Ship Fuel Cell Power Plant with Heat-Transfer Standby Propulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ship power systems powered by combustion engines are inefficient and lack flexibility in meeting varying power demands, while existing fuel cell systems for ships are not well adapted to the specific energy requirements of ships, leading to inefficiencies and long startup times.
Innovation Solution
A ship power plant comprising two high-temperature fuel cell units, one for accommodation facilities and one for propulsion, with a primary heating/cooling circuit and a controller to manage fuel cell operations and heat transfer, allowing one unit to operate continuously and the other to remain at standby mode for quick activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high-temperature fuel cells are used for ship power generation, then energy efficiency is improved, but startup time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell system is divided into two independent units: a first high-temperature fuel cell unit for accommodation power and a second high-temperature fuel cell unit for propulsion power. This segmentation allows each unit to operate independently, enabling the first unit to maintain continuous operation and thermal state while the second unit can be activated quickly when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between high efficiency and fast startup.
Solution Approach 2:
The first fuel cell unit operates continuously at rated power to maintain optimal temperature and readiness state. This preliminary continuous operation ensures that when the second unit needs to be activated, the system is already in an optimal state, reducing the effective startup time and thermal cycling stress on the propulsion unit.
2Device complexity
If a single large fuel cell unit is used to meet peak propulsion demand, then system complexity is reduced, but the unit must undergo frequent thermal cycling which reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one large fuel cell unit that must ramp up and down with propulsion demands, the system segments power generation into two dedicated units. The first unit continuously serves accommodation loads, while the second unit handles propulsion demands. This eliminates frequent thermal cycling of a single unit, improving reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first fuel cell unit operates continuously at rated power to provide stable base load for accommodation facilities. This continuous operation maintains optimal operating conditions and eliminates thermal cycling, thereby improving reliability. The second unit supplements power when needed without undergoing frequent start-stop cycles.
3Power
If fuel cell systems are designed for high power output to meet propulsion demands, then power capability is improved, but adaptability to varying ship power demands decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments total power demand into two independent fuel cell units with different rated powers: the first unit is sized for accommodation loads while the second unit is sized for propulsion loads. This segmentation provides adaptability by allowing independent control of each unit's power output according to actual demand patterns, while collectively meeting the full range of ship power requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically manages reactant supply to both fuel cell units based on real-time power demands. The first unit operates continuously at or near rated power for stable accommodation supply, while the second unit's reactant supply is adjusted dynamically to match propulsion demands. This dynamic control provides high adaptability to varying ship power requirements while maintaining high overall power capability.
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 provides efficient, flexible power management with reduced startup times and thermal cycling, enabling the ship to operate entirely on fuel cells with high efficiency and minimal energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
the primary heating/cooling circuit transfers heat from the first fuel cell unit to the second fuel cell unit so that the second fuel cell unit is maintained at a first elevated temperature
Implementation Method 2
a first high-temperature fuel cell unit having a first rated power corresponding to the first power demand, a second high-temperature fuel cell unit having a second rated power corresponding to the second power demand
Data Source
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AI summary
A ship comprising accommodation facilities having a first power demand, a propulsion system having a second power demand, and a power plant comprising: • a first high-temperature fuel cell unit having a first rated power corresponding to the first power demand, • a second high-temperature fuel cell unit having a second rated power corresponding to the second power demand, • a primary heating/cooling circuit comprising a non-reacting heating/cooling fluid and a flow control means controlling flow thereof, • a controller adapted to control reactant supply to the first fuel cell unit, reactant supply to the second fuel cell unit and to control the flow control means, wherein the controller is adapted to operate the power plant in a first operating mode in which the first fuel cell unit is operated at the first rated power, no reactants are supplied to the second fuel cell unit and the primary heating/cooling circuit transfers heat from the first fuel cell unit to the second fuel cell unit.