Fuel Cell Ship Power Redundancy for Continuous Sailing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel cell ships face the risk of stopping at sea if a fuel cell fails or reaches the end of its equipment life during sailing, as they are typically equipped with a single fuel cell.
Innovation Solution
The fuel cell ship is designed with multiple fuel cells and at least one storage battery, allowing for continued operation even if individual fuel cells fail or reach the end of their life, with a control unit managing power distribution and degradation rates to optimize performance and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fuel cell is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because the ship stops at sea when the fuel cell fails or reaches end of life
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell system is divided into multiple independent fuel cells (first fuel cell and second fuel cell) that can operate independently. When one fuel cell fails or reaches end of life, the other can continue to provide power, ensuring the ship does not stop at sea. This segmentation transforms a single-point-failure system into a redundant system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by preparing a standby fuel cell that can take over immediately when the primary fuel cell fails or reaches end of life. The control unit monitors the state of each fuel cell and switches to the standby unit in advance before complete failure occurs, cushioning against the risk of stopping at sea.
2Reliability
If multiple fuel cells are used to improve reliability, then continuous sailing capability is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each fuel cell is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as primary power source and as standby for the other. The first fuel cell can operate alone, and the second fuel cell can operate alone, providing universal functionality that reduces the need for separate backup systems and mitigates the complexity increase from having multiple cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a strategy where fuel cells are discarded (removed from service) when they reach end of life, and recovered (replaced) with new units. The used fuel cell is replaced while the ship is docked, and the newly installed fuel cell becomes operational. This systematic replacement approach manages complexity by ensuring only the necessary number of fuel cells are actively managed at any time.
3Reliability
If fuel cells are replaced immediately when they reach end of life to maintain reliability, then continuous sailing capability is improved, but loss of time increases due to unplanned dockings
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary action by monitoring the operating hours and degradation state of each fuel cell. When a fuel cell approaches end of life, the system proactively switches to the standby fuel cell before the primary cell fails, allowing the primary cell to be replaced during scheduled dockings rather than requiring emergency unplanned dockings.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives feedback on the operating status, power output, and degradation of each fuel cell. Based on this feedback, the control unit intelligently manages which fuel cell operates and which stands by, optimizing the replacement timing to coincide with scheduled dockings and minimizing unplanned loss of time.
4Productivity
If the operating hours of fuel cells are extended to reduce maintenance frequency, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates as fuel cells reach end of life
Solution Approach 1:
The total operating hours are segmented across multiple fuel cells. While one fuel cell accumulates operating hours toward its end of life, the standby fuel cell remains fresh. When the primary cell reaches high operating hours, the system switches to the standby cell with lower accumulated hours, effectively extending the overall productivity while maintaining reliability through the fresh standby unit.
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
This configuration ensures the fuel cell ship can continue sailing without stopping, even if individual fuel cells fail or reach the end of their life, by utilizing redundant power sources and managing degradation to align maintenance with scheduled dockings.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fuel cells that generate electric power by an electrochemical reaction of fuel
Implementation Method 2
at least one storage battery
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel cell ship includes a propulsion device that generates propulsive force on a hull by electric power, an electric power supply unit that supplies the electric power to the propulsion device, and a degradation rate control unit that adjusts a degradation rate. The electric power supply unit includes a plurality of fuel cells that generate electric power by an electrochemical reaction of fuel and at least one storage battery.