Heat supply system utilizing waste heat from marine fuel cells

Abstract

To provide a heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell for marine vessel which supplies heat generated during the operation of a fuel cell installed in a marine vessel to a facility.SOLUTION: A heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell for marine vessel according to the present invention includes: a fuel cell in which hydrogen supplied to an anode and oxygen supplied to a cathode react to produce electricity, reduced water, and heat; and a first water tank in which the fuel cell and a fluid exchange heat and which supplies the fluid to a heat source being the use destination. The first water tank receives supply of the reduced water of the fuel cell to utilize it as the fluid. The first water tank which has obtained the heat source from the fuel cell supplies thermal energy to a water generator, equilibrium water treatment device, air conditioning device, liquid heater, and heater system, and resolves an existing water hammer phenomenon issue.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat supply system that utilizes waste heat from a fuel cell for a ship, and more particularly to a heat supply system that utilizes waste heat from a fuel cell for a ship and supplies heat generated during operation of the fuel cell installed on the ship to equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] A ship includes many equipment systems necessary for life and operation, such as a hot water supply system that produces hot water, an air conditioning system that controls the temperature and humidity of air, a fresh water generator that produces fresh water, a heater system, and a ship balance water treatment system.

[0003] However, hot water supply devices using electric heaters have poor heat transfer after long-term use, requiring the entire electric heater to be replaced, and when boiler steam is used, problems such as holes in the pipes due to water hammer or steam leaking from the valve flange gasket occur. Air conditioners also have the problem of the water hammer phenomenon as they utilize boiler steam, and when humidification uses boiler steam, chemicals are included to prevent corrosion, which can be harmful to the health of the crew.

[0004] The freshwater generator produces fresh water by using the cooling water of the main engine, the main propulsion engine, as a heat source for evaporating seawater. Therefore, when the main propulsion engine stops or its output is not high, the temperature of the cooling water is not high and the performance of the freshwater generator decreases. Existing heater systems used boiler steam, but as the viscosity of fuel used on ships becomes lower due to regulations on sulfur content in fuel oil, the use of boiler steam decreases.

[0005] In addition, some types of ship balance water treatment systems must exchange heat with a thermal fluid such as generator cooling water for normal operation at low temperatures. However, when fuel cells are used instead of generator engines in the near future, generator cooling water cannot be used as a thermal fluid for heat exchange. As described above, there is a need for a heat supply system that solves the problems related to the use of boiler steam and the absence of a heat supply fluid due to the replacement of the power energy system. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been derived to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and the present invention provides a heat supply system that utilizes waste heat generated in a ship's fuel cell to solve the problems related to utilizing boiler steam on board a ship.

[0007] In addition, to solve the problem of the absence of heat supply fluid due to the replacement of the electric energy system, we present a heat supply system that utilizes waste heat generated by marine fuel cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention includes a fuel cell in which hydrogen supplied to an anode reacts with oxygen supplied to a cathode to produce electricity, reduced water, and heat, a first water tank including a heat exchange line through which a fluid flows and which exchanges heat with the fuel cell and a first water supply line which receives the reduced water of the fuel cell, and a user which receives a heat source supply from the first water tank, wherein the first water tank stores the reduced water of the fuel cell.

[0009] The first water tank also includes a first water supply line that continuously receives a supply of reduced water from the fuel cell, and a first water discharge line that discharges fluid from the first water tank.

[0010] The user also includes a fresh water maker that obtains the evaporation heat source of seawater from the first water tank and produces fresh water.

[0011] The destination of use also includes an air conditioner that receives a heat source from the first water tank, controls the temperature of the incoming air, and includes a water injection unit that injects the fluid from the first water tank.

[0012] The user also includes an equilibrium water treatment device that receives reaction heat required for chemical treatment from the first water tank and operates normally when the ship's generator engine is stopped or when the temperature of the equilibrium water is low.

[0013] The first water tank is supplied with heat from a first electric heater which receives electricity from the fuel cell.

[0014] The destination of use also includes a liquid heater that receives a heat source from the first water tank and supplies hot water into the vessel.

[0015] The device further includes a heat generating device that exchanges heat with oil, and is characterized in that the device obtains a heat source by exchanging heat with a second water tank that receives heat from the first water tank.

[0016] The fuel cell further includes a combustion chamber including a combustion gas exhaust line through which the remaining hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell and burned, and exhaust gas is discharged, and a second heat exchanger that is disposed on the combustion gas exhaust line, receives a heat source from the combustion gas, and exchanges heat with the first water tank.

[0017] The fuel cell further includes a turbocharger that obtains power from exhaust gas from the combustion chamber and supplies outside air to the inside, a second outside air supply line that connects the turbocharger and the fuel cell, a first heat exchanger that is disposed on the second outside air supply line and exchanges heat with the outside air, and a third water tank that receives a heat source from the first heat exchanger, and the first water tank receives a supply of heated fluid from the third water tank. Effect of the Invention

[0018] The present invention solves the existing problem of water hammer by utilizing waste heat generated by a fuel cell as a heat source for a hot water supply device and an air conditioner.

[0019] In addition, the air conditioner uses heat exchange water from the waste heat system as a humidifier instead of using boiler steam for humidification, thereby preventing harm to the health of the crew.

[0020] In addition, it is possible to produce fresh water from seawater using fuel cells that generate electricity regardless of whether the main propulsion engine is operating or not. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the first water tank and the destination of use connected together. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second water tank and the heating device connected together. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a first water tank connected to an air conditioning device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration for supplying hydrogen and oxygen to a fuel cell. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration in which heat from outside air and exhaust gas is supplied to a first water tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Since the present invention can be modified in various ways and has various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail, but it should be understood that this does not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

[0024] Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

[0025] The present invention obtains hydrogen from ammonia and supplies it to a fuel cell. Ammonia has the advantage of being a future clean fuel that does not have carbon atoms in its chemical formula, and in a preferred embodiment, ammonia is adopted as the basic energy source. Here, the present invention is not limited to obtaining hydrogen through ammonia, and hydrogen can be obtained by utilizing materials other than ammonia.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a fuel cell for a ship according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] The configuration of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, the present invention includes a fuel cell 100 in which hydrogen supplied to an anode reacts with oxygen supplied to a cathode to produce electricity, reduced water, and heat, and a first water tank 200 that exchanges heat with the fuel cell 100 and supplies the fluid as a heat source to a user, and the first water tank 200 receives reduced water from the fuel cell 100 and utilizes it as a fluid.

[0028] The gas tank 110 in which ammonia is stored supplies the ammonia to the reformer 120 and the combustion chamber 130. In the combustion chamber 130, the ammonia, air, and hydrogen are ignited together to generate heat, and the generated heat is transferred to the reformer 120. In the reformer 120, hydrogen is extracted by a catalytic reaction of the heat and ammonia. The extracted hydrogen is supplied to the anode of the fuel cell 100.

[0029] As shown in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the method using a catalyst, but there are various methods for extracting hydrogen from ammonia, such as a method using an oxidizing agent, a method using a catalyst, and a method using an electrolyte, and the methods can be modified and applied to the present invention.

[0030] In the fuel cell 100, hydrogen is supplied to the anode, and outside air containing oxygen is supplied to the cathode. Inside the fuel cell 100, hydrogen and oxygen react to generate electricity, and the remaining unreacted hydrogen is supplied to the combustion chamber 130. In the fuel cell 100, electricity, reduced water (H2O), and heat are generated by the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The generated electricity is supplied to the ship's electrical equipment. The generated heat is collected in the first water tank 200 and distributed to destinations. Here, the reduced water generated in the fuel cell 100 is used as a fluid in the first water tank 200.

[0031] The first water tank 200 receives a supply of thermal energy from the fuel cell 100 and uses it as a heat source for various devices, including a freshwater generator 210, an equilibrium water treatment device 220, an air conditioner 230, a heat generating device 240, and a liquid heater 250.

[0032] The fresh water maker 210 converts seawater into fresh water using the waste heat of the fuel cell 100 as a heat source, and the equilibrium water treatment device 220 maintains the temperature of the equilibrium water at a predetermined temperature using the waste heat of the fuel cell 100 as a heat source. The air conditioner 230 adjusts the temperature and humidity in the room using the waste heat of the fuel cell 100 as a heat source, and the heating device 240 is used to heat oil using the waste heat of the fuel cell 100 as a heat source, and the heating device ensures that fuel oil and lubricating oil have an appropriate viscosity.

[0033] Here, when the waste heat energy of the fuel cell 100 is insufficient, the first water tank 200 receives a supply of heat energy from the first electric heater 204 .

[0034] The liquid heater 250 receives a supply of a heat source from the first water tank and generates hot water to be used in the ship. It can also receive a supply of fluid discharged from the first water tank and use it as hot water.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in which the first water tank is connected to a destination of use. Referring to FIG. 2, the fuel cell 100 generates electricity, water, and heat when it is operated. The fuel cell 100 is connected to the first water tank 200, and is cooled through a heat exchange line 201 through which a fluid flows, and the heat is transferred to the first water tank 200. Here, reduced water generated by a reaction in the fuel cell 100 is supplied to the first water tank 200 through a first water supply line 102 and used as a fluid. The fluid in the first water tank 200 is supplied with thermal energy through the waste heat of the fuel cell 100. In addition, the first water tank 200 can further receive a supply of thermal energy through a first electric heater, and the first electric heater is supplied with electricity through a power supply line 101 of the fuel cell 100.

[0036] The first water tank 200 continues to receive a supply of fluid from the fuel cell 100 via the first water supply line 102, and if the water storage capacity is exceeded, the first water tank 200 discharges the fluid via the first water discharge line 202. The discharged fluid is treated and discharged to the outside, or is supplied to a component that requires the fluid.

[0037] The first water tank 200 is connected to the fresh water maker 210, the equilibrium water treatment device 220, the air conditioner 230, the heat generating device 240, the liquid heater 250, etc. to supply a heat source.

[0038] The freshwater generator 210 converts seawater into fresh water using a low pressure evaporation system.

[0039] Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) is a marine environment protection system used on ships. Ships load and use ballast water for various purposes while traveling on their routes. This ballast water is discharged when the ship approaches the coast again. However, the water discharged at this time contains various marine organisms and may affect the introduction of imported marine species and wildlife, so chemical and biological treatment methods are mainly used.

[0040] The chemical treatment method is a technique for removing or killing biological species in the equilibrium water using oxidation, chlorination, catalytic decomposition, etc. The equilibrium water treatment device 220 of the present invention receives a heat source from the first water tank 200 and maintains the temperature of the equilibrium water at a predetermined temperature. This has the advantage of allowing normal operation even when the air temperature is low.

[0041] Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram in which the second water tank and the heat generating device are connected. Referring to Fig. 3, the heat generating device 240 uses the fluid in the first water tank as a heat source. Here, the second water tank 241 is disposed between the heat generating device 240 and the first water tank, and heat exchange is performed indirectly. The first water tank 200 exchanges heat with the second water tank 241, and the second water tank 241 exchanges heat with the heat generating device 240.

[0042] Unlike other devices, the fluid used in the heat generating device 240 exchanges heat with the oil, so if a hole occurs in the heat generating device 240, there is a possibility that oil will flow into the fluid in the first water tank 200, and the heat generating device 240 that uses oil receives the heat source via the second water tank 241. This has the advantage that even if a hole occurs in the heat generating device 240, oil will only flow into the second water tank 241, making it easier and safer to manage the first water tank 200.

[0043] The second water tank 241 receives water from a second water supply line 243, and when there is a lot of water inside, discharges the water to a second water discharge line 244. The second water supply line 243 is connected to the first water discharge line 202 of the first water tank 200 to receive water, and can receive water from the water maker 210. The water discharged from the second water tank 241 can be discarded to the outside or transferred to another component.

[0044] When the heat supplied from the first water tank 200 is insufficient, the second water tank 241 receives an additional heat source from the second electric heater 242. Referring to FIG. 2, the first water tank 200 obtains the insufficient heat source through the first electric heater, but the heat generating device 240 requires a higher temperature than other configurations, and since heat is transferred through the second water tank 241, heat loss occurs, so the second water tank 241 receives additional heat energy through the second electric heater 242.

[0045] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the first water tank and an air conditioner are connected. Referring to Fig. 4, the air conditioner 230 exchanges heat with the air that is introduced and discharges heated air. The air conditioner 230 receives a heat source from the first water tank 200, and discharges air of a desired temperature through heat exchange as the introduced air passes through.

[0046] The first water tank 200 includes a water injection unit 203 connected to the air conditioner 230 and having a nozzle formed therein through which a fluid is discharged. The air conditioner 230 is supplied with the fluid from the first water tank 200 through the water injection unit 203, and injects the fluid into air passing through the air conditioner 230 to adjust humidity. The fluid supplied to the air conditioner 230 is made by utilizing reduced water from the fuel cell 100 and fresh water from the water maker 210, and has the advantage of being free from indoor pollution and health hazards.

[0047] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration for supplying hydrogen and oxygen to a fuel cell. Referring to Fig. 5, the fuel cell 100 receives hydrogen and air to produce electricity, and supplies heat and reduced water generated during the reaction to a first water tank 200. A method for supplying hydrogen and oxygen to the fuel cell 100 will be described in detail below.

[0048] The fuel cell 100 of the present invention obtains hydrogen from ammonia. Ammonia is stored in the gas tank 110. The ammonia in the gas tank 110 is transferred to the reformer 120 and the combustion chamber 130. In the combustion chamber 130, ammonia, hydrogen, and air are mixed and burned, and the combustion heat generated by the combustion is supplied to the reformer 120. In the reformer 120, a catalytic reaction is carried out using the supplied ammonia and the combustion heat of the reformer 120. In other words, the combustion heat is used as heat required for the catalytic reaction. Hydrogen is obtained from ammonia by the catalytic reaction. The generated hydrogen is supplied to the fuel cell 100, and the hydrogen remaining after being supplied to the fuel cell 100 and the hydrogen discharged without reacting in the fuel cell 100 are supplied to the combustion chamber 130. The hydrogen supplied to the combustion chamber 130 also generates combustion heat.

[0049] In the combustion chamber 130, oxygen required for combustion is required, and in the fuel cell 100, oxygen is required to react with hydrogen. The present invention is characterized by operating a turbocharger 140 that utilizes exhaust gas generated in the combustion chamber 130 to supply outside air.

[0050] The turbocharger obtains power by rotating a turbine using high-temperature and high-pressure exhaust gas, and supplies outside air to the inside using the obtained power. The outside air is supplied to the combustion chamber 130 and the fuel cell 100, where oxygen is required. The inflow of outside air will be described in detail later.

[0051] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration for supplying heat from outside air and exhaust gas to the first water tank. Referring to Fig. 6, the present invention is characterized in that it utilizes waste heat generated in the combustion chamber 130 and thermal energy from outside air.

[0052] The combustion chamber 130 receives ammonia from a gas tank and hydrogen generated in the reformer, generating high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gas. The exhaust gas generated in the combustion chamber 130 passes through a turbocharger 140 and is discharged to the outside, and the turbocharger draws power from the high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gas to draw outside air inside.

[0053] Outside air is introduced into the turbocharger 140 via an outside air inlet line 141. The outside air is supplied to the combustion chamber 130 via a first outside air supply line 142, and is supplied to the fuel cell 100 via a second outside air supply line 143. Here, the outside air contains oxygen, which is used to combust ammonia and hydrogen in the combustion chamber 130, and reacts with the hydrogen in the fuel cell 100 to produce electricity.

[0054] The first water tank of the present invention is characterized in that it obtains heat sources from exhaust gas in the combustion chamber and from outside air drawn in by the turbocharger. The exhaust gas that has passed through the turbocharger 140 is discharged to the outside, and at this time, the exhaust gas has high heat and is discharged to the outside after heat exchange with the second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger obtains heat sources from the exhaust gas and transfers it to the first water tank.

[0055] The outside air flowing in by the turbocharger is supplied to the fuel cell via the second outside air supply line, and the outside air passes through a first heat exchanger 150 arranged on the second outside air supply line 143. The first heat exchanger 150 obtains heat from the outside air and transfers it to a third water tank 151 as thermal energy.

[0056] The third water tank 151 obtains a heat source from the first heat exchanger, and the water is heated. The heated water in the third water tank 151 is supplied to the first water tank 200 and used as a fluid. The third water tank receives water from, for example, a water maker, a fuel cell, etc. It is difficult to use the outside air as a high-temperature heat source compared to a fuel cell, exhaust gas, or a liquid heater, but it is possible to increase the degree of utilization by primarily heating cold water to room temperature.

[0057] Here, it is assumed that the outside air introduced by the turbocharger has a predetermined temperature, which is lower than the water temperature in the third water tank.

[0058] A first heat exchanger 150 is disposed in the second outside air supply line 143 to supply thermal energy to the first water tank 200 using the outside air as a heat source.

[0059] The exhaust gas that has passed through the turbocharger 140 is discharged to the outside via a combustion gas discharge line 144. Here, a second heat exchanger 160 is disposed on the combustion gas discharge line 144 to utilize the remaining thermal energy of the exhaust gas. The second heat exchanger 160 exchanges heat between the fluid in the first water tank 200 and the exhaust gas, and supplies the thermal energy to the first water tank 200.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that the scope of application is varied, and that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100 fuel cell 101 Power Supply Line 102 First Water Supply Line 110 Gas Tank 120 Reformer 130 Combustion chamber 140 Turbocharger 141 Outside air inlet line 142 First outdoor air supply line 143 Second outdoor air supply line 144 Combustion gas exhaust line 150 1st heat exchanger 151 Third Water Tank 160 Second heat exchanger 200 First Water Tank 201 Heat Exchange Line 202 First Water Discharge Line 203 Water injection part 204 First electric heater 210 Water generator 220 Equilibrium water treatment equipment 230 Air Conditioning Equipment 240 Heating Device 241 Second Water Tank 242 Second electric heater 243 Second Water Supply Line 244 Second Water Discharge Line 250 liquid heater

Claims

1. A fuel cell in which hydrogen supplied to an anode and oxygen supplied to a cathode react to produce electricity, reduced water, and heat; a first water tank including a heat exchange line through which a fluid flows and which exchanges heat with the fuel cell, and a first water supply line through which reduced water is supplied to the fuel cell; a user that receives a supply of a heat source from the first water tank; A heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell, wherein the first water tank stores reduced water from the fuel cell.

2. 2. A heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the first water tank includes a first water supply line that continuously receives a supply of reduced water from the fuel cell and a first water discharge line that discharges fluid from the first water tank.

3. 2. The heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the user includes a fresh water maker that obtains seawater from the first water tank as an evaporation heat source and produces fresh water.

4. 2. A heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the user includes an air conditioning device that receives a heat source from the first water tank, controls the temperature of the incoming air, and includes a water injection unit through which the fluid from the first water tank is injected.

5. 2. The heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the user includes an equilibrium water treatment device that receives reaction heat required for chemical treatment from the first water tank and operates normally when the ship's generator engine is stopped or the temperature of the equilibrium water is low.

6. 2. The heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein the first water tank receives heat from a first electric heater which receives electricity from the fuel cell.

7. 2. The heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, wherein the destination of use includes a liquid heater that receives a heat source supply from the first water tank and supplies hot water into the marine vessel.

8. 2. A heat supply system that utilizes waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, characterized in that the destination of use includes a heat generating device that exchanges heat with oil, and obtains a heat source by exchanging heat with a second water tank that receives heat from the first water tank.

9. a combustion chamber including a combustion gas exhaust line through which the remaining hydrogen in the fuel cell is supplied and burned, and through which exhaust gas is discharged; 2. A heat supply system utilizing waste heat from a marine fuel cell as described in claim 1, further comprising a second heat exchanger arranged on the combustion gas exhaust line, receiving a heat source from the combustion gas and exchanging heat with the first water tank.

10. A turbocharger that obtains power from exhaust gas from the combustion chamber and supplies outside air to the inside of the combustion chamber; a second outside air supply line connecting the turbocharger and the fuel cell; A first heat exchanger disposed in the second outside air supply line and exchanging heat with the outside air; a third water tank that receives a heat source from the first heat exchanger; 10. The heat supply system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first water tank is supplied with heated fluid from the third water tank.

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