Liquefied hydrogen carrier vessel

Abstract

This liquefied hydrogen carrier vessel comprises: a liquefied hydrogen storage tank that stores liquefied hydrogen; an engine room in which a hydrogen consumption device to which boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank is supplied through piping is disposed; and a gas adjustment room in which a gas adjustment device that adjusts the boil-off gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the engine room is disposed. The gas adjustment room is provided with a ceiling part having an inclined surface part inclined upwardly. The gas adjustment room has an air supply port disposed on a lower side in the gas adjustment room and an exhaust port disposed on an upper side in the gas adjustment room, and the exhaust port is disposed near the uppermost part of the inclined surface part of the ceiling part.

Description

Liquefied hydrogen carrier

[0001] This disclosure relates to a liquefied hydrogen carrier.

[0002] In a liquefied gas carrier, when boil-off gas is supplied as fuel through a pipe from a liquefied gas storage tank to a propulsion engine or the like in an engine room, the supply amount of the gas and the like are adjusted by gas regulating equipment. In a gas regulating room where the gas regulating equipment is arranged, ventilation is performed to take in outside air and discharge the air in the gas regulating room. Patent Document 1 discloses that an intake passage for taking in outside air into a fuel regulating room and an exhaust passage for discharging the air in the fuel regulating room are provided in the fuel regulating room, and a fan is provided in the exhaust passage.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-170352

[0004] In a liquefied hydrogen carrier, when boil-off gas from a liquefied hydrogen storage tank is supplied to an engine room through a pipe, there is a risk that hydrogen gas in the boil-off gas leaks from a pipe, a valve, or the like in a gas regulating room where gas regulating equipment for adjusting the supply amount of the gas and the like is arranged. Even if hydrogen gas leaks in the gas regulating room, it is desirable to perform ventilation of the hydrogen gas at an early stage in the gas regulating room to improve safety.

[0005] An object of this disclosure is to enable early ventilation of hydrogen gas in a gas regulating room and improve safety even if hydrogen gas leaks in the gas regulating room.

[0006] This disclosure provides a liquefied hydrogen carrier including a liquefied hydrogen storage tank for storing liquefied hydrogen, an engine room where a hydrogen-consuming device to which boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank is supplied through a pipe is arranged, and a gas regulating room where gas regulating equipment for regulating boil-off gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the engine room is arranged, wherein the gas regulating room includes a ceiling portion having an inclined surface portion inclined upward.

[0007] According to this disclosure, a liquefied hydrogen carrier comprises an engine room where hydrogen consumption equipment is located to receive boil-off gas from a liquefied hydrogen storage tank, and a gas adjustment room where gas adjustment equipment is located to adjust the boil-off gas supplied to the engine room. The gas adjustment room has a ceiling with an inclined surface that slopes upward. As a result, even if boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas leaks from piping or valves in the gas adjustment room, the hydrogen gas moving upward in the gas adjustment room can be collected near the top along the inclined surface of the ceiling. By discharging the hydrogen gas from near the top of the inclined surface to the outside of the ship, the hydrogen gas in the gas adjustment room can be ventilated early, thereby improving safety.

[0008] Figure 1 is a side view of a liquefied hydrogen carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a stern side view of the liquefied hydrogen carrier. Figure 3 is a stern plan view of the liquefied hydrogen carrier. Figure 4 is a stern cross-sectional view of the liquefied hydrogen carrier. Figure 5 is a diagram showing piping for supplying boil-off gas from a liquefied hydrogen storage tank to a boiler. Figure 6 is a plan view showing the engine room and gas control room. Figure 7 is a rear view showing the engine room and gas control room. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the gas control room. Figure 9 is a plan view of the gas control room. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modified example of the gas control room. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modified example of the gas control room. Figure 12 is a rear view showing a third modified example of the gas control room. Figure 13 is a plan view showing a third modified example of the gas control room. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth modified example of the gas control room. Figure 15 is a plan view showing a fourth modified example of the gas control room. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the gas control room. Figure 17 is another cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 19 is a plan view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 20 is another cross-sectional view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 21 is a side view of a hydrogen fuel cell ship according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] Figure 1 is a side view of a liquefied hydrogen carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a liquefied hydrogen carrier for transporting liquefied hydrogen. The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises a hull 2 ​​composed of a bottom, side walls, and a deck floor, etc.

[0011] The hull 2 ​​is provided with a cargo space 4 in which multiple liquefied hydrogen storage tanks 3 are arranged in the longitudinal direction, from the bow to the stern, that is, from the forward side to the aft side. In the cargo space 4 located on the longitudinal center side of the hull 2, multiple spherical independent tanks, specifically four liquefied hydrogen storage tanks 3, are arranged. The aft side of the hull 2 ​​is provided with an engine room 5, a gas adjustment room 6, and a cargo equipment room 13.

[0012] The cargo space 4 is partitioned in the longitudinal direction of the hull 2 ​​by a front wall 4a and a rear wall 4b. The hull 2 ​​includes a bow section, which is the part in front of the cargo space 4, a stern section, which is the part behind the cargo space 4, and a cargo space 4 located between the bow section and the stern section. The liquefied hydrogen storage tanks 3 are not limited to four, but may be one, two, or more.

[0013] Figure 2 is a side view of the stern of the liquefied hydrogen carrier. Figure 3 is a top view of the stern of the liquefied hydrogen carrier. As shown in Figure 2, the engine room 5 houses the main engine 8, boiler 9, etc. A propulsion steam turbine 8 is used as the main engine 8. The steam turbine 8 is connected to a propeller 10 located at the stern of the hull 2. The steam turbine 8 is configured to rotate the propeller 10 using steam. Other propulsion engines, such as a reciprocating engine, can also be used as the main engine.

[0014] The boiler 9 is configured to generate steam to be supplied to the steam turbine 8. As shown in Figure 3, compressed boil-off gas of liquefied hydrogen stored in the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 is supplied to the boiler 9 through piping 20, and the boiler 9 is configured to generate steam by burning the boil-off gas. The boiler 9 is configured to supply the generated steam to the steam turbine 8. The steam from the boiler 9 may also be supplied to a steam turbine for power generation or the like. The boiler 9 functions as a hydrogen consumption device, consuming hydrogen gas from the boil-off gas of the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 supplied through piping 20.

[0015] Boiler 9 is also supplied with fuel such as heavy oil. Boiler 9 is configured to generate steam by burning fuel such as heavy oil. The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 can generate steam using both boil-off gas of liquefied hydrogen and fuel such as heavy oil. The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 can also operate using fuel such as heavy oil even if it cannot operate using only boil-off gas of liquefied hydrogen during a voyage.

[0016] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stern side of the liquefied hydrogen carrier, and is a cross-sectional view of the liquefied hydrogen carrier along the line Y4-Y4 in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the stern side of the hull 2 ​​includes a deck floor 16, which is the uppermost upper deck floor of the hull 2; an upper floor 17 above the deck floor 16; a first lower floor 18 below the deck floor 16; and a second lower floor 19 below the first lower floor 18.

[0017] The engine room 5 is located on multiple floors, spanning the deck floor 16, upper floor 17, first lower floor 18, and second lower floor 19. The steam turbine 8 is located on the second lower floor 19. The boiler 9 is located across the first lower floor 18 and the deck floor 16. The engine room 5 also houses equipment such as a steam turbine for power generation.

[0018] Figure 5 shows the piping that supplies boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the boiler. In the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1, the hydrogen gas, which is the boil-off gas generated in the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3, is pumped to the boiler 9 and used as fuel for propulsion.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, in the piping 20 connecting the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 and the boiler 9, a compressor 11 is located on the liquefied hydrogen storage tank side, and a gas control valve 14 is located on the boiler side of the compressor 11 as a gas control device to adjust the gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 to the boiler 9 in the engine room 5.

[0020] The compressor 11 is configured to compress the boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3. For example, a reciprocating compressor is used as the compressor 11. The compressor 11 is located in the cargo equipment room 13 where the cargo equipment is housed. As shown in Figure 2, the cargo equipment room 13 is located above the forward portion of the engine room 5 on the stern side of the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3. As shown in Figure 2, the cargo equipment room 13 is located on the deck floor 16 and the upper floor 17. The cargo equipment room 13 may also be located in other areas, such as between the liquefied hydrogen storage tanks 3.

[0021] In the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1, a propulsion steam turbine 8 is installed as the propulsion system. As shown in Figure 4, two propulsion steam turbines 8, a first propulsion steam turbine 8a and a second propulsion steam turbine 8b, are arranged in series in the engine room 5. The first propulsion steam turbine 8a is a high-pressure turbine and is driven to rotation by steam from the boiler 9. The second propulsion steam turbine 8b is a low-pressure turbine and is driven to rotation by steam from the high-pressure turbine. The propulsion steam turbine 8 is equipped with two steam turbines 8a and 8b, but it may consist of one or more steam turbines.

[0022] The engine room 5 is equipped with two boilers 9, a first boiler 9a and a second boiler 9b, which supply steam to the propulsion steam turbine 8. Steam is supplied to the propulsion steam turbine 8 by the two boilers 9. Having two boilers 9 allows the engine to operate even if one boiler 9 is not operational, by operating the other boiler 9.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, the piping 20 includes a first pipe 21 connecting the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 and the first boiler 9a, and a second pipe 22 connecting the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 and the second boiler 9b. The first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22 branch off from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 at a branching section 20a downstream of the compressor 11, and are common piping from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 to the branching section 20a.

[0024] The first pipe 21 is connected to the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 and also to the compressor 11 in the cargo equipment room 13, and branches off from the second pipe 22 downstream of the compressor 11. The first pipe 21 extends from the cargo equipment room 13 into the gas adjustment room 6. The second pipe 22 also extends from the cargo equipment room 13 into the gas adjustment room 6.

[0025] Figure 6 is a plan view showing the engine room and gas control room. Figure 7 is a rear view showing the engine room and gas control room. Figure 7 also shows the cargo equipment room 13. As shown in Figure 6, the gas control room 6 has a first gas control room 6a where the first pipe 21 and the gas control valve 14a for the first pipe are located, and a second gas control room 6b where the second pipe 22 and the gas control valve 14b for the second pipe are located. The first gas control room 6a and the second gas control room 6b are separated by a bulkhead 6c perpendicular to the width direction of the ship.

[0026] The first piping 21 is connected to the first boiler 9a in the engine room 5 through the gas adjustment chamber 6a. The first piping 21 is formed as a single pipe within the gas adjustment chamber 6a, as shown in piping 21a, and as a double pipe within the engine room 5, as shown in piping 21b. The first piping 21 is also formed as a single pipe from the gas adjustment chamber 6 to the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3. Piping 21b has an inner and outer double pipe, with the inner pipe connected to piping 21a.

[0027] The second pipe 22 is connected to the second boiler 9b in the engine room 5 through the gas adjustment chamber 6b. The second pipe 22 is formed as a single pipe in the gas adjustment chamber 6b, as shown in pipe 22a, and as a double pipe in the engine room 5, as shown in pipe 22b. The second pipe 22 is also formed as a single pipe from the gas adjustment chamber 6 to the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3. Pipe 22b has an inner pipe and an outer pipe of a double pipe, and the inner pipe is connected to pipe 22a.

[0028] A gas control valve 14 is located near the engine room 5 in both the first piping 21 and the second piping 22. The first gas control valve 14a located in the first piping 21 adjusts the gas supplied to the first boiler 9a. The second gas control valve 14b located in the second piping 22 adjusts the gas supplied to the second boiler 9b. A gas control valve that adjusts the amount of gas supplied is used as the gas control valve 14. Alternatively, a gas control valve that adjusts the gas supply pressure may be used as the gas control valve 14, or a gas control valve that adjusts both the gas supply pressure and the amount of gas supplied may be used.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22 are each equipped with an emergency shut-off valve 15 to stop the flow of gas through the first pipe 21 and the second pipe 22. The first emergency shut-off valve 15a is located in the first pipe 21, and the second emergency shut-off valve 15b is located in the second pipe 22. The emergency shut-off valves 15 are designed to activate when a hydrogen fire caused by a hydrogen gas leak is detected in the gas adjustment chamber 6. The emergency shut-off valves 15 may be automatically activated by a controller based on the detection of a hydrogen fire or the like, or they may be manually activated by an operator.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, a fire detector 27 is installed in the gas adjustment chamber 6 to detect hydrogen leaks from piping 20 and the like, and to detect hydrogen fires based on temperature. The fire detector 27 is equipped with a temperature sensor to detect temperature, and is configured to detect a hydrogen fire when the temperature is above a predetermined temperature, such as 65 degrees Celsius or higher. The fire detector 27 may also be configured to detect a hydrogen fire when the temperature is above a predetermined temperature relative to the ambient temperature. The fire detector 27 is also configured to emit an alarm sound when it detects a hydrogen fire.

[0031] Inside the gas adjustment chamber 6, there is a fire detector 28 that detects hydrogen fires based on smoke and a fire detector 29 that detects hydrogen fires based on flames. The fire detector 28 is configured to detect hydrogen fires by detecting flames using infrared or ultraviolet light. The fire detector 29 is configured to detect hydrogen fires by detecting smoke above a predetermined concentration. Both the fire detectors 28 and 29 are configured to emit an alarm sound when a hydrogen fire is detected. The fire detectors 27, 28, and 29 are preferably located on the upper side of the gas adjustment chamber 6. The emergency shut-off valve 15 operates to close when a fire is detected by two of the fire detectors, including the temperature-type fire detector 27, the smoke-type fire detector 28, and the flame-type fire detector 29. The emergency shut-off valve 15 may also be configured to close when a fire is detected by one or three fire detectors.

[0032] The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 has two hydrogen consumption devices 9 to which boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas is supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 via piping 20, thus providing redundancy in the supply of boil-off gas to the hydrogen consumption devices 9. If a hydrogen leak is detected in one of the gas adjustment chambers 6, an emergency shut-off valve 15 provided in the piping 20 leading to one of the gas adjustment chambers 6 can be closed, thereby supplying boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 to the engine room 5 via the piping 20 leading to the other gas adjustment chamber 6 for combustion.

[0033] As shown in Figure 7, the gas adjustment room 6 is located on the deck floor 16. The first gas adjustment room 6a and the second gas adjustment room 6b are similarly configured and located adjacent to each other in the width direction of the ship. The engine room 5 is located on the bow side of the gas adjustment room 6, as shown in Figure 6. The cargo equipment room 13 is located on the bow side of the engine room 5.

[0034] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the gas adjustment chamber, specifically a cross-sectional view of the gas adjustment chamber along the line Y8-Y8 in Figure 6. Figure 9 is a plan view of the gas adjustment chamber. As shown in Figure 8, the gas adjustment chamber 6, specifically gas adjustment chambers 6a and 6b, comprises a bottom surface 51, side surfaces 52 extending upward from the bottom surface 51, and a ceiling 53 covering the top of the bottom surface 51 and side surfaces 52. The gas adjustment chamber 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b are each formed to be longer in the width direction than in the length direction, and the distance between the side surfaces 52 on both sides in the length direction is smaller than the distance between the side surfaces 52 on both sides in the width direction. The side surfaces 52 on the inside in the width direction of the first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b are formed by bulkheads 6c.

[0035] The ceiling portion 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 has an inclined surface portion 54 that tapers upward. The first gas adjustment chamber 6a has one inclined surface portion 54 that slopes upward at a predetermined angle from the outside in the ship width direction to the inside in the ship width direction. The second gas adjustment chamber 6b has one inclined surface portion 54 that slopes upward at a predetermined angle from the outside in the ship width direction to the inside in the line width direction.

[0036] The gas adjustment chamber 6 has an air intake port 41 located on the lower side of the gas adjustment chamber 6 and an exhaust port 46 located on the upper side of the gas adjustment chamber 6. As shown in Figure 7, the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 has an air intake path 43 that connects an air intake port 42 located on the upper side of the hull 2 ​​to the air intake port 41 to bring outside air into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from outside the ship, and an exhaust path 48 that connects an air outlet port 47 located on the upper side of the hull 2 ​​to the exhaust port 46 to discharge the air inside the gas adjustment chamber 6 to the outside of the ship through the exhaust port 46.

[0037] The air intake path 43 connects an air intake port 42 and an air intake port 41 located on the roof of the engine room 5, and is formed in a tubular shape to draw outside air from the air intake port 42 through the air intake port 41 into the gas adjustment chamber 6. The air intake port 41 is located on the lower side of the gas adjustment chamber 6. The air intake port 41 is located at a height of, for example, one-third or one-quarter of the vertical height of the side portion 52.

[0038] The exhaust path 48 connects the air outlet 47 and exhaust port 46 located on the roof of the cargo equipment room 13, and is formed in a tubular shape to discharge air from the gas adjustment room 6 through the exhaust port 46 to the outside of the ship via the air outlet 47. The exhaust port 46 is located on the upper side of the gas adjustment room 6, and is positioned so that air is discharged from the upper side of the gas adjustment room 6. An exhaust fan 49 is installed in the exhaust path 48 to promote the flow of air from the exhaust port 46 to the air outlet 47.

[0039] As shown in Figure 8, the exhaust port 46 is located near the uppermost part 55 of the inclined surface portion 54 in the ceiling portion 53. Preferably, the exhaust port 46 is located at the uppermost part 55 of the inclined surface portion 54, but it may also be located near the uppermost part 55 of the inclined surface portion 54. The exhaust port 46 is located, for example, at a height of two-thirds or three-quarters or more of the vertical height of the ceiling portion 53. The exhaust port 46 may also be provided on a side portion 52 connected to the inclined surface portion 54 near the uppermost part 55 of the inclined surface portion 54.

[0040] As shown in Figure 8, the piping 20 is located in the central and upper part of the gas adjustment chamber 6. The air intake 41 is located below the piping 20. The outside air taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air intake 41 moves upward and along the inclined surface 54 of the ceiling 53 towards the exhaust port 46, as indicated by arrow S1. The outside air taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air intake 41 also moves inward in the width direction of the ship from the air intake 41 and then moves upward towards the exhaust port 46, as indicated by arrow S2.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 9, in the plan view of the gas adjustment chamber 6, the exhaust port 46 is arranged, for example, near the corner on the bow side and the inner side in the ship width direction, and the air supply port 41 is arranged, for example, on the stern side and the outer side in the ship width direction. The exhaust port 46 and the air supply port 41 are preferably arranged in a diagonal direction in the plan view of the gas adjustment chamber 6. The outside air taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air supply port 41 moves from the corner on the stern side and the outer side in the ship width direction to the corner on the bow side and the inner side in the ship width direction toward the exhaust port 46 as indicated by the arrow S3 in the plan view of the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0042] The first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b are formed such that the inclined surface portion 54 in the ceiling portion 53 is symmetric in the ship width direction with respect to the partition wall 6c. The first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b are also formed such that the exhaust port 46 and the air supply port 41 are symmetric in the ship width direction with respect to the partition wall 6c.

[0043] Even if boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas leaks from the pipe 20 or the like in the gas adjustment chamber 6, the hydrogen gas rising upward in the gas adjustment chamber 6 can be collected near the uppermost portion 55 along the inclined surface portion 54 of the ceiling portion 53. Therefore, by discharging the hydrogen gas from near the uppermost portion 55 of the inclined surface portion 54 to the outside of the ship, ventilation of the hydrogen gas can be performed early in the gas adjustment chamber 6, and the safety can be improved.

[0044] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a first modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. As shown in Fig. 10, the inclined surface portion 54 in the ceiling portion 53 of the first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b may not be symmetric in the ship width direction, and the inclined surface portion 54 in the ceiling portion 53 may be continuously inclined upward. Also in this case, the air supply port 41 is arranged below the pipe 20 on the lower side in the gas adjustment chamber 6, and the exhaust port 46 is arranged near the uppermost portion 55 of the inclined surface portion 54 in the ceiling portion 53 on the upper side in the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a second modification of the gas adjustment chamber. As shown in FIG. 11, the first gas adjustment chamber 6a and the second gas adjustment chamber 6b may have an inclined surface portion 54 on the ceiling portion 53 that inclines upward at a predetermined angle from the inner side in the ship width direction to the outer side in the ship width direction. Also in this case, the air supply port 41 is disposed below the pipe 20 on the lower side in the gas adjustment chamber 6, and the exhaust port 46 is disposed near the uppermost portion 55 of the inclined surface portion 54 on the ceiling portion 53 on the upper side in the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0046] The ceiling portion 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 preferably has one inclined surface portion 54 that inclines upward at a predetermined angle, but may have a plurality of inclined surface portions that incline upward. The ceiling portion 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 has one exhaust port 46, but may have a plurality of exhaust ports. The ceiling portion 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 may be formed in a tapered shape by at least one inclined surface portion that inclines upward, such as being formed in a tapered shape by an inclined surface portion that inclines upward from one side in the ship length direction to the other side. The uppermost portion 53 of the inclined surface portion 54 on the ceiling portion 53 may be provided with an extended portion that extends horizontally in parallel with the bottom surface portion 51.

[0047] FIG. 12 is a rear view showing a third modification of the gas adjustment chamber. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the third modification of the gas adjustment chamber. As shown in FIG. 12, the gas adjustment chamber 6 may have a reinforcing beam 56 for reinforcing the ceiling portion 53 on the outdoor side of the ceiling portion 53. The reinforcing beam 56 is formed, for example, in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape. As shown in FIG. 13, the reinforcing beam 56 is attached to the ceiling portion 53 so as to extend from one side in the ship width direction to the other side in the ship width direction and to extend upward from the ceiling portion 53. A plurality of, specifically three, reinforcing beams 56 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the ship length direction on the ceiling portion 53, although not limited thereto.

[0048] The reinforcing beam disposed on the outdoor side of the ceiling portion 53 may be attached to the ceiling portion 53 so as to extend upward from the ceiling portion 53 and to extend from one side in the ship length direction to the other side in the ship length direction. Also in this case, a plurality of reinforcing beams formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape may be arranged in parallel at intervals in the ship length direction.

[0049] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a fourth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 15 is a plan view showing a fourth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. As shown in Figure 14, the gas adjustment chamber 6 may have a reinforcing beam 57 on the interior side of the ceiling 53 to reinforce the ceiling 53. The reinforcing beam 57 is formed, for example, in the shape of a substantially rectangular flat plate. As shown in Figure 15, the reinforcing beam 57 is attached to the ceiling 53 so as to extend from one side in the ship's width direction to the other side in the ship's width direction and also extend downward from the ceiling 53.

[0050] As shown in Figure 14, the reinforcing beam 57 located on the interior side of the ceiling 53 has an air hole 57a through which air from the gas adjustment chamber 6 passes. In the ceiling 53, although not limited to this, multiple, specifically three, reinforcing beams 57 are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the length direction of the ship. Each of the multiple reinforcing beams 57 has an air hole 57a formed on its upper side that penetrates in the length direction of the ship. In the reinforcing beam 57, although not limited to this, multiple, specifically three, air holes 57a are provided spaced apart in the width direction of the ship.

[0051] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 17 is another cross-sectional view showing a fifth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber, and is a cross-sectional view of the gas adjustment chamber along the line Y17-Y17 in Figure 16. As shown in Figure 16, the gas adjustment chamber 6 may have a reinforcing beam 58 on the interior side of the ceiling 53 that reinforces the ceiling 53. The reinforcing beam 58 is formed, for example, in the shape of a substantially rectangular flat plate. The reinforcing beam 58 is attached to the ceiling 53 so as to extend downward from the ceiling 53 and from one side in the longitudinal direction of the ship to the other side in the longitudinal direction of the ship.

[0052] As shown in Figure 17, the reinforcing beam 58 located on the interior side of the ceiling 53 has an air hole 58a through which air from the gas adjustment chamber 6 passes. In the ceiling 53, there are, but are not limited to, multiple reinforcing beams 58, specifically five, arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart in the ship's width direction. As shown in Figure 17, each of the multiple reinforcing beams 58 has an air hole 58a that penetrates through the ship's width direction on the upper side of the reinforcing beam 58. In the reinforcing beam 58, there are, but are not limited to, multiple air holes 58a, specifically three, provided spaced apart in the ship's length direction.

[0053] Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 19 is a plan view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber. Figure 20 is another cross-sectional view showing a sixth modified example of the gas adjustment chamber, and is a cross-sectional view of the gas adjustment chamber along the line Y20-Y20 in Figure 18. As shown in Figure 18, the gas adjustment chamber 6 may include a guide pipe 59 that guides outside air to be taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6, which is connected to the air intake port 41. The guide pipe 59 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, with one end connected to the air intake port 41 and the other end closed.

[0054] The guide pipe 59 connected to the air intake port 41 is arranged to extend, for example, in the direction of the ship's width, as shown in Figure 19. The guide pipe 59 has an upper outlet 59a that opens upward and a lower outlet 59b that opens downward, as shown in Figure 20. The upper outlet 59a is provided with multiple outlets 59a spaced apart in the direction of the ship's width. The lower outlet 59b is provided with multiple outlets 59b spaced apart in the direction of the ship's width. The outlets 59a and 59b of the guide pipe 59 are located below the piping 20. The guide pipe 59 may also be provided with other outlets, such as providing only the lower outlets 59b without the upper outlets.

[0055] The outside air drawn into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air intake 41 moves downward from the lower outlet 59b, as shown by arrow S4 in Figure 20, and then moves forward along the bottom surface 51 in the longitudinal direction of the ship before moving upward towards the exhaust port 46. The outside air blown out from the multiple lower outlets 59b moves forward in the longitudinal direction of the ship in roughly parallel directions, as shown by arrow S5 in Figure 19, before moving upward towards the exhaust port 46.

[0056] The outside air drawn into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air intake 41 is also moved upward from the upper outlet 59a and then towards the exhaust port 46, as shown by arrow S6 in Figure 20. The outside air blown out from the multiple upper outlets 59a is moved upward in a direction roughly parallel to the exhaust port 46.

[0057] The outside air taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6 from the air intake 41 through the outlets 59a and 59b is moved upward toward the exhaust port 46 located near the top 55 of the inclined surface 54 in the ceiling 53. Even if boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas leaks from the piping 20 or the like in the gas adjustment chamber 6, the hydrogen gas moving upward in the gas adjustment chamber 6 can be collected along the inclined surface 54 of the ceiling 53 near the top 55, so that the hydrogen gas can be discharged overboard from near the top 55 of the inclined surface 54.

[0058] The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 is equipped with two propulsion steam turbines 8 and boilers 9, as well as two gas adjustment chambers 6, but it may be equipped with one or more gas adjustment chambers. In such cases, the gas adjustment chamber 6 is equipped with a ceiling portion 53 having an inclined surface portion 54 that slopes upward, and the exhaust port 46 is located near the uppermost part 55 of the inclined surface portion 54 on the ceiling portion 53.

[0059] In this embodiment, a boiler 9 is used as the hydrogen consuming device to which boil-off gas is supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 through the piping 20. However, the hydrogen may also be supplied to other hydrogen consuming devices such as a gas combustion unit (GCU) or a generator. The gas adjustment chamber 6 may also include a gas valve unit having a gas adjustment valve 14.

[0060] Furthermore, while a gas control valve 14 is used as a gas control device to adjust the boil-off gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3 to the engine room 5, and a gas control room 6 is used as the gas control room, the same configuration as the gas control room 6 can be provided when using other gas control devices and gas control rooms, such as using a compressor 11 as the gas control device and a cargo equipment room 13 as the gas control room.

[0061] In the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 according to this embodiment, the third and sixth modified examples may be combined to provide a reinforcing beam 56 on the outdoor side of the ceiling 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 to reinforce the ceiling 53, and a guide pipe 59 having a plurality of blowouts 59b connected to the air intake 41 and opening downwards. The first to sixth modified examples may be appropriately combined to provide the vessel.

[0062] As described above, the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 according to this embodiment includes an engine room 5 where a hydrogen consumption device 9 is located to receive boil-off gas from a liquefied hydrogen storage tank 3, and a gas adjustment room 6 where a gas adjustment device 14 is located to adjust the boil-off gas supplied to the engine room 5. The gas adjustment room 6 includes a ceiling 53 having an inclined surface portion 54 that slopes upward. As a result, even if boil-off gas containing hydrogen gas leaks from a pipe 20 or valve in the gas adjustment room 6, the hydrogen gas moving upward in the gas adjustment room 6 can be collected near the top 55 along the inclined surface portion 54 of the ceiling portion 53. By discharging the hydrogen gas outside the ship from near the top 55 of the inclined surface portion 54, the hydrogen gas in the gas adjustment room 6 can be ventilated early, thereby improving safety.

[0063] The gas adjustment chamber 6 has an air intake 41 located on the lower side and an exhaust port 46 located on the upper side, with the exhaust port 46 positioned near the top 55 of the inclined surface 54 in the ceiling 53. As a result, even if hydrogen gas leaks inside the gas adjustment chamber 6, the airflow from the air intake 41 to the exhaust port 46 promotes the rise of the hydrogen gas, and the hydrogen gas can be collected along the inclined surface 54 near the top 55 where the exhaust port 46 is located and discharged, allowing for early ventilation of hydrogen gas in the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0064] The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 is equipped with an exhaust path 48 that discharges air from the gas adjustment chamber 6 to the outside of the ship through an exhaust port 46, and an exhaust fan 49 may be installed in the exhaust path 48. This makes it possible to suppress obstruction of the airflow from the air intake port 41 to the exhaust port 46 compared to when the exhaust fan is located inside the gas adjustment chamber 6, thereby improving the ventilation performance of the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0065] The liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 may be equipped with a guide pipe 59 that guides outside air, which is connected to the air intake port 41 and taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6. The guide pipe 59 may have a plurality of outlets 59b that open downwards. This allows outside air to be taken into the gas adjustment chamber 6 in a more dispersed manner through the plurality of outlets 59b compared to when the air intake port 41 has only one outlet, thereby suppressing air stagnation and enabling effective ventilation of the gas adjustment chamber 6.

[0066] The gas adjustment chamber 6 may have a reinforcing beam 56 on the exterior side of the ceiling 53 to reinforce the ceiling 53. This allows the ceiling 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 to be reinforced by the reinforcing beam 56, while preventing the airflow from being obstructed by the reinforcing beam compared to the case where the reinforcing beam is on the interior side of the ceiling 53. Even if hydrogen gas leaks inside the gas adjustment chamber 6, the accumulation of hydrogen gas can be suppressed by the reinforcing beam.

[0067] The gas adjustment chamber 6 may have a reinforcing beam 58 on the interior side of the ceiling 53 that reinforces the ceiling 53. The reinforcing beam 58 may have an air hole 58a through which air inside the gas adjustment chamber 6 passes. This makes it possible to reinforce the ceiling 53 of the gas adjustment chamber 6 with the reinforcing beam 58 while preventing the airflow from being obstructed by the reinforcing beam 58 through the air hole 58a.

[0068] A fire detector 27 that detects hydrogen fires based on temperature may be installed in the gas adjustment chamber 6. This allows for the detection of hydrogen fires by temperature changes within the gas adjustment chamber 6 caused by the colorless hydrogen flame, thereby improving the accuracy of hydrogen fire detection. By installing a heat-type fire detector 27 that detects hydrogen fires based on temperature, along with a flame-type fire detector 28 and a smoke-type fire detector 29, in the gas adjustment chamber 6, hydrogen fires can be detected with high accuracy.

[0069] In the embodiment described above, the gas adjustment chamber 6 of the liquefied hydrogen carrier 1 is explained, but the configuration of the gas adjustment chamber 6 can also be similarly applied to the fuel cell chamber of a hydrogen fuel cell ship.

[0070] Figure 21 is a side view of a hydrogen fuel cell ship according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 21, the hydrogen fuel cell ship 101 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a hydrogen storage tank 103 for storing hydrogen gas, a fuel cell unit 105 to which hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen storage tank 103 through piping 120, and a fuel cell room 106 in which the fuel cell unit 105 is located. The hydrogen fuel cell ship 101 is configured to generate electricity by reacting hydrogen gas and air in the fuel cell unit 105, and the generated electricity is supplied to an electric motor 108 through a power control device 107 to rotate the propeller 10.

[0071] The fuel cell chamber 106 comprises a bottom portion 151 that forms the bottom surface of the fuel cell chamber 106, a side portion 152 that forms the side surface, and a ceiling portion 153 that forms the ceiling. The fuel cell chamber 106 is partitioned by the bottom portion 151, the side portion 152, and the ceiling portion 153.

[0072] The fuel cell room 106, like the gas adjustment room 6, has a ceiling 153 with an inclined surface that slopes upward, an air intake located on the lower side of the fuel cell room 106, and an exhaust port located on the upper side of the fuel cell room 106, the exhaust port being located near the top of the inclined surface on the ceiling 153. The fuel cell room 106 also has an exhaust path that discharges the air inside the fuel cell room 106 to the outside of the ship through the exhaust port, and an exhaust fan is installed in the exhaust path.

[0073] The fuel cell chamber 106, like the gas adjustment chamber 6, is also provided with a guide pipe that guides outside air into the fuel cell chamber 106, which is connected to an air intake port. The guide pipe may have multiple outlets that open downwards. The fuel cell chamber 106 may have reinforcing beams on the exterior side of the ceiling 153 to reinforce the ceiling 153, or reinforcing beams on the interior side of the ceiling 153 to reinforce the ceiling 153, and the reinforcing beams may have air holes through which air in the fuel cell chamber 106 passes. A fire detector that detects hydrogen fires based on temperature may also be installed in the fuel cell chamber 106.

[0074] As described above, the hydrogen fuel cell ship 101 according to this embodiment comprises a fuel cell unit 105 to which hydrogen gas is supplied through piping 120, and a fuel cell room 106 in which the fuel cell unit 105 is located. The fuel cell room 106 is equipped with a ceiling portion 153 having an inclined surface portion that slopes upward. As a result, even if hydrogen gas leaks from the piping 120 or a valve or the like inside the fuel cell room 106, the hydrogen gas that is moving upward inside the fuel cell room 106 can be collected near the top along the inclined surface portion of the ceiling portion 153. By discharging the hydrogen gas outside the ship from near the top of the inclined surface portion, the hydrogen gas in the fuel cell room 106 can be ventilated early, thereby improving safety.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and various improvements and design modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0076] [Note 1] A liquefied hydrogen carrier comprising: a liquefied hydrogen storage tank for storing liquefied hydrogen; an engine room where hydrogen consumption equipment is located to which boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank is supplied through piping; and a gas adjustment room where gas adjustment equipment is located to adjust the boil-off gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the engine room, wherein the gas adjustment room has a ceiling portion having an inclined surface portion that slopes upward. [Note 2] The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to Note 1, wherein the gas adjustment room has an air intake port located on the lower side of the gas adjustment room and an exhaust port located on the upper side of the gas adjustment room, wherein the exhaust port is located near the top of the inclined surface portion in the ceiling portion. [Note 3] The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to Note 2, wherein the ship is provided with an exhaust path for discharging air from the gas adjustment room to the outside of the ship through the exhaust port, and an exhaust fan is installed in the exhaust path. [Note 4] A liquefied hydrogen carrier according to Note 2 or Note 3, further comprising a guide pipe for guiding outside air connected to the air intake port and taken into the gas adjustment chamber, wherein the guide pipe has a plurality of outlets opening downward. [Note 5] A liquefied hydrogen carrier according to any one of Notes 1 to 4, wherein the gas adjustment chamber has reinforcing beams on the exterior side of the ceiling to reinforce the ceiling. [Note 6] A liquefied hydrogen carrier according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, wherein the gas adjustment chamber has reinforcing beams on the interior side of the ceiling to reinforce the ceiling, wherein the reinforcing beams have air holes through which air in the gas adjustment chamber passes. [Note 7] A liquefied hydrogen carrier according to any one of Notes 1 to 6, wherein a fire detector for detecting hydrogen fires based on temperature is installed in the gas adjustment chamber. [Note 8] A hydrogen fuel cell ship comprising: a fuel cell unit to which hydrogen gas is supplied through piping; and a fuel cell room in which the fuel cell unit is arranged, wherein the fuel cell room has a ceiling portion having an inclined surface portion that slopes upward.

[0077] 1. Liquefied hydrogen carrier 3. Liquefied hydrogen storage tank 5. Engine room 9. Boiler (hydrogen consumption equipment) 6. Gas adjustment room 14. Gas adjustment valve (gas adjustment equipment) 20, 120. Piping 27, 28, 29. Fire detector 41. Air intake 46. Exhaust port 48. Exhaust path 49. Exhaust fan 53. Ceiling 54. Sloping surface 55. Top 57, 58. Reinforcement beam 58a. Air vent 59. Guide pipe 59a, 59b. Discharge section 101. Hydrogen fuel cell ship 105. Fuel cell unit 106. Fuel cell room

Claims

1. A liquefied hydrogen carrier comprising: a liquefied hydrogen storage tank for storing liquefied hydrogen; an engine room where hydrogen consumption equipment is arranged to be supplied with boil-off gas from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank through piping; and a gas adjustment room where gas adjustment equipment is arranged to adjust the boil-off gas supplied from the liquefied hydrogen storage tank to the engine room, wherein the gas adjustment room has a ceiling portion having an inclined surface portion that slopes upward.

2. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the gas adjustment chamber has an air intake port located on the lower side of the gas adjustment chamber and an exhaust port located on the upper side of the gas adjustment chamber, and the exhaust port is located near the uppermost part of the inclined surface in the ceiling.

3. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 2, further comprising an exhaust path for discharging air from the gas adjustment chamber to the outside of the vessel through the exhaust port, wherein an exhaust fan is installed in the exhaust path.

4. A liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 2, comprising a guide pipe connected to the air intake port for guiding outside air taken into the gas adjustment chamber, wherein the guide pipe has a plurality of outlets opening downward.

5. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the gas adjustment chamber has reinforcing beams on the exterior side of the ceiling to reinforce the ceiling.

6. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein the gas adjustment chamber has a reinforcing beam on the interior side of the ceiling, and the reinforcing beam has an air hole through which air in the gas adjustment chamber passes.

7. The liquefied hydrogen carrier according to claim 1, wherein a fire detector for detecting hydrogen fires based on temperature is installed in the gas adjustment chamber.

8. A hydrogen fuel cell ship comprising: a fuel cell unit to which hydrogen gas is supplied through piping; and a fuel cell room in which the fuel cell unit is arranged, wherein the fuel cell room has a ceiling portion having an inclined surface portion that slopes upward.

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