Ammonia-fueled ship

Abstract

An ammonia-fueled ship according to an embodiment comprises: an engine room for housing a main engine driven by ammonia fuel; shelters disposed in safe areas set on a windward side and a lower stage in the engine room, on the basis of the specific gravity of ammonia gas and ventilation control; and escape trunks that at least connect between the shelters and an upper deck.

Description

Ammonia-fueled ship

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an ammonia-fueled ship.

[0002] As one of the efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, ammonia-fueled ships that use ammonia as fuel are being considered.

[0003] Ammonia, whether in liquid or gas form, has a high potential for adverse effects on the human body. Therefore, ammonia-fueled ships are required to implement measures not only to prevent ammonia leakage, but also to take measures in the event of an ammonia leak.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses that, as a measure to be taken in the event of an ammonia leak, an airlock space is installed at the entrance to the engine room in order to reduce odor in areas where there is a lot of human movement, even if odor occurs in the engine room where the ammonia-fueled engine is installed.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-93266

[0006] In the event of an ammonia leak, it is necessary to prevent the ammonia gas from spreading over a wide area and to quickly evacuate the crew in the engine room to a safe location. Therefore, it was necessary to consider in advance a basic design that would allow the crew to evacuate safely in the event of a possible ammonia leak in the engine room.

[0007] An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an ammonia-fueled ship that ensures safety against anticipated ammonia leakage in the engine room.

[0008] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an engine room that houses a main engine driven by ammonia fuel, a shelter located in a safety area set on the windward side and lower level of the engine room based on the specific gravity of ammonia gas and ventilation control, and an escape trunk that connects at least between the shelter and the outside of the ship.

[0009] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a second aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the first aspect, wherein the shelter is arranged in a lower level of the safety area, and the escape trunk is arranged so as to extend from the lower level to outside the ship.

[0010] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a third aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the first aspect, further comprising a workshop arranged in the engine room, and the escape trunk further connects the workshop to the outside of the ship.

[0011] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the third aspect, further comprising pressure control devices for maintaining a positive pressure inside the escape trunk, the shelter, and the workshop.

[0012] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the fourth aspect, wherein the pressure control device includes a pressurizing mechanism that pressurizes the escape trunk by sending outside air into the escape trunk.

[0013] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the third aspect, further comprising airlock spaces provided between the shelter and the engine room, between the workshop and the engine room, and between the escape trunk and the outside of the ship.

[0014] An ammonia-fueled ship according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the ammonia-fueled ship according to the first aspect, further comprising: a fan that draws in outside air from outside the ship; and an engine room fan duct that is connected between the fan and the engine room and has an exhaust port located inside the engine room, and the safety area is in the vicinity of the exhaust port of the engine room fan duct.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an ammonia-fueled ship that ensures safety against anticipated ammonia leakage in the engine room.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view and a side view schematically showing an example of the configuration of an ammonia-fueled ship of an embodiment.

[0017] The embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scale of each part in the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments may be changed as appropriate. Also, for the sake of explanation, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments may omit components.

[0018] 1 is a front view and a side view schematically showing an example of the configuration of an ammonia-fueled ship of an embodiment. The side view is a view taken along arrow A shown in the front view. The x-axis is an axis parallel to the horizontal plane and along the longitudinal direction of the ammonia-fueled ship 1. The y-axis is an axis parallel to the horizontal plane and along the width direction of the ammonia-fueled ship 1. The y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis. The z-axis is an axis along the vertical direction.

[0019] The ammonia-fueled ship 1 is a ship that is propelled using ammonia as fuel. The ammonia-fueled ship 1 is not limited to a ship that uses only ammonia as fuel. The ammonia-fueled ship 1 may also be a ship that uses fuel other than ammonia, such as heavy oil, in addition to ammonia.

[0020] The ammonia-fueled ship 1 comprises an engine room 2, a main engine 3, an engine room fan 6, an engine room fan duct 60, an escape trunk pressurization fan 7, a first pressurization fan duct 70, a workshop pressurization fan 8, a second pressurization fan duct 80, an escape trunk 10, an airlock space AL, a shelter SL, and a workshop WS.

[0021] The engine room 2 is a room where the main engine 3 is installed. In addition to the main engine 3, the engine room 2 also houses other equipment (auxiliary equipment) such as generators 4 and 5, a boiler, a pump, and the like.

[0022] In this embodiment, the engine room 2 is a compartment connected to multiple floors located above and below deck DC and is isolated from the crew's accommodation area. The engine room 2 has, for example, a first floor F1 to a fourth floor F4 located between the bottom of the engine room 2 and deck DC, and a fifth floor F5 to an eighth floor F8 located above deck DC. Crew members can move between the floors from the first floor F1 at the bottom of the engine room 2 to the eighth floor F8, or between the engine room 2 and the accommodation area, by using stairs, elevators, or the like (not shown).

[0023] The main engine 3 is an engine driven by ammonia fuel and is housed in the engine room 2. The main engine 3 is not limited to an engine that uses only ammonia fuel. The main engine 3 may be an engine that can switch between being driven by ammonia fuel and being driven by a fuel other than ammonia fuel, such as heavy oil. The main engine 3 rotates a propeller to propel the ammonia-fueled ship 1. The main engine 3 is installed on the first floor F1 of the engine room 2 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the bottom surface of the engine room 2. Here, the bottom surface of the engine room 2 is assumed to be a surface parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0024] The engine room fan 6 draws outside air from outside the ship toward the engine room fan duct 60. In this embodiment, the engine room fan 6 is installed on the seventh floor F7, at an opening that communicates between the outside of the ship and the inside of the engine room fan duct 60. The engine room fan 6 is desirably installed in a location where there is no (or low) risk of drawing in ammonia (air with a high ammonia concentration) that has leaked outside the ship. The engine room fan duct 60 is arranged extending between the engine room fan 6 and multiple exhaust ports 61, 62, and 63. The air discharged from the exhaust ports of the engine room fan duct 60 is used for ventilation control in the event of an ammonia leak, supplying combustion air, and cooling the engine room 2 and equipment. The number and locations of the exhaust ports of the engine room fan duct 60 are desirably determined according to the configuration of the engine room 2 and the arrangement of the equipment. For example, an exhaust port of the engine room fan duct 60 may be provided on each of the multiple floors FL1 to FL8 of the engine room 2, and multiple exhaust ports may be provided on each floor. Each of the exhaust ports 61, 62, 63 of the engine room fan duct 60 has an opening that connects the space inside the engine room fan duct 60 with the space inside the engine room 2, and is arranged to discharge outside air toward each of the first floor F1 to third floor F3.

[0025] In this embodiment, the engine room fan duct 60 has one or more exhaust ports provided on each of the first floor F1 to the eighth floor FL8 of the engine room 2. In FIG. 1 , only the exhaust ports 61-63 installed on the first floor FL1 to the third floor FL3 are shown, and the other exhaust ports are not shown. Because ammonia gas is lighter than air, the outside air discharged from the multiple exhaust ports of the engine room fan duct 60 accumulates at the bottom of the engine room 2, making it possible to prevent the concentration of ammonia gas from increasing in the lower levels of the engine room 2.

[0026] The escape trunk pressurization fan 7 draws outside air from outside the ship toward the first pressurization fan duct 70. In this embodiment, the escape trunk pressurization fan 7 is installed on the eighth floor F8 at an opening that communicates between the outside of the ship and the inside of the first pressurization fan duct 70. The escape trunk pressurization fan 7 is desirably installed in a location where there is no (or a low) risk of drawing in ammonia (air with a high ammonia concentration) that has leaked outside the ship. The exhaust port of the first pressurization fan duct 70 opens to the space within the escape trunk 10. In other words, the escape trunk pressurization fan 7 and the first pressurization fan duct 70 are pressure control devices that maintain a positive pressure (pressurize) the interior of the escape trunk 10 and the space communicating with the interior of the escape trunk 10.

[0027] The workshop pressurization fan 8 draws outside air from outside the ship toward the second pressurization fan duct 80. In this embodiment, the workshop pressurization fan 8 is installed in an opening that communicates with the outside of the ship and the inside of the second pressurization fan duct 60 in the accommodation area above the workshop WS. The workshop pressurization fan 8 is desirably installed in a location where there is no (or a low) risk of drawing in ammonia (air with a high ammonia concentration) that has leaked outside the ship. The exhaust port of the second pressurization fan duct 80 opens into the space within the workshop WS. In other words, the workshop pressurization fan 8 and the second pressurization fan duct 80 are pressure control devices that maintain a positive pressure (pressurize) inside the workshop WS.

[0028] The escape trunk 10 is connected to the outside of the ship, such as the upper deck DC, the engine room 2, and the workshop WS, via the airlock space AL. The escape trunk 10 is also connected to the shelter SL. The inside of the escape trunk 10 is pressurized by a pressure control device, and is connected to the space in the engine room 2 via the airlock space AL, so even if an ammonia leak occurs in the engine room 2, ammonia will not flow from the engine room 2 into the escape trunk 10. Therefore, crew members can stay safely inside the escape trunk 10 by entering the escape trunk 10 via the airlock space AL.

[0029] The escape trunk 10 serves as an evacuation route for crew members in the event of an ammonia leak, for example, in the engine room 2. The interior of the escape trunk 10 is configured to allow movement between the first floor FL1 and the eighth floor FL8 by an elevator such as a staircase (not shown). The escape trunk 10 can be configured to allow not only vertical movement (movement between floors) within the ammonia-fueled ship 1, but also horizontal movement (movement within each floor). The escape trunk 10 may also be connected between the engine room 2 and the crew's accommodation area. In this case, it is desirable to provide an airlock space AL between the accommodation area and the escape trunk 10.

[0030] The airlock space AL is used as an entrance / exit that has the function of adjusting the pressure difference between adjacent rooms with different air pressures (or between adjacent rooms and the outdoors). The ammonia-fueled ship 1 is equipped with multiple airlock spaces AL. Each of the multiple airlock spaces AL is a passageway, room, etc. surrounded by a wall that includes a first door provided between the space within the airlock space AL and a safe compartment such as the inside of the escape trunk 10, the inside of the workshop WS, or the inside of the shelter SL, and a second door provided between the space within the airlock space AL and the outside of the ship such as the engine room 2 and the upper deck DC. The first and second doors of the airlock space AL are configured not to open simultaneously, and are configured to prevent ammonia from flowing into the escape trunk 10 from the engine room 2.

[0031] In the ammonia-fueled ship 1 of this embodiment, at least one airlock space AL, which serves as an entrance / exit for the escape trunk 10, is provided on each floor of the engine room 2. A plurality of airlock spaces AL (entrance / exit for the escape trunk 10) may be provided on each of a plurality of floors FL1-FL8 of the ammonia-fueled ship 1.

[0032] The workshop WS is a room created by partitioning off part of the engine room 2, and is equipped with machine tools, workbenches, etc. The workshop WS is an area where crew members may stay for a relatively long time to perform work. In the example shown in Figure 1, the workshop WS is installed on the fourth floor F4, and is located above the main engine 3, generators 4 and 5, and other equipment such as boilers. Note that the location of the workshop WS is not limited to the example in Figure 1, and it may be located at the same height as or below the main engine 3 and other equipment.

[0033] An airlock space AL is provided between the workshop WS and the engine room 2. An airlock space AL is also provided between the workshop WS and the escape trunk 10. The space within the workshop WS is pressurized by the workshop pressurization fan 8 and the second pressurization fan duct 80. Therefore, even if an ammonia leak occurs in the engine room 2, the ammonia will not flow from the engine room 2 into the workshop WS. Even if ammonia leaking from the engine room 2 flows into the escape trunk 10, the ammonia will not flow from the escape trunk 10 into the workshop WS. Therefore, in the event of an ammonia leak in the engine room 2, crew members can enter the workshop WS from the engine room 2 or the escape trunk 10 via the airlock space AL and safely stay within the workshop WS. Furthermore, because the workshop WS and the escape trunk 10 are connected via the airlock space AL, crew members can safely move to the workshop WS through the escape trunk 10 and safely perform necessary work.

[0034] The shelter SL is located on the first floor FL1, between the engine room 2 and the escape trunk 10. The shelter SL is a compartment that serves as both a space for installing protective equipment for crew members to use in the event of an ammonia leak in the engine room 2 and an airlock space, and is larger than the other airlock spaces AL. The shelter SL is a passageway or room surrounded by a wall that includes a third door located between the space within the shelter SL and the space within the escape trunk 10, and a fourth door located between the space within the shelter SL and the outside of the ship, such as the engine room 2 and the upper deck DC. The third and fourth doors of the shelter SL are configured not to open simultaneously, and are configured to prevent ammonia from flowing from the engine room 2 into the escape trunk 10 via the shelter SL.

[0035] The shelter SL is desirably provided in a safe area within the engine room 2. The safe area of ​​the engine room 2 is set on the windward side and lower level within the engine room 2, for example, based on the specific gravity of ammonia gas and ventilation control.

[0036] In this embodiment, the safety area of ​​the engine room 2 is set near the exhaust port 63 of the engine room fan duct 60 in the lower levels of the engine room 2. The shelter SL is arranged in this safety area near the exhaust port 63 on the first floor FL1, which is the lowest level of the engine room 2. Because ammonia gas is lighter than air, when outside air is sent into the engine room 2 from the exhaust ports 61-63, the ammonia gas moves upward and is also swept downwind. Therefore, the area near the exhaust port 63 on the lowest level of the engine room 2 is a safe area where the concentration of ammonia gas is relatively low. By arranging the shelter SL in this safety area, it becomes possible to guide crew members to the safety area when evacuating.

[0037] For example, in the ammonia-fueled ship 1 of this embodiment, if ammonia gas leaks from the main engine 3, it is necessary to prevent the ammonia gas from spreading over a wide area and for crew members staying in the engine room 2 to quickly evacuate to outside the engine room 2. In the ammonia-fueled ship 1 of this embodiment, an airlock space AL, which is an entrance and exit to the escape trunk 10, is provided on each of the first floor FL1 to the eighth floor FL8 of the engine room 2, and crew members can quickly move to the escape trunk 10 from various locations in the engine room 2 and pass through the escape trunk 10 to reach outside the ship from the engine room 2.

[0038] Furthermore, in the lower levels of the engine room 2 (for example, the first floor FL1 to the third floor FL3) near the position where the main engine 3 is installed, the escape trunk 10 and the airlock space AL (or the shelter SL which also serves as the airlock space) are provided near the exhaust ports 61-63. Because outside air is exhausted from the exhaust ports 61-63, the airlock space AL and the shelter SL are located on the upwind side of the outside air, and it is possible to prevent the concentration of ammonia gas in the engine room 2 from becoming high near the airlock space AL and the shelter SL on the lower levels of the engine room 2.

[0039] Furthermore, in the ammonia-fueled ship 1 of this embodiment, the spaces within the escape trunk 10, the shelter SL, and the workshop WS are pressurized by air sent in from the escape trunk pressurizing fan 7, preventing the infiltration of gas from the engine room 2. This prevents ammonia gas from diffusing over a wide area from the engine room 2, allowing crew members to work safely within the shelter SL and workshop WS.

[0040] In addition, the shelter SL and the workshop WS are connected by an escape trunk 10, allowing crew members to move safely between the shelter SL and the workshop WS. For example, if a crew member needs to go into the engine room 2 after working in the workshop WS, he or she can move from the workshop WS to the shelter SL and enter the engine room 2 while wearing protective equipment in the shelter SL, allowing the crew member to work safely.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an ammonia-fueled ship that ensures safety against anticipated ammonia leakage in the engine room.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the disclosed elements. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0043] For example, the ammonia-fueled ship 1 shown in FIG. 1 has one escape trunk 10, but escape trunks 10 connected between the engine room 2 and the outside of the ship, such as the upper deck DC, may be provided at multiple locations on the ammonia-fueled ship 1.

[0044] Furthermore, multiple shelters SL may be provided in the engine room 2. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the ammonia-fueled ship 1 is equipped with one shelter SL, but, for example, at least one of multiple airlock spaces AL may function as the shelter SL.

[0045] The safety area in the engine room 2 is not limited to the lowest level (first floor FL1) of the engine room 2, and may be, for example, the second floor FL2 or the third floor FL3 as long as it is on the windward side, or the safety area may be provided on the first floor FL1 without being limited to the windward side. The position of the safety area may be set as appropriate depending on the structure and interior of the engine room 2.

[0046] 1...ammonia-fueled ship, 2...engine room, 3...main engine, 4, 5...generator, 6...engine room fan, 60...engine room fan duct, 61-63...exhaust port, 7...escape trunk pressurization fan, 70...first pressurization fan duct, 8...workshop pressurization fan, 80...second pressurization fan duct, 10...escape trunk, WS...workshop, AL...airlock space

Claims

1. An ammonia fuel ship comprising an engine room housing a main engine driven by ammonia fuel, a shelter disposed in a safe area set on the upwind side and the lower stage in the engine room based on the specific gravity of ammonia gas and ventilation control, and an escape trunk connecting at least between the shelter and the outside of the ship.

2. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 1, wherein the shelter is disposed at the lower stage of the safe area, and the escape trunk is disposed so as to lead from the lower stage to the outside of the ship.

3. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 1, further comprising a workshop disposed in the engine room, and the escape trunk further connecting between the workshop and the outside of the ship.

4. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 3, comprising pressure control equipment for maintaining a positive pressure inside the escape trunk, the shelter, and the workshop.

5. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 4, wherein the pressure control equipment includes a pressurizing mechanism that pressurizes by sending outside air into the escape trunk.

6. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 3, comprising air lock spaces provided respectively between the shelter and the engine room, between the workshop and the engine room, and between the escape trunk and the outside of the ship.

7. The ammonia fuel ship according to claim 1, comprising a fan for sucking outside air from outside the ship, and an engine room fan duct connected between the fan and the engine room and having an exhaust port disposed in the engine room, wherein the safe area is in the vicinity of the exhaust port of the engine room fan duct.

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