Zero-emission propulsion system featuring, Flettner rotors, batteries and fuel cells, for a merchant ship
Journal article, 2024

To meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) goal of decarbonising the shipping sector by 2050, zero-emission ship propulsion systems should be developed to replace conventional fossil fuel-based ones. In this study, we propose a zero-emission hybrid hydrogen-wind-powered propulsion system to be retrofitted to a benchmark merchant ship with a conventional propulsion system. The ship and its propulsion systems are modelled using an in-house platform. We analyse power and energy requirements for the ship over a realistic route and one-year schedule, factoring in actual sea and weather conditions. Initially, we examine the battery-powered propulsion system, which proves impractical even with a reduction in the ship’s speed and the addition of a charging station. This retrofitted battery-powered propulsion system will occupy a significant portion of the existing ship’s deadweight due to its substantial weight, consequently reducing the ship’s cargo capacity. To address this, we evaluate integrating a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system with power equal to the non-propulsive constant load in the ship. We demonstrate that under these conditions, and with four Flettner rotors and the charging station positioned mid-port on the ship’s route, the size of the zero-emission propulsion system can be approximately 20% of the deadweight, rendering such a system feasible.

Hydrogen fuel cell

Wind power

Hybrid hydrogen-wind-powered propulsion system

Zero-emission

Battery

Cargo ship

Author

Mohammad Hossein Arabnejad Khanouki

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Fabian Thies

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Huadong Yao

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Jonas Ringsberg

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Marine Technology

Ocean Engineering

0029-8018 (ISSN)

Vol. 310 118618

Strategic research project on Chalmers on hydro- and aerodynamics

The Chalmers University Foundation, 2019-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.

Fossil-free ships: energy demand, production, storage and consumption

Chalmers, 2022-07-01 -- 2024-06-30.

Chalmers, 2022-07-01 -- 2023-06-30.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Areas of Advance

Transport

Energy

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Vehicle Engineering

Energy Systems

Marine Engineering

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.1016/j.oceaneng.2024.118618

More information

Latest update

8/7/2024 1