Ammonia-Fossil Fuel Mixing System for Ship Emission Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel systems for ships, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), are insufficient in meeting tightening greenhouse gas emission regulations due to limited emission reduction capabilities and infrastructure challenges, necessitating the development of alternative fuels like ammonia that can effectively comply with future emission standards.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply system that selectively or simultaneously supplies existing fuels and ammonia to ship engines, utilizing a greenhouse gas analyzer to regulate fuel mixing ratios and incorporating heaters and control valves to optimize ammonia usage, allowing for efficient reduction of greenhouse gas emissions while minimizing infrastructure changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If existing fossil fuels are used to maintain current fuel supply systems, then infrastructure compatibility is maintained, but greenhouse gas emissions cannot meet tightening regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is designed to dynamically switch between different fuel types (fossil fuels and ammonia) based on operational requirements and emission regulations. The system includes controllable valves and mixing mechanisms that allow flexible adjustment of fuel composition, enabling the ship to adapt to varying emission standards while maintaining infrastructure compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel supply system is designed to handle multiple fuel types (fossil fuels and ammonia) using a unified infrastructure. The system includes universal storage tanks, supply lines, and injection mechanisms that can accommodate different fuel types, eliminating the need for completely separate fuel systems and reducing overall complexity
2Object-generated harmful factors
If ammonia is introduced as a new fuel to meet emission regulations, then greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fossil fuel supply system and ammonia supply system into a unified fuel injection system. The ammonia injection device is integrated with the existing fuel supply infrastructure, sharing common components such as supply lines, control mechanisms, and injection points. This merging approach reduces the need for completely separate systems and minimizes overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a fuel mixing mechanism as an intermediary component that blends ammonia with fossil fuels in controlled proportions. This intermediary mixing system allows gradual transition to ammonia while maintaining compatibility with existing infrastructure and managing the complexity of handling pure ammonia separately
3Object-generated harmful factors
If complete fuel system reorganization is implemented to use ammonia, then emission compliance is achieved, but capital expenditures and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial ammonia integration rather than complete replacement of fossil fuels. The fuel mixing mechanism allows the ship to use a controlled proportion of ammonia (e.g., 10-30% blending ratio) to achieve emission compliance while minimizing infrastructure changes. This partial action approach reduces capital expenditures on storage tanks, supply lines, and safety systems compared to full ammonia conversion
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves significant greenhouse gas emission reductions by using ammonia as a carbon-free fuel, allowing existing fuel systems to comply with stringent regulations without complete reorganization, thus reducing capital expenditures and optimizing space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a greenhouse gas analyzer (30) disposed on an exhaust line (EL) through which exhaust gas discharged from the engine (E) passes and measuring greenhouse gases contained in the exhaust gas
Implementation Method 2
a heater disposed on the ammonia supply line and heating the ammonia to a temperature suitable for use in the engine
Implementation Method 3
Ammonia is a carbon-free fuel and produces only nitrogen and water and no carbon dioxide during combustion
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention provides a fuel supply system, for an eco-friendly ship, which selectively uses an existing fuel and an ammonia fuel or uses a mixture thereof as a fuel for a propulsion engine and a power generation engine of a ship so as to follow ship greenhouse gas regulations to be reinforced in phases at major points until 2050.