Fuel tank arrangement, ship and method for cooling fuel comprising ammonia

Abstract

A fuel tank arrangement (1) for a ship (2) comprises a fuel tank (3) comprising a housing (4) defining a fuel space (5) for storing fuel within the housing (4) and a tank connection space (6) connected to the fuel tank (3). The tank connection space (6) comprises: a gas-tight compartment containing a tank penetration and a tank valve (7) for fuel, the inlet of the tank connection space (6) being provided by a first space (26) comprising a gas-tight compartment isolated from the tank connection space (6); and a first fuel outlet (8) provided in the housing (4) of the fuel tank (3), located within the tank connection space (6) and connected to a first fuel line (9). The tank connection space (6) further comprises a first fuel inlet (10) connected to the second fuel line (11) and a first heat exchanger (14) arranged downstream of the first fuel line (9) and upstream of the second fuel line (11). The first fuel outlet (8) is arranged in the region of at least 30% of the fuel space (5) of the fuel tank (3) for connecting the fuel tank (3) to the first fuel line (9), the first fuel line (9), the second fuel line (11) and the first heat exchanger (14) forming at least part of a subcooling circuit (28) for the fuel, wherein the first heat exchanger (14) is configured to cool fuel provided in the subcooling circuit, and the subcooling circuit (28) is provided within the tank connection space (6).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to ships, and more specifically to fuel tank assemblies and methods for cooling fuels containing ammonia. Background Technology

[0002] Fuels used in marine vessels, such as ammonia, may be hazardous and / or explosive, or may result in hazardous and / or explosive mixtures or compounds, for example, when combined with air. This must be considered when designing structures for holding, transferring, and handling such fuels. For example, tank penetrations, piping, instrumentation, access ports, and similar structures associated with fuel tanks are considered potential risk areas for leaks. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a new fuel tank device, a vessel, and a method for cooling fuel containing ammonia.

[0004] The objective of this disclosure is achieved by a method and apparatus characterized by the features described in the independent claims. Some embodiments of this disclosure are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0005] This disclosure is based on an apparatus in which a fuel subcooling circuit is provided within the airtight tank connection space of the fuel tank.

[0006] The advantage of the method and apparatus disclosed herein is that liquid fuel from the fuel tank can be cooled and returned to the fuel tank within an airtight space connected to the fuel tank. Therefore, even if a possible leak occurs, it will be safely contained within the tank connection space. Attached Figure Description

[0007] In the following, the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, wherein...

[0008] Figures 1 to 11 Different embodiments of the fuel tank device are schematically illustrated. Figure 12 A cooling system according to an embodiment is schematically illustrated. Figure 13 The ship is shown schematically, and Figure 14 A method for cooling fuel containing ammonia is illustrated schematically.

[0009] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes and are not shown to scale. Similar features in the drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals. For clarity, not all features are provided with reference numerals in all drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0010] This disclosure relates to fuel tank installations for ships, ships, and methods for cooling fuels containing ammonia.

[0011] Figures 1 to 11 Different embodiments of the fuel tank device 1 are illustrated schematically.

[0012] According to one aspect, the fuel tank device 1, more specifically a fuel tank device 1 suitable for a vessel 2, includes a fuel tank 3. The fuel tank 3 includes a housing 4. The housing 4 defines a fuel space 5 within itself for storing fuel.

[0013] The fuel tank assembly 1 also includes a tank connection space 6 connected to the fuel tank 3. The tank connection space 6 includes an airtight compartment accommodating a tank through-hole and a tank valve 7 for fuel, an inlet provided through a first space 26 to the tank connection space 6, a first fuel outlet 8, and a first fuel inlet 10. In other words, the tank through-hole and the tank valve for fuel, preferably all of them, can be disposed within the tank connection space 6. The tank through-hole refers to a through-hole disposed in the housing 4 of the fuel tank 3 for conveying fuel in and out of the fuel space 5. The tank through-hole may include, for example, fuel inlets and fuel outlets mentioned in this disclosure, such as the first fuel outlet 8, the first fuel inlet 9, the second fuel outlet 19, the second fuel inlet 24, etc. The tank valve 7 may include tank-related valves for fuel, such as those shown in the figures.

[0014] The first space 26 includes an airtight compartment isolated from the tank connection space 6.

[0015] A first fuel outlet 8 is disposed within the tank connection space 6 in the housing 4 of the fuel tank 3 and connected to a first fuel line 9. The first fuel outlet 8 is located in the lowest 30% region of the fuel space 5 of the fuel tank 3 for connecting the fuel tank 3 to the first fuel line 9. According to an embodiment, the first fuel outlet 8, located in the lowest 30% region of the fuel space 5, allows liquid fuel to be received into the first fuel line 9 via the first fuel outlet 8. According to an embodiment, the first fuel outlet 8 may be located in the lowest 20% region of the fuel space 5, preferably in the lowest 10% region of the fuel space 5, and most preferably, the first fuel outlet 8 may be located in the bottom 12 of the fuel space 5.

[0016] The first fuel inlet 10 is located in the housing 4, within the tank connection space 6, and connected to the second fuel line 11.

[0017] The tank connection space 6 also includes a first heat exchanger 14 located downstream of the first fuel line 9 and upstream of the second fuel line 11.

[0018] The first fuel line 9, the second fuel line 11, and the first heat exchanger 14 form at least a portion of a subcooling circuit 28 for fuel, wherein the first heat exchanger 14 is configured to cool the fuel supplied in the subcooling circuit. According to an embodiment, the first heat exchanger 14 is configured to cool the fuel in the subcooling circuit 28. In the fuel tank assembly 1, the subcooling circuit 28 is disposed within the tank connection space 6. In other words, fuel is thus held within the tank connection space 6 along the subcooling circuit 28. An advantage is that the subcooling circuit 28 is disposed within an airtight space isolated from the surrounding space, whereby, for example, fuel leakage can be controlled and confined to the tank connection space 6. According to an embodiment, the fuel in the subcooling circuit can be kept in the liquid phase along the entire subcooling circuit 28.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the passageway (such as a hatch or door) between the first space 26 and the tank connection space 6 may be bolted together. According to an embodiment, the first space 26 may include a basic airlock space. According to an embodiment, the passageway to the first space 26 may be configured to be closed by a lock suitable for the basic airlock space.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the tank connection space 6 may be provided with a first ventilation device (not shown), and the first space 26 may be provided with a second ventilation device (not shown), thereby allowing the first space 26 and the tank connection space 6 to be ventilated separately from each other. The tank connection space 6 may, for example, be provided with a first ventilation inlet (not shown) and a first ventilation outlet (not shown), the first ventilation inlet being configured to connect the tank connection space 6 to an inlet ventilation duct (not shown), and the first ventilation outlet being configured to connect the tank connection space 6 to an outlet ventilation duct (not shown).

[0021] According to an embodiment, ventilation of the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26 is configured to be arranged and / or controlled individually in such a way that ventilation in each space 6, 26 can be individually determined and controlled according to different needs and requirements. This can be provided by providing separate ventilation inlet ducts and / or separate ventilation outlet ducts for the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26. Therefore, the ventilation inlet ducts and / or ventilation outlet ducts for each of the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26 may include separate ducts that are not connected to each other.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the outlet ventilation duct may be isolated from the tank holding space. In other words, the contents of the outlet ventilation duct may be isolated from the tank holding space surrounding the fuel tank 3, the tank connection space 6, and the first space 26. According to an embodiment, the outlet ventilation duct may be configured to direct outlet air from the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26 to outside air outside the tank holding space. According to an embodiment, the outlet ventilation duct may include separate ducts or lines for outlet air from the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26, which are not connected to each other in any way, or the ducts or lines connected to the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26 may be connected to each other at a point inside the tank holding space or outside the hull of the vessel 2.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the inlet ventilation duct can be isolated from the tank holding space. In other words, the contents of the inlet ventilation duct can be isolated from the tank holding space. According to an embodiment, the inlet ventilation duct can be configured to direct inlet air to the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26. According to an embodiment, the inlet ventilation duct can include separate ducts or lines for directing inlet air to the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26, these separate ducts not connected to each other in any way, or the ducts or lines connected to the tank connection space 6 and the first space 26 can be connected to each other at a point within the tank holding space or outside the hull of the vessel 2.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the first space 26 and / or the tank connection space 6 can be configured for ventilation, i.e., ventilation via a first ventilation inlet and a first ventilation outlet, with at least 10 air changes per hour. In other words, an air volume equal to at least 10 times the volume of the first space 26 and / or the tank connection space 6 can be supplied to and from the first space 26 and / or the tank connection space 6 respectively within one hour. According to an embodiment, the first space 26 and / or the tank connection space 6 can be configured for at least 30 air changes per hour. According to an embodiment, the first space 26 and / or the tank connection space 6 can be configured for ventilation during normal operation of the fuel tank 3, or continuously for at least 10 air changes per hour, and preferably at least 30 air changes per hour.

[0025] According to an embodiment, ventilation includes suction-based ventilation. In other words, ventilation can be achieved by suction (in other words, low pressure) rather than by providing pressurized air. According to an embodiment, the first ventilation device and / or the second ventilation device may be equipped with a gas detector (not shown) configured to detect leaks from the fuel tank 3 to the tank connection space 6. In other words, the gas detector may be configured to be in fluid connection with the tank connection space 6. This can be advantageous because leaks from the fuel tank to the tank connection space 6 can be detected early, and safety can be ensured before maintenance personnel enter the tank connection space 6, for example, to maintain the subcooling circuit 28.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the subcooling circuit 28 further includes a first pump 13 for circulating fuel within the subcooling circuit 28. In other words, the first pump 13 may be configured to deliver fuel from a first fuel outlet 8 via a first fuel line 9 to a first heat exchanger 14 and further via a second fuel line 11 to a first fuel inlet 10. In other words, the first pump 13 may be fluidly connected to the first fuel outlet 8, the first fuel line 9, the first heat exchanger 14, the second fuel line 11, and the first fuel inlet 10. In this disclosure, a pump (such as the first pump 13) refers to a device capable of delivering fuel (especially liquid fuel) in a circuit (such as the subcooling circuit 28). According to an embodiment, the first pump 13 may include means not intended for delivering fluids (e.g., fuel) in gaseous form.

[0027] According to an embodiment, the first heat exchanger 14 is located downstream of the first pump 13. In other words, the first pump 13 can be located upstream of the first heat exchanger 14, for example... Figures 1 to 10 As shown in the embodiment. According to the embodiment, the first heat exchanger 14 can be located upstream of the first pump 13, such as... Figure 11 As shown.

[0028] According to an embodiment, the subcooling circuit 28 may form part of the fuel cooling system 27. According to an embodiment, the cooling system 27 may further include a cooling unit 15. According to an embodiment, the cooling unit 15 may include a heat pump. According to an embodiment, the cooling unit 15 may include an electric heat pump. According to an embodiment, the cooling unit 15 may be disposed in a second space 29 outside the tank connection space 6. An advantage of such an embodiment is that, for example, the cooling unit 15 does not heat the tank connection space 6. The second space 29 may preferably include a so-called safety area, thereby separating the second space 29 from areas intentionally or potentially containing fuel (e.g., gaseous fuel leaks). The safety area may include a safety area for electrical equipment, such as an area conforming to applicable safety standards. Such an embodiment may also be advantageous because the tank connection space 6 can be made quite small.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the tank connection space 6 also includes a third fuel line 17 configured to supply fuel to one or more consumption devices 18. In other words, the third fuel line 17 can connect the fuel tank 3 directly or via other fuel lines to one or more consumption devices 18. According to an embodiment, the subcooling circuit 28 and the fuel supply to one or more consumption devices 18 can share a first fuel outlet 8, a first fuel line 9, and a first pump 13, whereby the same first pump 13 is configured to circulate fuel in the subcooling circuit and deliver fuel to the consumption devices 18. In other words, the first pump 13 can be connected to both the subcooling circuit 28 and the third fuel line 17, for example in… Figure 3 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 The embodiment shown.

[0030] According to another embodiment, the tank connection space 6 may further include a second fuel outlet 19 disposed within the housing 4 and located inside the tank connection space 6, wherein the second fuel outlet 19 may be connected to a third fuel line 17. In other words, the third fuel line 17, configured to supply fuel to one or more consumption devices 18, may be isolated from the subcooling circuit 28, such as in… Figure 4 , Figure 6 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The embodiments shown. According to the embodiments, for example... Figure 6 In one embodiment, the second pump 21 may be configured to be fluidly connected to the second fuel outlet 19 and the third fuel line 17. The second pump 21 may be configured to deliver fuel from the second fuel outlet 19 via the third fuel line 17 to one or more consumption devices 18.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the second fuel outlet 19 may be located in the upper 20% region of the fuel space 5. This may be advantageous in some embodiments because it allows for the connection of gaseous fuel to the third fuel line 17. According to another embodiment, the second fuel outlet 19 may be located in the top 20 of the fuel space 5.

[0032] According to another embodiment, a second fuel outlet 19 may be located in the lowest 20% region of the fuel space 5 for connecting fuel to a third fuel line 17. According to another embodiment, the second fuel outlet 19 may be located in the bottom 12 of the fuel space 5.

[0033] According to an embodiment, a device 22 for heating fuel to be supplied to one or more consumption devices 18 may be provided in a third fuel line 17, upstream of the consumption devices 18, such as in... Figure 9In the illustrated embodiment, for example, it may be advantageous to supply gaseous fuel to a consumable device (such as an engine). According to an embodiment, a device 22 for heating fuel to be supplied to one or more consumable devices 18 may be located outside the tank connection space 6.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the first fuel line 9 between the first fuel outlet 8 and the first pump 13 does not include any equipment for heating the fuel received from the fuel tank 3. Therefore, in the subcooling circuit 28, the temperature of the fuel may only be affected by cooling the fuel. According to an embodiment, the fuel can thus be kept in a liquid phase along the subcooling circuit including the first heat exchanger 14.

[0035] According to an embodiment, the tank connection space 6 may further include a return line 23 for receiving excess fuel from one or more consumption devices 18, for example in... Figure 7 and Figure 10 In the illustrated embodiment, according to the embodiment, the return line 23 can be connected to the fuel tank 3 (such as in...) via the second fuel line 11. Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment), or connected to a second fuel inlet 24 disposed in the housing 4 and located inside the tank connection space 6 (such as in Figure 10 (as shown in the embodiment).

[0036] According to an embodiment, at least one consumable device 18 includes an engine, such as an internal combustion engine.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the subcooling circuit 28 may further include a recirculation line 16 that connects a second fuel line 11 downstream of the first heat exchanger 14 to a first fuel line 9 upstream of the first pump 13. According to such an embodiment, fuel, or a portion of fuel, may be recirculated in the subcooling circuit 28 to circulate through the first heat exchanger 14 more than once, for example, to further cool the fuel.

[0038] According to an embodiment, the tank connection space 6 may further include an auxiliary tank 25, which is disposed downstream of the first heat exchanger 14 and upstream of the first fuel inlet 10, for example in... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The illustrated embodiment.

[0039] Figure 13 Ship 2 is shown schematically.

[0040] According to one aspect, the vessel 2 includes a fuel tank device 1 comprising embodiments or combinations thereof disclosed in this specification and / or the appended claims and / or drawings.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the fuel tank 3 may be located below the deck of the vessel 2. According to an embodiment, the tank holding space (not shown) includes the space surrounding the fuel tank 3, the tank connection space 6, and the first space 26.

[0042] Figure 14 A method for cooling fuel containing ammonia is illustrated schematically.

[0043] According to one aspect, a method for cooling ammonia-containing fuel includes cooling 145 ammonia-containing fuel in a fuel tank device 1 of an embodiment or combination of embodiments disclosed in this specification and / or the appended claims and / or drawings.

[0044] According to an embodiment, the method includes storing fuel including ammonia 141 in a fuel space 5 within a housing 4, and circulating fuel in a subcooling circuit 28 within a tank connection space 6 from a first fuel outlet 8 via a first fuel line 9 and via a second fuel line 11 to a first fuel inlet 10 via a circulation 143.

[0045] According to an embodiment, the ammonia fuel remains in liquid form during circulation in the subcooled circuit 28.

[0046] According to an embodiment, circulating fuel in the subcooled circuit includes circulating fuel from the first fuel line 9 to the first heat exchanger 14 via the first pump 13, cooling the fuel in the first heat exchanger 14, and returning the fuel from the first heat exchanger 14 to the fuel tank 3 via the second fuel line 11.

Claims

1. A fuel tank device for a ship, wherein the fuel tank device includes... Fuel tank, the fuel tank comprising: A housing, within which a fuel space is defined for storing fuel; and a tank connection space, the tank connection space being connected to the fuel tank, wherein the tank connection space includes An airtight compartment comprising a tank penetration and a tank valve for fuel, wherein the inlet to the tank connection space is provided via a first space comprising an airtight compartment isolated from the tank connection space, and A first fuel outlet, wherein the first fuel outlet is disposed within the shell of the fuel tank, located within the tank connection space, and connected to a first fuel pipeline, is characterized in that... The tank connection space also includes A first fuel inlet, disposed within the housing, located within the tank connection space, and connected to a second fuel line, and A first heat exchanger is disposed downstream of the first fuel line and upstream of the second fuel line, wherein... The first fuel outlet is located in the lowest 30% area of ​​the fuel space of the fuel tank, for connecting the fuel tank to the first fuel line. The first fuel line, the second fuel line, and the first heat exchanger form at least a portion of a subcooling circuit for the fuel, wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to cool the fuel disposed in the subcooling circuit, and The subcooling circuit is located within the tank connection space.

2. The fuel tank device according to claim 1, wherein, The subcooling circuit also includes a first pump for circulating the fuel in the subcooling circuit.

3. The fuel tank device according to claim 2, wherein, The first heat exchanger is located downstream of the first pump.

4. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The subcooling circuit forms part of the fuel cooling system, which further includes a cooling unit.

5. The fuel tank device according to claim 4, wherein, The cooling unit is located in a second space outside the tank connection space.

6. The fuel tank device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The cooling unit includes a heat pump.

7. The fuel tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The tank connection space also includes: A third fuel line is configured to supply fuel to one or more consumption devices.

8. The fuel tank device according to claim 7, wherein, The subcooling circuit and the fuel supply unit leading to the one or more consumption devices share the first fuel outlet, the first fuel line, and the first pump. Thus, the same pump is configured to circulate fuel in the subcooling circuit and deliver fuel to the consumption device.

9. The fuel tank device according to claim 7, wherein, The tank connection space also includes a second fuel outlet, which is disposed in the housing, located within the tank connection space, and connected to the third fuel line.

10. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein, Equipment for heating fuel to be supplied to the one or more consumption devices is provided in the third fuel line, upstream of the consumption devices.

11. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, The device for heating fuel to be supplied to the one or more consumption devices is located outside the tank connection space.

12. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein, The first fuel line between the first fuel outlet and the first pump does not include any equipment for heating the fuel received from the fuel tank, thus, in the subcooling circuit, the temperature of the fuel is affected only by cooling the fuel.

13. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, wherein, The tank connection space also includes a return line for receiving excess fuel from one or more consumption devices, the return line being connected to the fuel tank via a second fuel line or via a second fuel inlet disposed in the housing and located within the tank connection space.

14. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 7 to 13, wherein, At least one consumable device includes an engine.

15. The fuel tank device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein, The subcooling circuit also includes a recirculation line that connects the second fuel line downstream of the first heat exchanger to the first fuel line upstream of the first pump.

16. The fuel tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein, The tank connection space also includes an auxiliary fuel tank located downstream of the first heat exchanger and upstream of the first fuel inlet.

17. The fuel tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein, The first fuel outlet is located in the lowest 20% of the fuel space.

18. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, The first fuel outlet is located in the lowest 10% of the fuel space.

19. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, The first fuel outlet is located at the bottom of the fuel space.

20. The fuel tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, The tank connection space is provided with a first ventilation device, and the first space is provided with a second ventilation device, thereby allowing the first space and the tank connection space to be ventilated separately from each other.

21. A vessel comprising a fuel tank device according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

22. A method for cooling a fuel containing ammonia, characterized in that, The ammonia-containing fuel is cooled in a fuel tank apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein, The method includes Fuel containing ammonia is stored in the fuel space within the casing, and The fuel in the subcooled circuit within the tank connection space is circulated from the first fuel outlet via the first fuel line and via the second fuel line to the first fuel inlet.

24. The method according to claim 22 or 23, wherein, The ammonia-containing fuel remains in liquid form during circulation in the subcooled circuit.

25. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 24, wherein, Circulating the fuel in the subcooling circuit includes The fuel is circulated from the first fuel line to the first heat exchanger via the first pump, cooling the fuel in the first heat exchanger. The fuel is returned from the first heat exchanger to the fuel tank via the second fuel line.

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