Shipboard Capacitor Bank for Diesel Emission Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-propelled ships face challenges with high CO2 emissions and fuel costs due to reliance on diesel engines, and existing alternative systems are not scalable for large vessels like ferries.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled ship design that uses a set of electric capacitors to supply electricity to the propulsion motor and onboard systems, with the capacitors being recharged at departure and arrival points, reducing the need for internal combustion engines and enabling efficient navigation over prescribed distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If diesel engines are used for ship propulsion, then the ship can operate independently without external power sources, but CO2 emissions and fuel costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary energy storage system (capacitors) between the shore power source and the ship's propulsion system. This capacitor bank stores electrical energy during port stops and releases it during navigation, enabling the ship to operate without diesel engines while maintaining propulsion capability. The intermediary energy storage mechanism resolves the contradiction by decoupling the ship's propulsion from direct diesel engine dependency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary energy accumulation during port stops by charging the capacitor bank from shore power sources. This preliminary action of storing electrical energy in advance allows the ship to navigate without diesel engines during subsequent voyages. The preliminary charging phase enables the ship to eliminate harmful CO2 emissions during the actual navigation period.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electric capacitors are used to supply electricity for propulsion, then CO2 emissions are reduced, but the capacitance required to cover the entire distance becomes excessively large and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in periodic cycles: during port stops, the capacitors are charged from shore power sources; during navigation between ports, the capacitors discharge to power the propulsion system. This periodic charging and discharging pattern allows the capacitor bank to be sized for only a portion of the total journey (e.g., 5-25% of distance), rather than requiring full-distance capacity. The periodic action distributes the energy storage requirement across multiple stop-navigation cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The total navigation distance is segmented into multiple legs between port stops. The capacitor bank is designed to cover only a fraction of each leg (5-25%), with the understanding that the ship will periodically return to ports for recharging. This segmentation of the journey into manageable segments with intermediate recharging points reduces the required capacitance from what would be needed for full-distance coverage.
3Quantity of substance
If the capacitor bank is sized to provide only a portion of the required energy (5-25%), then the system becomes more practical and cost-effective, but the ship cannot complete the full distance without external recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed with multi-functionality: the capacitor bank serves as the primary energy source for propulsion during navigation, while shore power sources at ports serve as recharging stations. The electrical connection means at ports provide both recharging functionality and potential auxiliary power supply during stops. This universal design allows the system to operate in a hybrid mode, combining onboard energy storage with external power sources, making the reduced-capacitance system viable for practical application.
4Loss of energy
If diesel engines are replaced with electric motors, then fuel costs are reduced, but the reliance on external electric networks at ports increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical diesel engine propulsion system with an electric motor system powered by capacitors. This substitution eliminates the need for onboard fuel storage and combustion mechanisms, reducing fuel consumption and associated costs. The electrical connection system at ports, while adding complexity, provides the necessary infrastructure for recharging the capacitor bank, enabling the electric propulsion system to function sustainably over extended operations.
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 solution significantly reduces CO2 emissions and fuel costs by providing a sustainable energy source for ships, allowing them to travel long distances using stored electrical energy, with the capacitors being rapidly recharged during stops, thereby minimizing reliance on diesel engines.
Implementation Method 1
the supply means comprise at least one set of electric capacitors having a capacitance sized so as to provide, at their nominal electrical charge, a ratio equal to at least 5% of both of the nominal supply of said at least one first shipboard electric network over the prescribed distance
Implementation Method 2
electrical connection means arranged on board the ship to connect the set of electric capacitors to another electric network located at the arrival point and/or departure point for the purpose of recharging the capacitors to their nominal charge
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure concerns a self-propelled ship comprising a shipboard electric network, a main electrical supply bus, propulsion means, a motor for driving the propulsion means, and means for supplying electricity to them. According to the disclosure, the supply means comprise a set of electric capacitors having a capacitance sized to provide, at their nominal electrical charge, at least temporarily, both of the nominal supply of the shipboard network and of the electric motor through the bus, and electrical connection means arranged on board the ship for connecting the set of electric capacitors to another electric network located at an arrival and/or departure point of the ship, for the purpose of recharging the capacitors to their nominal charge and to supply the first network during a stop at the arrival and/or departure point.