Ammonia diffusion prevention device for ammonia-fueled ships

Abstract

The present invention provides an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship equipped with an ammonia drain water combustion system that, in the event of ammonia fuel leakage, quickly sprays pressurized water with a water spray to dissolve the leaked ammonia, and burns the drain water containing the dissolved ammonia on board the ship. [Solution] The system includes a water spray that sprays high-pressure fresh water from a fresh water pressure tank based on leak detection by an ammonia leak detection system installed near the fuel supply equipment located between the ammonia fuel tank and the ammonia fuel engine of an ammonia fuel vessel; a drain water recovery means that recovers ammonia drain water in which leaked ammonia has been dissolved in the sprayed fresh water; an ammonia drain water storage tank that stores the drain water from the drain water recovery means; and an ammonia drain water combustion device connected to the ammonia drain water storage tank that burns and incinerates the ammonia drain water.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia fuel ship.

Background Art

[0002] Regarding this type of ammonia fuel ship, for example, the one disclosed in JP-A-2023-93265 is known. The disclosure of JP-A-2023-93265 relates to the invention title "Ammonia water storage system and ammonia fuel ship", and in the invention problem to be solved of "··· aiming to reduce the impact on the human body and the environment due to ammonia leakage, providing an ammonia water storage system and an ammonia fuel ship" (see paragraph number 0005 of the specification of the same publication), "an ammonia water storage tank for storing ammonia gas or ammonia water generated on board in the state of ammonia water, a recovery line for transporting the ammonia gas or the ammonia water to the ammonia water storage tank, a water supply line for supplying seawater to the ammonia water storage tank, a drainage line for discharging the ammonia water stored in the ammonia water storage tank to the outside of the ship, and a concentration meter for measuring the concentration of the ammonia water" (see the description of claim 1 of the claims of the same publication, etc.), and has effects such as "··· being able to store ammonia leaked or generated on board and reducing the impact on the human body and the environment due to ammonia leakage" (see paragraph number 0018 of the specification of the same publication).

[0003] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ammonia water storage system according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention attached as Figure 1 in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-93265, wherein in Figure 3, reference numeral 101 denotes the ammonia water storage system, 102 denotes the ammonia water storage tank, 103 denotes the recovery line, and 104 denotes the ammonia water storage system, 105 is the water supply line, 106 is the drainage line, 107 is the concentration meter, 107 is the control device, 121 is the air vent pipe, 122 is the pressure adjustment mechanism, 123 is the on-off valve, 131 is the first recovery line, 131a is the filter, 131b is the on-off valve, 132 is the second recovery line, 134 is the water spray, 135 is the recovery means, 141 is the seawater intake, 142 is the ballast pump, 143 is the filter, 144 is the on-off valve, 145 is the bypass line, 146 is the ballast water treatment device, and 147, 148, 149, and 155 are the switching valves (Note that the reference numerals have been changed to three digits by the applicant to indicate that they are prior art).

[0004] Upon closer examination of the ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-93265, it becomes clear that the device is merely an "ammonia water storage system" based on the premise of "discharging ammonia water stored in an ammonia water storage tank 2 overboard" (see Claim 1 and Paragraph 0021 of the said publication). Therefore, in the ammonia diffusion prevention device for ammonia-fueled ships disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-93265, a process of supplying seawater to an "ammonia water storage tank that stores ammonia water" to dilute it is essential, and the tank size cannot be avoided. Furthermore, the discharge of ammonia water overboard (dumping) could cause environmental damage and may not be permitted, especially when making port calls. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-93265 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship that, in the event of ammonia fuel leakage, quickly sprays pressurized water with a water spray to prevent diffusion, and temporarily stores the ammonia drain water containing the molten leaked ammonia inside the ship without discharging it overboard, and ultimately burns the ammonia drain water inside the ship. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship, characterized by comprising: a water spray that sprays high-pressure fresh water from a fresh water pressure tank based on leakage detection by an ammonia leak detection system installed near fuel supply equipment located between the ammonia fuel tank and the ammonia fuel engine of the ammonia-fueled ship; a drain water recovery means for recovering ammonia drain water in which leaked ammonia has been dissolved in the sprayed fresh water; an ammonia drain water storage tank for storing drain water from the drain water recovery means; and an ammonia drain water combustion device connected to the ammonia drain water storage tank for burning and incinerating the ammonia drain water. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 of this application is characterized in that, in the ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled vessel described in claim 1, a water spray that sprays high-pressure fresh water from a fresh water pressure tank based on leakage detection by the ammonia leak detection system described in claim 1, and a drain water recovery means that recovers ammonia drain water in which leaked ammonia has been dissolved in the sprayed fresh water are arranged at the entrance to either the ship's bunker station and / or the ship's engine room or crew quarters. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 of this application is characterized in that, in the ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship described in claim 1 or 2, it is a water spray that sprays pressurized seawater instead of fresh water stored in a fresh water pressure tank. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 of this application is characterized in that, in an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship described in any of claims 1 to 3, it has an ammonia drain water recirculation line connecting an ammonia drain water storage tank and an ammonia-fueled engine, instead of the ammonia drain water combustion device of claim 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Because the present invention has the above-described configuration, it will produce the following unique effects. (1) In the event of a leak of ammonia gas in an ammonia-fueled vessel, the impact on human health and the environment can be quickly reduced. (2) In an ammonia-fueled vessel, water can be immediately sprayed onto leaked ammonia on board to dissolve the leaked ammonia in water, the ammonia drain water containing the dissolved leaked ammonia can be recovered and incinerated on board, thereby suppressing the discharge of ammonia overboard. (3) This also makes it possible to avoid making the ammonia drain water storage tank unnecessarily large, and in turn makes it possible to suppress the enlargement of the ship's hull. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for an ammonia-fueled ship according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the ammonia diffusion prevention device 10 for an ammonia-fueled vessel according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ammonia water storage system according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention, which is attached as Figure 1 in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-93265. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] An embodiment of the ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Examples]

[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of Example 1 of an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship, which is one embodiment for implementing the ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to the present invention. In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled vessel, 2 denotes an ammonia-fueled vessel, 3 denotes an ammonia fuel tank, 4 denotes fuel supply equipment, 5 denotes an ammonia-fueled engine, 6 denotes a freshwater pressure tank, 7 denotes a control valve, 8 denotes a water spray, 9 denotes a drain recovery means, 10 denotes ammonia leakage target location, 11 denotes an ammonia drain water storage tank, and 12 denotes an ammonia drain water combustion device.

[0012] The ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for the ammonia-fueled vessel according to this embodiment 1 is an ammonia-fueled vessel 2 that is equipped with an ammonia fuel tank 3 and operates by supplying ammonia fuel from the ammonia fuel tank 3 to an ammonia fuel engine 5 via fuel supply equipment 4, etc., as shown in Figure 1. In the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for an ammonia-fueled ship according to this embodiment 1 shown in Figure 1, for example, at the location where the fuel supply equipment 4 is located between the ammonia fuel tank 3 and the ammonia fuel engine 5, when the ammonia leak detection system (not shown) detects an ammonia leak at the fuel supply equipment installation location, the control valve 7 is opened, and fresh water stored in the fresh water pressure tank 6 is sprayed from the water spray 8 located at the leak location 10 to allow the leaked ammonia to be absorbed by the fresh water.

[0013] Furthermore, in the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for an ammonia-fueled ship according to this embodiment 1, pressurized water is stored in the freshwater pressure tank 6 for water spraying from the water spray 8. When an ammonia leak is detected, the stored freshwater is sent to the water spray 8 at high pressure, enabling water spraying at high pressure. This quickly dissolves the leaked ammonia in the freshwater, thereby reducing the impact on human health and the environment. In this embodiment 1, although fresh water was used in the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for the ammonia-fueled vessel, since it only dissolves leaked ammonia, pressurized seawater can also be used in some cases. The molten ammonia is then recovered as ammonia drain water by the drain recovery means 9 and stored in the ammonia drain water storage tank. The stored ammonia drain water is sent to the ammonia drain water combustion device 12 as needed and burned. The ammonia drain water combustion device 12 is a combustion device equipped with a combustion burner (not shown), such as a heavy oil burner, which emulsifies ammonia drain water and burns it together with the burner fuel. In the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 of the ammonia-fueled ship according to this embodiment 1, adjustments are made during emulsification to prevent NOx from being generated in the exhaust gas. However, if NOx is generated, it may be removed by a denitrification device (not shown) or the like before being exhausted overboard.

[0014] In Figure 1, the location of the fuel supply equipment 4, which is located between the ammonia fuel tank 3 and the ammonia fuel engine 5, is shown as an example of an ammonia leakage target location 10. However, the leakage locations are not limited to the installation locations of these fuel supply equipment 4. For example, the method also applies to leakage locations such as ship-side bunker stations and entrances to access routes to the ship's engine room and crew quarters, as already proposed by the applicant in Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-124240. The ammonia drain water, in which the leaked ammonia from such locations has been dissolved, can be stored in an ammonia drain water storage tank 11 and, as appropriate, burned in an ammonia drain water combustion device 12. That is, although areas such as the ship's engine room and crew quarters do not necessarily have the ammonia fuel supply line passing through them directly, in the event of ammonia leakage, there is a risk of having a significant impact on these personnel and the working environment. Therefore, entrances to traffic routes leading to the ship's engine room and crew quarters, etc. are also considered leakage locations 10, and the ammonia drain water generated there is also to be stored and incinerated inside the ship.

[0015] With the above configuration, the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 of the ammonia fuel ship according to the first embodiment can, in an ammonia fuel ship using ammonia as fuel, when ammonia leakage occurs, if the leakage detection and water spraying system detects the ammonia leakage, immediately start spraying water from the water spray 8 arranged at the leakage location, reduce the impact on the human body and the environment, melt the generated leaked ammonia in water to recover it as ammonia drain water, suppress the discharge of ammonia outside the ship, and burn and incinerate the ammonia drain water inside the ship. And since it enables the treatment of leaked ammonia inside the ship, it is not necessary to make the ammonia drain water storage tank overly large, and ultimately suppresses the enlargement of the hull.

Embodiment

[0016] In the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 of the ammonia fuel ship according to the first embodiment, the ammonia drain water is burned and incinerated inside the ship by the ammonia drain water combustion device 12. As shown in FIG. 2, it is also possible to guide the ammonia drain water to the ammonia combustion engine 5 and burn it together with the ammonia fuel. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the ammonia diffusion prevention device 10 of the ammonia fuel ship according to the second embodiment for implementing the ammonia diffusion prevention device of the ammonia fuel ship according to the present invention, which shows a schematic diagram of guiding the ammonia drain water to the ammonia combustion engine 5 and burning it together with the ammonia fuel.

[0017] In Figure 2, reference numeral 13 denotes a three-way control valve positioned between the ammonia drain water storage tank 11 and the ammonia drain water combustion device 12, and 14 denotes an ammonia drain water recirculation line that guides ammonia drain water from the three-way control valve 13 to the ammonia fuel engine 5. Reference numeral 20 denotes an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia fuel ship according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and the remaining reference numerals indicate the same components as those shown in Figure 1. In this way, the ammonia diffusion prevention device 20 of the ammonia-fueled vessel according to this embodiment 2 can discharge the leaked ammonia overboard as combustion gas without directly discharging it overboard.

[0018] As configured as described above, the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 for an ammonia-fueled vessel according to Example 1 and the ammonia diffusion prevention device 20 for an ammonia-fueled vessel according to Example 2 can each be used as an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled vessel, which, in the event of ammonia fuel leakage, quickly sprays pressurized water with a water spray to prevent diffusion, temporarily stores the ammonia drain water containing the molten leaked ammonia inside the vessel without discharging it overboard, and ultimately burns the ammonia drain water inside the vessel.

[0019] As a result, the present invention, with the above-described configuration, can quickly reduce the impact on human health and the environment in the event of ammonia gas leakage in an ammonia-fueled vessel. Furthermore, by immediately starting water spraying on the leaked ammonia inside the ship to dissolve the leaked ammonia in water, and recovering the ammonia drain water containing the dissolved leaked ammonia, it is possible to burn and incinerate it inside the ship, thereby suppressing the direct discharge of ammonia overboard. This also makes it possible to avoid making the ammonia drain water storage tank unnecessarily large, and consequently, to suppress the enlargement of the ship's hull. [Industrial applicability]

[0020] This invention is used in ammonia diffusion prevention devices for ammonia-fueled vessels. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0021] 1. Ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to Example 1 of the present invention 2. Ammonia-fueled ships 3 Ammonia fuel tank 4 Fuel supply equipment 5. Ammonia Fuel Engine 6. Freshwater pressure tank 7 Control valve 8 Water spray 9. Drain recovery means 10. Locations affected by ammonia leaks 11. Ammonia drain water storage tank 12 Ammonia drain water combustion system 13. Three-way control valve 14. Ammonia drain water circulation line 20 Ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to Example 2 of the present invention 101 Ammonia water storage system 102 Ammonia water storage tank 103 Collection Line 104 Water supply line 105 Drainage Line 106 Densitometer 107 Control device 121 Air vent pipe 122 Pressure regulating mechanism 123 Shut-off valve 131 First Collection Line 131a filter 131b Shut-off valve 132 Second collection line 134 Water spray 135 Recovery methods 141 Seawater intake 142 Ballast pump 143 Filters 144 Shut-off valve 145 Bypass Line 146 Ballast water treatment system 147, 148, 149, 155 Switching valve

Claims

1. A water spray system that sprays high-pressure fresh water from a fresh water pressure tank based on leak detection by an ammonia leak detection system installed near fuel supply equipment located between the ammonia fuel tank and the ammonia fuel engine of an ammonia fuel vessel, and a drain water recovery means that recovers ammonia drain water in which leaked ammonia has been dissolved in the sprayed fresh water, An ammonia drain water storage tank for storing drain water from a drain water recovery system, An ammonia drain water combustion device is connected to an ammonia drain water storage tank and burns and incinerates the ammonia drain water. An ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship, characterized by having the following features.

2. The ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that a water spray for spraying high-pressure fresh water from a fresh water pressure tank based on leak detection by the ammonia leak detection system according to claim 1, and a drain water recovery means for recovering ammonia drain water in which leaked ammonia has been dissolved in the sprayed fresh water are located at the ship's bunker station and / or at the entrance to any access route to the ship's engine room or crew quarters of the ammonia-fueled vessel.

3. The ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a water spray that sprays pressurized seawater instead of fresh water stored in a fresh water pressure tank.

4. An ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled ship according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, instead of the ammonia drain water combustion device of claim 1, it has an ammonia drain water recirculation line connecting an ammonia drain water storage tank and an ammonia fuel engine.

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