Ammonia fueled ships

Abstract

The present invention provides an ammonia fuel vessel that uses liquid ammonia stored in a fuel storage tank as fuel, comprising: a fuel supply unit that supplies fuel discharged from the fuel storage tank to the actuator through a fuel supply path connecting the fuel storage tank and the actuator in the engine room; a fuel recovery unit that recovers fuel returned from the actuator to the fuel supply unit through a fuel recovery path connecting the actuator and the fuel supply path; a purging recovery unit that recovers fuel remaining in the actuator, the fuel supply path, and the fuel recovery path through a purging recovery path connected to at least one of the fuel supply unit and the fuel recovery unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the fuel supply unit, the fuel recovery unit, and the purging recovery unit so that when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path, or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path and the fuel recovery path is blocked and the fuel discharge flow through the purging recovery path is made.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an ammonia fuel vessel that uses liquid ammonia as fuel. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, various engines installed on ships generate power by burning fossil fuels, and the exhaust gases produced during the combustion process contain nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, etc.

[0003] As air pollution caused by pollutants in exhaust gases increases, there is a demand for the development of eco-friendly ships that generate power using low-carbon or decarbonized fuels; ammonia is emerging as one of the next-generation eco-friendly fuels because it emits no carbon dioxide during combustion and is easy to store due to its high liquefaction point.

[0004] In such ammonia-fueled vessels, purging of ammonia is performed by injecting a purge gas, such as nitrogen, into the piping to prevent ammonia leakage in the event of abnormal operation, shutdown, or detection of an ammonia leak.

[0005] At this time, when a purge gas such as nitrogen is injected into the refueling line, there is a problem in that nitrogen is injected into the ammonia buffer tank. Since nitrogen is not only not used as fuel but also causes an increase in the internal pressure of the buffer tank, it must be discharged from the buffer tank. Here, the problem is that the nitrogen and ammonia mixed with the discharged nitrogen are toxic and must satisfy concentration regulations when released into the atmosphere, so the nitrogen and ammonia in the buffer tank must be properly treated.

[0006] In addition, when purge gas is injected into the fuel line, there is a problem in that the removal of ammonia within the fuel line cannot be stably achieved because the flow of purge gas is formed above the ammonia when the fuel line is not filled with liquid ammonia.

[0007] Related technology regarding such a ship boil-off gas reliquefaction system is disclosed in Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2025-0016425 (February 3, 2025). The problem to be solved

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ammonia-fueled vessel capable of stably and rapidly processing residual liquid ammonia in the actuators and fuel supply lines within the engine room in the event of an ammonia gas leak detection or an emergency engine stop. means of solving the problem

[0009] The present invention provides an ammonia fuel vessel that uses liquid ammonia stored in a fuel storage tank as fuel, comprising: a fuel supply unit that supplies fuel discharged from the fuel storage tank to the actuator through a fuel supply path connecting the fuel storage tank and the actuator in the engine room; a fuel recovery unit that recovers fuel returned from the actuator to the fuel supply unit through a fuel recovery path connecting the actuator and the fuel supply path; a purging recovery unit that recovers fuel remaining in the actuator, the fuel supply path, and the fuel recovery path through a purging recovery path connected to at least one of the fuel supply unit and the fuel recovery unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the fuel supply unit, the fuel recovery unit, and the purging recovery unit so that when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path and the fuel recovery path is blocked and the fuel discharge flow through the purging recovery path is made.

[0010] Additionally, the fuel supply unit may include a heat exchanger disposed on the fuel supply path and heating the fuel moving through the fuel supply path, and a pressure pump disposed on the fuel supply path and moving the fuel that has passed through the heat exchanger in a pressurized state.

[0011] In addition, the fuel recovery unit may include a fuel recovery tank that is positioned on a fuel recovery path and stores fuel moving through the fuel recovery path.

[0012] Additionally, the system includes a supply shut-off valve disposed on the fuel supply path and opening and closing the fuel supply path, a recovery shut-off valve disposed on the fuel recovery path and opening and closing the fuel recovery path, and a purging shut-off valve disposed on the purging recovery path and opening and closing the purging recovery path. The control unit may close the supply shut-off valve and the recovery shut-off valve and open the purging shut-off valve when it detects a fuel leak in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency.

[0013] In addition, the purging recovery unit may include a purging recovery tank disposed on the purging recovery channel and a vacuum pump connected to the purging recovery tank and forming a negative pressure state inside the purging recovery tank.

[0014] In addition, it further includes a pressure gauge placed in the purging recovery tank to measure the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank, and the control unit can receive the measured value from the pressure gauge and control the operation of the vacuum pump so that the interior of the purging recovery tank maintains a set negative pressure.

[0015] In addition, the above-mentioned purging recovery unit may further include a combustor positioned on the purging recovery path to burn fuel discharged from the purging recovery tank.

[0016] In addition, the purging recovery unit may further include a purging fuel path that connects the purging recovery path and the fuel storage tank to guide the fuel recovered by the purging recovery unit to move to the fuel storage tank.

[0017] In addition, the purging recovery path may be positioned below the location of the fuel supply path and the fuel recovery path. Effects of the invention

[0018] The ammonia-fueled vessel according to the present invention controls the operation of the fuel supply unit, the fuel recovery unit, and the purging recovery unit by a control unit so that when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path, or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path of the fuel supply unit and the fuel recovery path of the fuel recovery unit is blocked, and the fuel discharge flow is made through the purging recovery path of the purging recovery unit. At this time, since the fuel discharge flow into the purging recovery path is made through the negative pressure of the purging recovery unit, it is possible to rapidly and safely process fuel in a vessel using fuel such as liquid ammonia. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an ammonia fuel vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 1. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an ammonia fuel vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a fuel supply unit (100), a fuel recovery unit (200), a purging recovery unit (300), and a control unit (400).

[0022] Here, in an ammonia-fueled vessel, liquid ammonia is stored as fuel in a fuel storage tank (10), and the actuator (20) in the engine room is a device driven by fuel supplied from the fuel storage tank (10), and may include, for example, at least one of a main engine, a power generation engine, and a boiler. In addition, to prevent ammonia leakage, a double pipe (not shown) is provided in the engine room to surround the fuel supply path (101) and the fuel recovery path (201), which will be described later, respectively. A leak detection unit (not shown) is provided in the double pipe to continuously circulate air and detect whether there is an ammonia leak within the double pipe and transmit it to a control unit (400). An emergency signal transmission unit (not shown) may be provided in the actuator (20) to transmit an emergency stop signal of the actuator (20) to the control unit (400).

[0023] The above fuel supply unit (100) is a part that supplies fuel stored in a fuel storage tank (10) to a drive unit (20).

[0024] The fuel supply unit (100) may be provided with a fuel supply path (101) that connects the fuel storage tank (10) and the actuator (20) to each other.

[0025] One end of the fuel supply channel (101) in the longitudinal direction is connected to a fuel storage tank (10), and the other end of the fuel supply channel (101) in the longitudinal direction can be connected to a drive unit (20).

[0026] In addition, the fuel supply unit (100) may be equipped with a heat exchanger (110), a pressure pump (120), and a supply shut-off valve (130).

[0027] The heat exchanger (110) can be placed on the fuel supply channel (101) so as to be in communication with the fuel supply channel (101).

[0028] Here, the heat exchanger (110) can be positioned downstream of the pressure pump (120), that is, between the pressure pump (120) and the fuel storage tank (10).

[0029] The heat exchanger (110) heats the fuel that is discharged from the fuel storage tank (10) and then moved to the actuator (20) through the fuel supply path (101), thereby making it reach the required temperature for the actuator (20).

[0030] For example, the heat exchanger (110) heats fuel using glycol water (GW) as a heat exchange medium, but is not limited thereto and may also use seawater, fresh water, steam or exhaust heat generated from the ship, or engine heat as a heat exchange medium.

[0031] The above-mentioned pressure pump (120) can be placed on the fuel supply channel (101) so as to be in communication with the fuel supply channel (101).

[0032] Here, the pressure pump (120) can be positioned upstream of the heat exchanger (110), that is, between the driver (20) and the heat exchanger (110).

[0033] The above-mentioned pressure pump (120) pressurizes the fuel heated by the heat exchanger (110) to the required pressure required by the actuator (20).

[0034] The above supply shut-off valve (130) can be placed on the fuel supply path (101) so as to be in communication with the fuel supply path (101).

[0035] Here, the supply shut-off valve (130) can be positioned between the actuator (20) and the pressure pump (120), and between the pressure pump (120) and the heat exchanger (110), respectively.

[0036] The above supply shut-off valve (130) may include a first supply shut-off valve (131) that controls the supply flow rate of fuel supplied to the actuator (20) after passing through the pressure pump (120) and controls whether the fuel moves through the fuel supply path (101), and a second supply shut-off valve (132) that controls the supply flow rate of fuel supplied to the pressure pump (120) after passing through the heat exchanger (110) and controls whether the fuel moves through the fuel supply path (101).

[0037] The above fuel recovery unit (200) is a part that recovers the remaining excess fuel that is not consumed and is returned from the drive unit (20) back into the fuel supply path (101) of the fuel supply unit (100).

[0038] The fuel recovery unit (200) may be provided with a fuel recovery path (201) that connects the actuator (20) and the fuel supply path (101).

[0039] One end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel recovery channel (201) may be in communication with the actuator (20), and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel recovery channel (201) may be in communication with the fuel supply channel (101). Here, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the fuel recovery channel (201) may be in communication with the fuel supply channel (101) located between the heat exchanger (110) and the fuel storage tank (10).

[0040] In addition, the fuel recovery unit (200) may be equipped with a fuel recovery tank (210) and a recovery shut-off valve (220).

[0041] The fuel recovery tank (210) stores fuel that is returned from the actuator (20) and moved to the fuel recovery path (201), and then discharges it back into the fuel recovery path (201). Here, the fuel that is stored in the fuel recovery tank (210) and then discharged back into the fuel recovery path (201) is transferred to the fuel supply path (101).

[0042] The above recovery shut-off valve (220) can be placed on the fuel recovery path (201) so as to be in communication with the fuel recovery path (201).

[0043] Here, the recovery shut-off valve (220) can be positioned downstream of the fuel recovery tank (210), that is, between the actuator (20) and the fuel recovery tank (210).

[0044] The above recovery shut-off valve (220) controls the supply flow rate of fuel that is not consumed in the actuator (20) and moves to the fuel recovery tank (210) through the fuel recovery path (201), and controls whether the fuel moves through the fuel recovery path (201).

[0045] The above-mentioned purging recovery unit (300) is a part that recovers fuel remaining in the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201).

[0046] The above-mentioned purging recovery unit (300) may be provided with a purging recovery channel (301) that communicates with at least one of the fuel supply channel (101) of the fuel supply unit (100) and the fuel recovery channel (201) of the fuel recovery unit (200).

[0047] For example, one end in the longitudinal direction of the purging recovery path (301) may be connected to the fuel recovery section (200) on one side of the fuel recovery section (200), more specifically between the actuator (20) and the recovery shut-off valve (220).

[0048] Here, when the purging recovery channel (301) is installed on a vessel, it is positioned below the location of the fuel supply channel (101) and the fuel recovery channel (201), thereby allowing the fuel remaining in the fuel supply channel (101) and the fuel recovery channel (201) to move more easily to the purging recovery channel (301).

[0049] In addition, the purging recovery unit (300) may be equipped with a purging recovery tank (310), a vacuum pump (320), and a purging shut-off valve (330).

[0050] The above-mentioned purging recovery tank (310) receives and stores the fuel remaining in the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201) through the purging recovery path (301), and then discharges it.

[0051] Here, the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) is maintained in a negative pressure state through the vacuum pump (320), and functions to provide suction force so that the fuel remaining in the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201) can be moved to the purging recovery path (301) and then flow into the purging recovery tank (310).

[0052] The above-mentioned purging recovery tank (310) may be positioned on the purging recovery path (301) upstream of the purging shut-off valve (330), and the inlet and outlet of the purging recovery tank (310) may be connected to the purging recovery path (301).

[0053] The above vacuum pump (320) can be arranged to be in communication with the purging recovery tank (310).

[0054] Here, the vacuum pump (320) may be positioned on the purging recovery path (301) so as to be located upstream of the purging recovery tank (310).

[0055] The vacuum pump (320) maintains the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) in a negative pressure state, so that when the purging shut-off valve (330) is opened, the fuel remaining in the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201) can move to the purging recovery path (301).

[0056] In this way, the vacuum pump (320) lowers the internal pressure of the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201) when the purging shut-off valve (330) is opened, thereby preventing fuel from leaking out of the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201).

[0057] The above purging shut-off valve (330) can be placed on the purging recovery path (301) so as to be in communication with the purging recovery path (301).

[0058] Here, the purging shut-off valve (330) can be positioned downstream of the purging recovery tank (310).

[0059] The above-mentioned purging shut-off valve (330) controls whether fuel remaining in the actuator (20), the fuel supply path (101), and the fuel recovery path (201) can move to the purging recovery path (301).

[0060] Additionally, the purging recovery unit (300) may be equipped with a pressure gauge (340) placed in the purging recovery tank (310) to measure the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310).

[0061] The pressure measuring device (340) transmits the measured internal pressure value of the purging recovery tank (310) to the control unit (400), and the control unit (400) controls the operation of the vacuum pump (320) according to the measured value.

[0062] That is, the pressure measuring device (340) measures the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) and transmits the measured value to the control unit (400), so that the control unit (400) controls the operation of the vacuum pump (320) to maintain the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) at a set negative pressure state. At this time, if the pressure measuring device (340) measures that the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) has reached the set negative pressure, the control unit (400) stops the operation of the vacuum pump (320), and if the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) rises above the set negative pressure, the control unit (400) restarts the operation of the vacuum pump (320) to maintain the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) at the set negative pressure state.

[0063] Additionally, the purging recovery unit (300) may be equipped with a combustor (350) that burns fuel discharged from the purging recovery tank (310) after it has been stored in the purging recovery tank (310).

[0064] The above-mentioned combustor (350) is positioned upstream of the purging recovery tank (310), more specifically at the outlet end of the purging recovery path (301), so as to burn fuel discharged from the purging recovery path (301).

[0065] For example, the above combustion device (350) can be applied to an incinerator or a boiler.

[0066] Additionally, the purging recovery unit (300) may be provided with a purging fuel path (not shown) that guides the fuel discharged from the purging recovery tank (310) to move to the fuel storage tank (10) after it has been stored in the purging recovery tank (310).

[0067] One end of the lengthwise purging fuel path is connected to a purging recovery path (301) located upstream of a vacuum pump (320), and the other end of the lengthwise purging fuel path can be connected to a fuel storage tank (10).

[0068] Here, the purging fuel passage may additionally be provided with an opening / closing valve (not shown) for opening and closing the purging fuel passage and a compressor (not shown) for compressing the fuel transferred to the fuel storage tank (10) through the purging fuel passage.

[0069] The above control unit (400) controls the operation of the fuel supply unit (100), fuel recovery unit (200), and purging recovery unit (300) so that when a fuel leak is detected in the engine room of the ship or when the actuator (20) is stopped in an emergency, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path (101) and fuel recovery path (201) is blocked and the fuel discharge flow through the purging recovery path (301) is performed.

[0070] For example, the control unit (400) may be connected to the supply shut-off valve (130) of the fuel supply unit (100), the recovery shut-off valve (220) of the fuel recovery unit (200), and the purging shut-off valve (330) of the purging recovery unit (300) via a wired means such as a cable, or via a wireless means such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or infrared communication.

[0071] Additionally, the control unit (400) can be connected via wired or wireless means to a leak detection unit located in the engine room and an emergency signal transmission unit that generates a signal when the actuator (20) is stopped in an emergency.

[0072] In this manner, when the control unit (400) detects a fuel leak in the double pipe from the leak detection unit and receives a detection signal, or receives a signal from the emergency signal transmission unit due to an emergency stop of the actuator (20), it closes the supply shut-off valve (130) and the recovery shut-off valve (220) and opens the purging shut-off valve (330). Through this, the fuel supply flow from the fuel storage tank (10) to the actuator (20) through the fuel supply path (101) is blocked, and the fuel supply flow through which fuel discharged from the actuator (20) moves to the fuel supply path (101) through the fuel recovery path (201) is blocked. Then, fuel inside the fuel supply channel (101), fuel recovery channel (201), and actuator (20) is fed into the purging recovery channel (301) under negative pressure of the purging recovery tank (310) and then stored in the purging recovery tank (310).

[0073] Thus, the fuel stored in the purging recovery tank (310) and then discharged back into the purging recovery path (301) can be burned in the combustion unit (350) or transferred to the fuel storage tank (10) through the purging fuel path.

[0074] In this way, the ammonia fuel vessel of one embodiment controls the operation of the fuel supply unit (100), the fuel recovery unit (200), and the purging recovery unit (300) by the control unit (400) so that when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path, or when the actuator (20) is stopped, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path (101) of the fuel supply unit (100) and the fuel recovery path (201) of the fuel recovery unit (200) is blocked, and the fuel discharge flow through the purging recovery path (301) of the purging recovery unit (300) is made. At this time, since the fuel discharge flow is made to the purging recovery path (301) through the negative pressure of the purging recovery unit (300), it is possible to quickly and safely process fuel in a vessel using fuel such as liquid ammonia.

[0075] The present invention has been described with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, but this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom. Accordingly, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the technical spirit of the appended claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0076] 10: Fuel storage tank 20: Actuator 100: Fuel supply unit 101: Fuel supply Euro 110: Heat exchanger 120: Pressure pump 130: Supply shut-off valve 131: First supply shut-off valve 132: Second supply shut-off valve 200: Fuel recovery unit 201: Fuel recovery path 210: Fuel recovery tank 220: Recovery shut-off valve 300: Purge Recovery Unit 301: Purging recovery euros 310: Purge recovery tank 320: Vacuum pump 330: Purging shut-off valve 340: Pressure gauge 350: Combustion device 400: Control unit

Claims

Claim 1 An ammonia fuel vessel that uses liquid ammonia stored in a fuel storage tank as fuel, comprising: a fuel supply unit that supplies fuel discharged from the fuel storage tank to the actuator through a fuel supply path connecting the fuel storage tank and the actuator in the engine room; a fuel recovery unit that recovers fuel returned from the actuator to the fuel supply unit through a fuel recovery path connecting the actuator and the fuel supply path; a purging recovery unit that recovers fuel remaining in the actuator, the fuel supply path, and the fuel recovery path through a purging recovery path connected to at least one of the fuel supply unit and the fuel recovery unit; and a control unit that controls the operation of the fuel supply unit, the fuel recovery unit, and the purging recovery unit so that when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path, or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency, the fuel supply flow through the fuel supply path and the fuel recovery path is blocked and the fuel discharge flow through the purging recovery path is made. Claim 2 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, wherein the fuel supply unit comprises a heat exchanger disposed on the fuel supply path and heating fuel moving through the fuel supply path, and a pressure pump disposed on the fuel supply path and moving the fuel passing through the heat exchanger in a pressurized state. Claim 3 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, wherein the fuel recovery unit is disposed on a fuel recovery channel and includes a fuel recovery tank for storing fuel transferred through the fuel recovery channel. Claim 4 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, comprising a supply shut-off valve disposed on the fuel supply path and opening and closing the fuel supply path, a recovery shut-off valve disposed on the fuel recovery path and opening and closing the fuel recovery path, and a purging shut-off valve disposed on the purging recovery path and opening and closing the purging recovery path, wherein the control unit closes the supply shut-off valve and the recovery shut-off valve and opens the purging shut-off valve when a fuel leak is detected in the fuel supply path or the fuel recovery path or when the actuator is stopped in an emergency. Claim 5 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, wherein the purging recovery unit comprises a purging recovery tank disposed on the purging recovery path and a vacuum pump communicating with the purging recovery tank and forming the interior of the purging recovery tank into a negative pressure state. Claim 6 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 5, further comprising a pressure gauge disposed in the purging recovery tank to measure the internal pressure of the purging recovery tank, wherein the control unit receives the measured value from the pressure gauge and controls the operation of the vacuum pump so that the interior of the purging recovery tank maintains a set negative pressure. Claim 7 An ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, wherein the purging recovery unit further comprises a combustor disposed on a purging recovery path for burning fuel discharged from a purging recovery tank. Claim 8 The ammonia fuel vessel according to claim 1, wherein the purging recovery unit further comprises a purging fuel path that connects the purging recovery path and the fuel storage tank to guide the fuel recovered by the purging recovery unit to be moved to the fuel storage tank. Claim 9 In claim 1, the ammonia fuel vessel wherein the purging recovery path is positioned below the location of the fuel supply path and the fuel recovery path.

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