Ammonia diffusion prevention device for ammonia-fueled ships

The ammonia diffusion prevention device for ammonia-fueled ships addresses the issue of large storage tanks and environmental damage by spraying and incinerating leaked ammonia onboard, effectively reducing impact and hull size.

JP7849456B1Active Publication Date: 2026-04-21SHIN KURUSHIMA DOCKYARD CO LTD
View PDF 8 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
SHIN KURUSHIMA DOCKYARD CO LTD
Filing Date
2024-12-25
Publication Date
2026-04-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing ammonia diffusion prevention devices for ammonia-fueled ships require large storage tanks and may cause environmental damage by discharging ammonia water overboard, especially during port calls.

Method used

A system that sprays pressurized water to dissolve leaked ammonia, recovers it as ammonia drain water, and incinerates it onboard using a combustion device, avoiding overboard discharge and unnecessary tank enlargement.

Benefits of technology

Quickly reduces health and environmental impact by dissolving and incinerating leaked ammonia onboard, preventing overboard discharge and minimizing tank size, thus reducing ship hull enlargement.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure 0007849456000001_ABST
    Figure 0007849456000001_ABST
Patent Text Reader

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.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

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 disclosure of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-93265 is known. The disclosure of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 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 leakage of ammonia, and providing an ammonia water storage system and an ammonia fuel ship" (see paragraph number 0005 of the specification of the same publication), by adopting a configuration of "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.), it 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 provides an ammonia diffusion prevention device for an ammonia-fueled vessel, comprising 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 fuel supply equipment located between the ammonia fuel tank and the ammonia fuel engine of the ammonia-fueled 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, It is connected to an ammonia drain water storage tank, and the ammonia drain water Emulsified together with the burner fuel It is characterized by having an ammonia drain water combustion device that burns and incinerates the ammonia. 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. [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 the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 of the ammonia fuel ship according to the first embodiment, although water was used, since it only melts the leaked ammonia, in some cases, pressurized seawater can also be used. Then, the melted ammonia is 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 appropriately sent to the ammonia drain water combustion device 12 and burned and incinerated. The ammonia drain water combustion device 12 is a combustion device provided with a combustion burner (not shown) such as a heavy oil burner. The ammonia drain water is emulsified with the combustion burner and burned and incinerated together with the burner fuel. In the ammonia diffusion prevention device 1 of the ammonia fuel ship according to the first embodiment, adjustments are made during emulsification so that NOx does not occur in the flue gas. However, if NOx occurs, it may be removed by a denitration device (not shown) or the like and then discharged outside the ship as flue gas.

[0014] In FIG. 1, as the ammonia leakage target location 10, the location of the fuel supply equipment 4 arranged between the ammonia fuel supply lines from the ammonia fuel tank 3 to the ammonia fuel engine 5 is shown as an example. However, the leakage location is not limited to the installation locations of these fuel supply equipment 4. For example, it is also applicable to leakage locations such as the ship-side bunker station, the ship's engine room, and the entrance to the traffic route to the crew's living area already proposed by the applicant of the present application in Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-124240. The ammonia drain water obtained by melting the leaked ammonia from these locations may be stored in the ammonia drain water storage tank 11 and appropriately burned and incinerated by the ammonia drain water combustion device 12. That is, the ship's engine room, the crew's living area, etc. do not necessarily have the ammonia fuel supply line passing directly through them. However, in the event of an ammonia leakage, there is a risk of greatly affecting these personnel and the working environment. Therefore, the entrances to the traffic routes to the ship's engine room and the crew's living area are also regarded as leakage locations 10, and the ammonia drain water generated there is also subject to in-ship storage and incineration.

[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, once the leakage detection and water spraying system detects the ammonia leakage, water spraying is promptly started from the water spray 8 arranged at the leakage location, reducing the impact on the human body and the environment, melting the generated leaked ammonia in water, recovering it as ammonia drain water, suppressing the discharge of ammonia outside the ship, and burning and incinerating 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 larger than necessary, and thus it is possible to suppress 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 an ammonia diffusion prevention device 10 of an ammonia fuel ship according to a second embodiment for implementing an ammonia diffusion prevention device of an ammonia fuel ship according to the present invention, which shows a schematic diagram of guiding ammonia drain water to the ammonia combustion engine 5 and burning it together with the ammonia fuel.

[0017] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 is a three-way control valve arranged between the ammonia drain water storage tank 11 and the ammonia drain water combustion device 12, and 14 is an ammonia drain water circulation line for guiding ammonia drain water from the three-way control valve 13 to the ammonia fuel engine 5. Further, reference numeral 20 is an ammonia diffusion prevention device of an ammonia fuel ship according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the remaining reference numerals are the same as those of the members shown in FIG. 1 and are denoted by the same reference numerals. 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 emulsifies the ammonia drain water, which is then burned and incinerated together with burner fuel. 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.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Spraying treatment device for fuel leakage

    CN115487648A

  • Vessel

    JP2022037335A

  • Ammonia water storage system and ammonia fuel ship

    JP2023093265A

  • Float

    JP2023123920A

  • Float and ammonia processing method for the same

    JP2023123982A