matches the characteristics of methanol fuel, it achieves low-drag and high-efficiency navigation, adapts to the operation of inland waterways of Class A, B and C, and ensures system stability and reliability.

[0029] Highly feasible for engineering implementation: The methanol fuel supply system, power system and safety devices are systematically designed and have functions such as filtration, pressure regulation, metering, leak detection and ventilation safety shut-off, realizing an engineering-ready and operable clean power solution for inland waterway cargo ships. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

[0031] Figure 2 is a second schematic diagram of this application.

[0032] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of energy supply to drive output according to an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Hull; 101. Bow; 2. Electric propulsion system; 3. Energy storage system; 4. Energy management system; 5. Intelligent navigation control system; 6. Power system and fuel supply system. Detailed Implementation

[0034] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to Figures 1-3.

[0035] This application discloses an inland waterway methanol cargo ship with an efficient methanol fuel system. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the vessel includes a hull 1, an electric propulsion system 2, an energy storage system 3, an energy management system 4, an intelligent navigation control system 5, a power system 7, and a fuel supply system 6. The power system and fuel supply system 6 are methanol fuel supply systems, and their structural configuration is used to continuously supply methanol fuel to the power system as operating fuel. The middle of the hull 1 is the cargo hold, the front of the cargo hold is the bridge, and the rear of the cargo hold includes the electric propulsion system 2, the energy storage system 3, the energy management system 4, and the power system 7. The hull 1 is a low-resistance hull structure adapted to Class A, B, and C inland waterways. The hull shape has been optimized through CFD simulation and model testing, and energy-saving appendage structures have been incorporated to reduce navigation resistance and overall vessel energy consumption. The methanol fuel supply system 6 includes interconnected methanol storage units, methanol transportation units, methanol pressure regulating and metering units, and methanol supply units. The power system includes at least one methanol fuel generator set; in practice, the basic configuration is two or more. The methanol fuel generator set, through stable operating conditions, combustion characteristic matching, and emission control design, ensures that nitrogen oxide emissions do not exceed 3%.The emission requirement for inland waterway vessels is 5 g / kWh; the power system 7 is a power system adapted to methanol fuel, and obtains energy through a methanol supply unit to drive the propulsion system to achieve ship navigation; the energy storage system 3 includes a lithium battery pack, which is used to cooperate with the methanol fuel generator set to provide power, realize load peak shaving and valley filling and emergency power supply; the electric propulsion system 2 includes at least two permanent magnet electric propulsion motors and a twin-propeller propulsion device connected to them. The permanent magnet electric propulsion motors are powered by the methanol fuel generator set and / or the lithium battery pack to drive the cargo ship; the energy management system 4 constructs a methanol-electric multi-objective optimization model, using speed, energy consumption and emissions as constraints, to coordinate the scheduling of the methanol fuel generator set and the energy storage system to realize dynamic switching between methanol drive and electric drive; the intelligent navigation control system 5 is used to sense the ship's navigation status. The system enables decision-making and control, achieving assisted or autonomous navigation in inland waterways while complying with inland waterway navigation and collision avoidance rules, and supporting manual intervention and takeover. Inland methanol cargo ships achieve comprehensive improvements in safety, energy efficiency, emissions, and operational reliability by integrating a methanol-only fuel power system, an electric propulsion system, an energy storage system, an energy management system, and a low-resistance hull structure. The methanol-only fuel supply system is highly matched with the methanol-fueled generator set in terms of structure and control strategy, ensuring stable and efficient operation of the power system within a high-efficiency operating range, effectively reducing nitrogen oxide and other pollutant emissions, meeting and exceeding inland waterway emission control requirements, and improving the ship's environmental performance and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the low-resistance hull lines are optimized through CFD simulation and model testing, supplemented by energy-saving appendages, coordinating the hull's hydrodynamic performance with electric propulsion characteristics, enabling successful navigation in typical inland waterways A, B, and C. Under waterway conditions, this system effectively reduces navigation resistance and propulsion power requirements, thereby reducing fuel consumption at the source. The methanol-fueled generator set and lithium-ion battery energy storage system, through coordinated scheduling by the energy management system, achieve load peak shaving and valley filling, and dynamic energy distribution. This prevents frequent start-stops and inefficient operation of the generator set, reducing unit energy consumption and extending the service life of the power system. Simultaneously, it provides reliable electrical support under sudden operating conditions or short-term high power demands. The twin-propeller electric propulsion arrangement further improves propulsion redundancy and maneuverability, enhancing the ship's safety and maneuverability in narrow channels and complex waters. The intelligent navigation control system 5, based on multi-sensor fusion, provides real-time perception of the navigation environment and ship status. While meeting inland waterway navigation and collision avoidance rules, it achieves course maintenance, speed control, and assisted obstacle avoidance, improving navigation safety and reducing the operational burden on the crew. The coordinated operation of these systems achieves comprehensive technical effects: efficient utilization of methanol energy, stable and reliable electric propulsion, optimized overall ship energy efficiency, and significantly reduced emissions. This provides an engineering-feasible application for green, low-carbon, highly safe, and highly intelligent inland waterway methanol cargo ships.

[0036] Referring to Figure 3, in the actual operation of the energy storage system 3, power system 7, methanol fuel supply system 6, and electric propulsion system 2, the methanol fuel supply system provides driving energy to the methanol generator set / range extender. The methanol generator set / range extender provides driving energy linearly connected to the DC integrated distribution cabinet, which provides energy and balances and integrates it electrically. The DC integrated distribution cabinet is electrically connected to the battery pack of the energy storage system 3, serving as an auxiliary supplement to the DC integrated distribution cabinet's power supply. The DC integrated distribution cabinet is electrically connected to several transformers, which are then electrically connected to the daily power distribution cabinet to provide power for daily use within the hull 1. The DC integrated distribution cabinet is electrically connected to two symmetrically distributed propulsion motors of the electric propulsion system 2. The other end of each propulsion motor is connected to a reducer, and the other end of the coupling is connected to a gearbox. The other end of the gearbox is connected to the shaft of the propeller for transmission. In the actual operating architecture, the methanol fuel supply system continuously and stably provides a single fuel source to the methanol generator set / range extender. The generator set efficiently converts the chemical energy of the methanol fuel into electrical energy and connects it linearly to the DC integrated distribution cabinet, achieving centralized collection, balanced distribution, and unified management of electrical energy. The battery packs in the energy storage system serve as a power supplement and buffer unit for the DC integrated switch cabinet. They can quickly release or absorb electrical energy when there are sudden load changes, peak power demands, or insufficient transient response of the generator set, thereby stabilizing the DC bus voltage and improving the dynamic response capability and operational reliability of the entire ship's power supply system. At the same time, the DC integrated switch cabinet supplies power to several transformers, which, after transformation and distribution, provide stable power to the daily power distribution cabinets in the ship's hull, ensuring a safe and continuous supply of electricity for navigation, operations, and daily life. This achieves effective isolation and coordination between power supply and daily power consumption. The DC integrated switch cabinet also directly supplies power to two symmetrically arranged propulsion motors. After the electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy by the propulsion motors, it is transmitted to the propulsion shaft system step by step through the reducer, coupling, and gearbox. While ensuring transmission efficiency, it achieves a reasonable match between speed and torque. The integrated energy transmission path of electric-mechanical-shaft makes the methanol power generation, energy storage regulation, and electric propulsion form a clear, efficient, and highly redundant system structure, improving the energy efficiency and reliability of the propulsion system and enhancing the operational stability and safety of the entire ship under complex inland waterway conditions.

[0037] Example 1 is an example of a methanol-fueled electric propulsion cargo ship designed for conventional inland waterway transportation. Its structure is consistent with that shown in Figures 1-3. The cargo ship uses methanol as its sole operating fuel and employs a DC bus-type power architecture consisting of a methanol fuel generator set, a lithium battery energy storage system, and an electric propulsion system. The hull features a low-drag hull design, with a standardized cargo hold located in the middle. The bridge is situated at the front of the cargo hold, while the propulsion system 7, fuel supply system 6, energy storage system 3, electric propulsion system 2, and energy management system 4 are centrally located at the rear, forming a compact and highly integrated powerhouse layout. The hull lines were optimized through a combination of CFD simulation and model testing. Energy-saving appendages were incorporated at the bow and stern to reduce wave-making and viscous drag. The propulsion system 7 includes two methanol fuel generator sets, which are connected only to the methanol fuel supply system 6, without any diesel, natural gas, or other fuel interfaces. The methanol fuel supply system sequentially includes a methanol storage unit, a transportation unit, a pressure regulating and metering unit, and a supply unit, ensuring a stable and safe supply of methanol to the generator sets under different operating conditions. Under the control of the energy management system 4, the generator set operates in a stable operating range with high efficiency and low emissions, ensuring that nitrogen oxide emissions meet or exceed the inland waterway emission requirement of 3.5 g / kWh. The electrical energy output from the generator set is centrally collected through a DC integrated distribution cabinet and distributed to the electric propulsion system 2, energy storage system 3, and daily power distribution system. The energy storage system 3 uses lithium battery packs to absorb propulsion load fluctuations and provide emergency power, assisting in power supply during berthing, unberthing, acceleration, or short-term high-load conditions, thereby reducing frequent start-stop of the generator set. The electric propulsion system 2 adopts a dual permanent magnet synchronous propulsion motor + dual-propeller propulsion arrangement. The propulsion motors are connected to the propeller shaft system via reducers, couplings, and gearboxes, improving propulsion redundancy and operational flexibility. This embodiment has a simple structure, high reliability, and is suitable for conventional inland waterway freight scenarios, demonstrating good engineering feasibility.

[0038] Example 2 is a methanol-electric propulsion cargo ship that balances energy saving and intelligent operation. Building upon Example 1, it further emphasizes the synergistic application of energy management optimization and intelligent navigation control, making it suitable for inland waterways with complex routes and frequently changing navigation conditions. The energy management system 4 constructs a multi-objective optimization model with methanol power generation efficiency, energy storage status, electric propulsion load, and emission levels as core parameters. The system collects propulsion power demand, battery state of charge, and navigation condition information in real time, dynamically adjusting the number of methanol fuel generator sets to start and stop and the output power, prioritizing the generator sets to operate in the high-efficiency range. The energy storage system 3 mainly undertakes transient power regulation and energy buffering functions, thereby reducing methanol unit energy consumption and extending power range. System lifespan; In this embodiment, the intelligent navigation control system 5 interacts with the energy management system, acquiring information on the ship's position, speed, course, surrounding vessels, and waterway environment through multi-sensor fusion. Under the premise of complying with inland waterway navigation rules and collision avoidance rules, it achieves optimized speed control, course maintenance, and assisted obstacle avoidance. When the navigation environment permits, the system can automatically select an economical speed range to reduce propulsion power requirements, thereby further reducing methanol fuel consumption. Regarding the power architecture, the methanol fuel supply system 6, power system 7, electric propulsion system 2, and energy storage system 3 are still managed uniformly through a DC integrated distribution cabinet, forming a clear energy transfer path of "methanol power generation—DC bus—electric propulsion." The DC integrated distribution cabinet supplies power to the propulsion motor and the daily power distribution system separately, achieving electrical isolation between power and domestic power consumption, and improving the overall ship power supply safety. While maintaining the single fuel attribute and high safety of methanol, it achieves synergistic improvement in energy efficiency optimization, intelligent assisted navigation, and low-emission operation, making it particularly suitable for inland waterway intelligent methanol cargo ship application scenarios that require both energy-saving operation and navigation safety.

[0039] The implementation principle of an inland waterway methanol cargo ship with a high-efficiency methanol fuel system according to an embodiment of this application is as follows: Aiming for green, low-carbon, high-safety, and high-efficiency operation of the inland waterway cargo ship, an integrated power system of power generation, energy storage, and electric propulsion is constructed, using methanol as the sole operating fuel. This achieves efficient, stable, and controllable utilization of methanol energy in ship propulsion and electricity consumption scenarios. The implementation involves using a methanol fuel supply system to continuously and stably deliver methanol fuel to the methanol fuel generator set, allowing the methanol fuel to burn under operating conditions matching its combustion and energy conversion characteristics, efficiently converting chemical energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy is then centrally collected, uniformly managed, and flexibly distributed through a DC integrated distribution cabinet. The methanol fuel generator set, as the main energy unit, prioritizes operation in a stable operating range with high efficiency and low emissions. Its output electrical energy is supplied to the electric propulsion system, energy storage system, and ship daily power distribution system via a DC bus. The energy storage system, as an electrical energy buffer and auxiliary unit, is used to absorb propulsion load fluctuations and... To address transient power demand changes, stabilize the DC bus voltage, reduce frequent generator start-stops and inefficient operation, and improve the dynamic response and reliability of the entire ship's power supply system, the electric propulsion system directly utilizes DC bus power to drive permanent magnet synchronous propulsion motors. The electrical energy is then converted into mechanical energy by the propellers via a mechanical transmission system, enabling ship propulsion. An energy management system coordinates the scheduling of methanol fuel generators and energy storage systems, dynamically optimizing energy allocation strategies based on speed requirements, load changes, and emission constraints, ensuring that the generators, energy storage systems, and electric propulsion system are always in optimal overall operating condition. The low-resistance hull structure is designed in conjunction with the propulsion system to reduce propulsion power requirements at the source, further improving methanol energy utilization efficiency. The intelligent navigation control system, based on multi-sensor information fusion, provides real-time perception of the navigation environment and ship status, and optimizes course and speed control while complying with inland waterway navigation and collision avoidance rules, further reducing energy consumption and enhancing safety at the operational level.

[0040] The above are all preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of this application should be covered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An inland waterway methanol cargo ship with a high-efficiency methanol fuel system, characterized in that: The vessel includes a hull (1), an electric propulsion system (2), an energy storage system (3), an energy management system (4), an intelligent navigation control system (5), a power system (7), and a fuel supply system (6). The power system and fuel supply system (6) are methanol fuel supply systems, and their structure is configured to continuously supply methanol fuel to the power system as operating fuel. The middle of the hull (1) is a cargo hold, and the rear end of the cargo hold includes the electric propulsion system (2), the energy storage system (3), the energy management system (4), and the power system (7). The hull (1) is adapted to inland waterways A, B, and C. The low-resistance hull structure of the class waterway has a hull (1) resistance curve that matches the high-efficiency range of the propulsion motor, and is equipped with an energy-saving appendage structure. The energy-saving appendage structure and the smooth coordination of the twin propeller propulsion reduce the cavitation loss of the propeller blades, thereby reducing the sailing resistance and the overall energy consumption of the ship. The methanol fuel supply system (6) includes interconnected methanol storage units, methanol transportation units, methanol pressure regulating and metering units, and methanol supply units. The power system includes at least one methanol fuel generator set. The methanol fuel generator set, through stable operating conditions, combustion characteristic matching, and emission control design, ensures that nitrogen oxide emissions do not exceed 3.5 g / kWh. The emission requirements for inland waterway vessels; the power system (7) is a power system adapted to methanol fuel, and obtains energy through the methanol supply unit to drive the propulsion system to realize the navigation of the vessel; the energy storage system (3) includes a lithium battery pack, which is used to work with the methanol fuel generator set to supply power, realize load peak shaving and valley filling and emergency power supply; the electric propulsion system (2) includes at least two permanent magnet electric propulsion motors and a dual propeller propulsion device connected to them, the permanent magnet electric propulsion motors are powered by the methanol fuel generator set and / or lithium battery pack, and are used to drive the cargo ship to navigate; the energy management system (4) constructs a methanol-electric multi-objective optimization model, the model introduces the resistance dynamic compensation factor of inland waterway including real-time water depth and flow velocity data, realizes the dynamic balance between energy consumption and speed, and coordinates the scheduling of methanol fuel generator set and energy storage system, the coordinated scheduling supports the stable operation of generator set + The energy storage peak shaving and valley filling mode avoids frequent start-stop of generator sets and realizes dynamic switching between methanol drive and electric drive; the intelligent navigation control system (5) is used to perceive, make decisions and control the ship's navigation status, realize assisted or autonomous navigation in inland waterways, and comply with the requirements of inland waterway navigation rules and collision avoidance rules during operation, and supports manual intervention and takeover; the methanol fuel supply system (6) does not contain functional modules for storing, transporting or supplying non-methanol fuel in its structure, and the power supply under normal ship operation is completed by the methanol fuel system.

2. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The methanol fuel supply system (6) also includes a methanol fuel pretreatment unit, which performs filtration, temperature regulation and / or state stabilization treatment on the methanol fuel. The methanol fuel filtration accuracy is ≥5μm, the temperature regulation range is 5-40℃, and the state stabilization treatment includes dehydration and degassing to meet the working requirements of the power system and improve energy utilization efficiency.

3. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The power system (7) is a methanol internal combustion engine system, a methanol fuel cell system, or a combination of the two, and its structural parameters, control strategies, and operating logic are matched with the combustion characteristics and energy conversion characteristics of methanol fuel.

4. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The methanol fuel supply system (6) is equipped with a systematic safety design adapted to the physicochemical properties of methanol fuel, including but not limited to leak detection, ventilation, explosion-proof and safety shut-off devices. The leak detection adopts an electrochemical methanol sensor with a detection threshold of ≤1000ppm. The ventilation system has an air exchange frequency of ≥10 times / hour. The safety shut-off device has a response time of ≤0.5 seconds to meet the safety and regulatory requirements of inland waterway vessel operation.

5. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The energy management system is configured (4) to enable the methanol fuel generator set to operate in a high-efficiency and stable operating range. The energy storage system is used to absorb load fluctuations, thereby reducing the unit energy consumption of methanol fuel and extending the service life of the power system.

6. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The energy storage system (3) is used as an electrical energy buffer and emergency redundancy energy source and does not constitute an independent fuel source. Its energy source is the electrical energy generated by the methanol fuel generator set and / or shore-based supplementary electrical energy.

7. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The electric propulsion system (2) adopts a twin-propeller arrangement to improve propulsion redundancy and maneuverability, and is suitable for narrow inland waterways and complex water conditions.

8. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The intelligent navigation control system (5) is based on multi-sensor information fusion. The multi-sensor includes radar, AIS, visual camera, infrared sensor and GPS. The obstacle avoidance assistance is based on DS evidence theory to realize multi-sensor fusion decision-making, to perceive the surrounding environment and navigation status in real time, and to realize heading maintenance, speed control and obstacle avoidance assistance functions under the premise of meeting navigation safety rules.

9. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The low-drag hull (1) structure works in conjunction with the electric propulsion system (2), fuel power system (7) and energy management system (4) to achieve the comprehensive optimization goal of improving the overall energy efficiency and reducing emissions of an inland methanol cargo ship with an efficient methanol fuel system.

10. The inland waterway methanol cargo ship as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The energy management system configuration (4) includes at least one methanol fuel generator set.

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