Ship Drive System Hydrogen Injection Soot Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ship propulsion systems face challenges in achieving efficient and low-emission operations due to stringent environmental regulations and the need for improved fuel efficiency, with existing technologies not adequately addressing soot production and safety concerns related to combustion processes.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an electrolysis device to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas, combined with an alcohol tank and water tank, which supply these additives downstream of the turbocharger to influence the combustion process, enhance air intake, and increase safety by preventing flame spread, while also allowing for variable mixing ratios and control via an electronic control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen and oxygen gas are produced by electrolysis and supplied to the combustion chamber, then soot production is reduced and combustion completeness is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional electrolysis device and gas supply system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrolysis device with the existing turbocharger system by integrating the hydrogen and oxygen supply into the compressed air flow path. The electrolytically produced gases are mixed with the compressed air from the turbocharger and supplied together to the combustion chamber, merging multiple functions (air compression, hydrogen production, oxygen production, and fuel injection) into a coordinated system that reduces soot while managing complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed air from the turbocharger serves multiple purposes: it provides the necessary oxygen for combustion, acts as a carrier gas for the electrolytically produced hydrogen and oxygen, and enables complete combustion through enhanced oxygen availability. This multi-functional use of the compressed air stream allows the system to achieve soot reduction without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Productivity
If alcohol and water are supplied to the combustion chamber to influence combustion, then combustion efficiency is improved and soot is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional tanks and supply systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alcohol and water supply systems with the existing fuel injection infrastructure. The alcohols from the alcohol tank and water from the water tank are combined with the liquid fuel and supplied together through the existing fuel injection system into the combustion chamber, allowing combustion efficiency improvement while leveraging existing components to minimize additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The existing fuel injection system acts as an intermediary that facilitates the delivery of alcohol and water to the combustion chamber. By using the established fuel supply infrastructure as a mediator, the system can introduce additional substances (alcohol and water) to enhance combustion efficiency without requiring completely new delivery mechanisms, thus controlling device complexity
3Productivity
If additives are supplied before the turbocharger, then combustion process can be better influenced, but safety is reduced due to increased flame spread risk in the intake tract
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by producing hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis of water in advance, storing them as compressed gases in dedicated tanks, and preparing alcohol in the alcohol tank before supply. This pre-preparation allows the combustion chamber to receive all necessary additives (hydrogen, oxygen, alcohol, water) simultaneously at the optimal moment, enabling better combustion control while avoiding the safety risks of introducing flammable substances early in the intake tract where they could ignite prematurely
4Ease of operation
If multiple separate pressure pumps are used for hydrogen, oxygen, alcohol, and water supply, then supply control is improved, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple supply functions into a single integrated pressure pump system. The pressure pump simultaneously compresses and delivers hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, alcohol liquid, and water liquid through a unified supply mechanism to the combustion chamber. This merging of functions maintains precise supply control for all four substances while significantly reducing device complexity and cost compared to using separate pumps for each substance
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 approach results in reduced soot production, increased power output, improved safety by minimizing flammable gases in the intake tract, and cost savings through simplified pressure pump requirements and shared components, while maintaining high safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and/or oxygen gas connected to a combustion chamber or to a pressure side of the turbocharger/compressor
Data Source
AI summary
In certain implementations, a ship propulsion system includes: at least one internal combustion engine with: a combustion chamber for burning a fuel; an intake tract for supplying fresh air to the combustion chamber; and a turbocharger with a compressor in the in-take tract; an electrolysis device for producing hydrogen gas for the internal combustion engine and for producing oxygen gas; an alcohol tank for supplying alcohols to the internal combustion engine; and a water tank, wherein the water tank and the alcohol tank are connected to the combustion chamber or a pressure side of the compressor for the supply of water and alcohol into the intake tract, and wherein the electrolysis device is connected to the pressure side of the compressor for supplying hydrogen gas into the intake tract or connected to the combustion chamber for supplying hydrogen gas into the combustion chamber.