Methanol fuel supply system of ship

Abstract

To provide a methanol fuel supply system of a ship capable of reducing costs by reduction of a transfer pump, enlarging the possible placement range of equipment installation place by space saving, reducing maintenance burden on a crew, and reducing leakage risk of a harmful substance.SOLUTION: A methanol fuel supply system 100 of a ship has a bunker tank 10 to store methanol, a service tank 20 connected to the bunker tank 10, and a supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20, for transferring methanol from the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 by a transfer pump 70. The bunker tank 10 is placed above the supply device 30, and the bunker tank 10 and the supply device 30 are connected. The methanol fuel supply system can be applied to a binary fuel ship run by methanol and the fuel other than methanol, and to a methanol ship run by only methanol as fuel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a methanol fuel supply system for a ship. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, heavy oil has been the main fuel used on ships, but international treaties and other regulations have been tightened regarding emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, and other substances contained in exhaust gases.

[0003] In response to this, ships powered by methanol have been proposed as an environmentally friendly, clean fuel.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes an invention relating to a ship for transporting methanol, in which methanol extracted from a methanol storage tank is used as fuel for a diesel engine, and an invention relating to an electrically propelled ship that generates electricity using fuel cells that utilize hydrogen gas obtained by reforming methanol.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes an invention relating to a ship in which a methanol fuel tank 12 is arranged on the upper deck and supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine 11. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-167189 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-221645 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] A conventional system for supplying methanol as fuel to a main engine is, for example, a methanol fuel supply system 200 for a ship as shown in Figure 2. The methanol fuel supply system 200 is composed of a bunker tank 10, a service tank 20, a supply device 30, a valve train 40, a main engine 50, a return chamber 60, and transfer pumps 80 and 90.

[0008] The methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 is transferred to the service tank 20 by transfer pumps 80 and 90. The service tank 20 is installed for the purposes of reusing the methanol returning from the main engine 50 to the return chamber 60 and sending the methanol to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0009] The methanol transferred to the service tank 20 is supplied to the main engine 50 via the supply device 30 and the valve train 40.

[0010] Here, the transfer pumps for transferring the methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 are configured as two pumps (multiple pump configuration), namely, transfer pumps 80 and 90. This ensures safe operation of the ship by increasing redundancy in case of failure of the transfer pumps.

[0011] However, using multiple transfer pumps increases costs and the space required for equipment installation. It also increases the amount of equipment that handles methanol, a substance that is harmful to humans, increasing the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of harmful substances.

[0012] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology by providing a methanol fuel supply system that reduces costs by eliminating the need for transfer pumps, expands the range of possible equipment installation by saving space, and reduces the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of hazardous substances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a methanol fuel supply system for a ship that includes a bunker tank for storing methanol, a service tank connected to the bunker tank, and a supply device connected to the service tank, and transfers methanol from the bunker tank to the service tank by a transfer pump, and is characterized in that the bunker tank is located above the supply device, and the bunker tank and the supply device are connected to each other.

[0014] Preferably, the ship is a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

[0015] Preferably, the ship is a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention includes a bunker tank for storing methanol, a service tank connected to the bunker tank, and a supply device connected to the service tank, and transfers methanol from the bunker tank to the service tank using a transfer pump. The bunker tank is located above the supply device, and the bunker tank and supply device are connected. Therefore, in the event of a transfer pump failure, methanol can be sent directly from the bunker tank to the supply device by gravity. Therefore, there is no need to configure multiple units to increase redundancy in case of a transfer pump failure.

[0017] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention can be applied to a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

[0018] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention can be applied to a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel.

[0019] As described above, the present invention can provide a methanol fuel supply system that can reduce costs and space by eliminating the need for transfer pumps, and also reduces the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of hazardous substances. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional methanol fuel supply system for a ship. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] A methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 1. Examples of ships include, but are not limited to, cargo ships such as bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers.

[0022] 1 is a configuration diagram of a methanol fuel supply system 100 for a ship according to this embodiment. Note that the same components as those in a methanol fuel supply system 200 for a ship according to a conventional example shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0023] The methanol fuel supply system 100 comprises a bunker tank 10, a service tank 20, a supply device 30, a valve train 40, a main engine 50, a return chamber 60, and a transfer pump 70.

[0024] The bunker tank 10 is a tank for storing methanol as fuel, and is located on or below the upper deck of the ship. The bunker tank 10 may be used for either cargo or fuel. If the bunker tank is used as cargo, some of the methanol carried as cargo is used as fuel.

[0025] The service tank 20 is connected to the bunker tank 10 and is installed for the purposes of reusing the methanol returning from the main engine 50 to the return chamber 60 and sending the methanol to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0026] The methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 is transferred to the service tank 20 by a transfer pump 70. The methanol transferred to the service tank 20 is then supplied to the main engine 50 from a supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20 via a valve train 40.

[0027] The transfer pump 70 is located at the same level as or below the bottom of the bunker tank 10. The service tank 20 is located so that the discharge point is above the supply device 30. The supply device 30 is located on the same deck as the valve train 40, and the valve train 40 is located above the intake port of the main engine 50.

[0028] Here, the methanol fuel supply system 100 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the bunker tank 10 is located above the supply device 30 and the bunker tank 10 and the supply device 30 are connected to each other. That is, the routes for sending methanol from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30 include a route that passes through the service tank 20 and a route that sends methanol directly from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30. Ethanol can be sent from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0029] In the event of a failure of the transfer pump 70, fuel supply can be continued by sending methanol directly from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30. Therefore, there is no need to increase redundancy in preparation for a failure of the transfer pump 70, and a single pump configuration can be used.

[0030] A methanol fuel supply system 100 for a ship according to this embodiment has a bunker tank 10 that stores methanol, a service tank 20 connected to the bunker tank 10, and a supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20, and is a methanol fuel supply system for a ship that transfers methanol from the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 using a transfer pump 70. The bunker tank 10 is located above the supply device 30 and is connected to the supply device 30. Therefore, in the event of a failure of the transfer pump 70, methanol can be sent directly from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30 by gravity. Therefore, there is no need to configure multiple pumps to increase redundancy in case of a failure of the transfer pump 70.

[0031] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system 100 can be applied to a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol, and can also be applied to a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel.

[0032] As described above, the methanol fuel supply system 100 according to this embodiment makes it possible to reduce costs and space by eliminating the need for transfer pumps, as well as reduce the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of hazardous substances.

[0033] Although the methanol fuel supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Bunker Tank 20 Service Tank 30 Feeding device 40 Valvetrain 50 Main engine 60 Return Chamber 70 Transfer pump 80 Transfer pump 90 Transfer pump 100 Methanol fuel supply system 200 Methanol Fuel Supply System

Claims

1. A methanol fuel supply system for a ship, comprising: a bunker tank for storing methanol; a service tank connected to the bunker tank; and a supply device connected to the service tank, wherein the system transfers methanol from the bunker tank to the service tank by a transfer pump, A methanol fuel supply system for a ship, characterized in that the bunker tank is disposed above the supply device, and the bunker tank and the supply device are connected to each other.

2. 2. The methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to claim 1, wherein the ship is a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

3. 2. The methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to claim 1, wherein the ship is a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel.

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