Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B29/00—Accommodation for crew or passengers not otherwise provided for
  • B63B29/02—Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63J—AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
  • B63J3/00—Driving of auxiliaries
  • B63J2003/001—Driving of auxiliaries characterised by type of power supply, or power transmission, e.g. by using electric power or steam
  • B63J2003/002—Driving of auxiliaries characterised by type of power supply, or power transmission, e.g. by using electric power or steam by using electric power
  • B63J2003/003—Driving of auxiliaries characterised by type of power supply, or power transmission, e.g. by using electric power or steam by using electric power using photovoltaic power generation, e.g. using solar panels
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T70/00—Maritime or waterways transport

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a passenger cabin for a cruise ship and cruise ship with such cabins.
• the energy requirement of the passenger cabins is provided for in a centralised manner by the electricity grid on board, comprising one or more voltage generators connected to the ship's engines.
• the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above , by making available a passenger cabin for cruise ships which is energetically independent of the electricity grid on board, so as to significantly reduce the inconvenience to users related to black-out of the on board electricity grid.
• a further purpose of the present invention is to make available a passenger cabin for a cruise ship, which helps to reduce the overall electricity consumption of the ship and thereby fuel consumption.
• a further purpose of the present invention is to make available a passenger cabin for a cruise ship which is safe and reliable as regards functioning.
• a further purpose of the present invention is to make available a passenger cabin for a cruise ship which is easy to produce.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematised view of a side of a cruise ship provided with a plurality of cabins with balcony, arranged over various decks;
• - Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of a detail of the side of the ship in Figure 1, relative to three cabins with balcony, belonging to three decks one above the other;
• - Figure 3 is a cross-section view of Figure 2 according to the section plane A-A indicated therein;
• Figure 4 is a cross-section view of Figure 3 according to the cross-section plane B-B indicated therein;
• FIG. 5 is a ground view of the central cabin in Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a balcony of a passenger cabin on a cruise ship, with some parts partially sectioned to show others more clearly;
• FIG. 7 is a simplified view of an electrical system of a passenger cabin according to the present invention.
• reference numeral 1 globally denotes a passenger cabin for a cruise ship according to the invention and reference numeral 100 a ship provided with one or more of such cabins.
• reference numeral 100 a ship provided with one or more of such cabins.
• the passenger cabin 1 comprises at least one portion 3, 10 destined to be positioned, when assembled, on the outside of the ship, for example on a side of said ship.
• the cabin 1 further comprises a electrical system 30 which will be described in more detail below.
• the passenger cabin 1 comprises one or more photovoltaic panels 40 positioned on the outer portion 3, 10 of the cabin 1 and connected to the electrical system 30 of said cabin.
• the electrical system 30 of the cabin comprises:
• the energy storage system comprises one or more batteries 31 and one or more battery-chargers 32, electrically connected to the photovoltaic panels 40.
• batteries of the series HL - ZL manufactured by HELIOS TECHNOLOGY standing out for their high energy output and totally maintenance free may be used.
• Such batteries have been specially designed for use in standalone systems and have an average working life of 8 years.
• the gelatinous electrolyte contained in these batteries gives higher amperometric output than wet cell batteries and at the same time permits installation on slightly inclined surfaces without jeopardising output.
• battery chargers produced by SMA Solar Technology AG with outputs of over 98% can be used. These battery chargers have negligible heat dissipation and can also be used at high temperatures without the use of moving mechanical parts.
• the electricity distribution system comprises at least one electric inverter DC/AC 33.
• inverter range called SUNNY ISLAND manufactured by SMA Solar Technology AG can be used.
• These off grid inverters are designed for small compact, robust systems with a high output (negligible heat dissipation) .
• the distribution system comprises an electric switch 34 by means of which the electricity system 30 of the cabin is connected to the electricity grid on board ship.
• the electric switch 4 automatically switches to the on board grid to guarantee the electricity supply to the cabin utilities in any case.
• the electrical system 30 of the cabin may comprise one or more power counters 35, to monitor the effective production of the panels and the actual demand of the utilities, as well as an electric cabin panel 36.
• Each cabin has been designed as an independent island in terms of energy. Thanks to the photovoltaic panels 40 the electrical system 30 is able to satisfy the electricity requirements of the cabin 1. The excess energy produced is accumulated in the batteries so as to have a reserve of energy even when the panels are not producing energy, for example at night or when the sky is cloudy.
• the electricity system of the cabin 1 can therefore be divided into three functional groups:
• a generator group (the photovoltaic panels) ;
• a storage group battery charger ' and batteries
• an immission/distribution group in the cabin inverter and switch
• the cabin 1 comprises a lodging compartment delimited by a box-like structure with a plurality of perimetral walls 2, 3, 4, 5.
• the cabin 1 adjoins with an inner corridor C of the ship 100 at least with a first wall 2, which an access door to the cabin is made in.
• the cabin 1 comprises at least one sleeping area and is provided with a plurality of . furnishing elements, such as for example wardrobes, tables, chairs etc.
• the cabin is also provided with an en suite bathroom.
• At least one perimetral wall which is indicated in the drawing as 3 and, in the example shown in Figure 5, is opposite the first wall 2, is part of the aforementioned outer portion of the cabin (i.e. the portion of the cabin destined in assembled condition to be positioned on the outside of the ship) .
• the aforesaid one or more photovoltaic panels 40 may be positioned on the outer surface of such at least one perimetral wall 3 of the box-like structure comprised in the outer portion of the cabin.
• the outer portion of the cabin 1 comprises a balcony 10.
• the balcony 10 is accessible through a door made in the outer perimetral wall 3 of the cabin 1.
• Balcony is taken to mean an external space accessible from the cabin surrounded by a parapet /balustrade .
• the balcony 10 is accessible through a door or French window made in the outer perimetral wall 3 of the aforesaid cabin 1.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be positioned on one or more of the outer surfaces of the aforesaid balcony 10. This arrangement may be alternative to or combined with the position of the panels on the outer perimetral wall 3 of the cabin.
• the balcony 10 may be provided with glazed surfaces.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be positioned on one or more of the glazed outer surfaces of such balcony 10.
• the balcony comprises:
• main support element 11 which defines the floor surface of the balcony, and, in particular, may project from the main structure of the ship;
• the balcony 10 may also comprise one or more partition elements 13, 14 with respect to the balconies of adjacent cabins.
• Such partition elements 13, 14 are a greater height than the parapet 12.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 are positioned on the parapet 12 of the balcony.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may ⁇ be built in to the structure of the parapet itself.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 can be built in to said glazed elements, for example positioned between two glass sheets .
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be positioned in one or more of the partition elements 13 and 14, alternatively to or in combination with the arrangement on the parapet 12.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be positioned on the main support element 11, alternatively to or in combination with the arrangement on the parapet 12 and on the partition elements 13, 14.
• the balcony may comprise a coaming 16, connected to the main support element 11 and/or to the box-like structure of the cabin.
• the photovoltaic panels may be placed . on the coaming 16 of the main support element 11, that is on the surface of the latter positioned below the parapet.
• the panels may be placed on the floor surface 15 of the balcony.
• This particular arrangement may be envisaged alternatively to or in combination with the previous arrangements.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be of the thin ' film type, preferably of third generation.
• the Nanosolar product made from photovoltaic ink, lightweight and high performance, may be used.
• the Heliovolt product made using sputtering (plasma) technology may be used. Both these panels have an efficiency tested in the laboratory of around 19% compared to the 11% of silicon.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 may be of the wafer type.
• a wafer panel manufactured by the American company SUNPOWER may' be used, which is able to reduce the consequences of installation in non-optimal positions (such as vertical installation) where exposure and the operating temperature would considerably reduce performance.
• This technology compared to a traditional panel, has a real efficiency ⁇ 15 - 17 % and is able to: - exploit diffused light and a greater portion of the light spectrum with consequent capacity to produce more power for the same surface area installed;
• Both technologies provide sufficient modularity to the panels to fill the available surfaces in an optimal manner .
• One particularly preferred solution relates to a passenger cabin 1 with a balcony 10, provided with a parapet and two partition elements 13 and 14.
• the photovoltaic panels 40 are positioned on the parapet and on the partition elements.
• the available photovoltaic surface has been estimated at 4.8m 2 taking the glazing of the parapet and 1.2m 2 of the two partitions, to a total of 6m 2 -
• the electric balance-sheet of the cabin has been constructed with reference to the utilities installed in an EB (External balcony) cabin of a typical ship.
• This type of cabin has been chosen inasmuch as representative of most of the cabins of the relative ship, and in' fact represents the state of the art for the hotel aspect of the cruise sector.
• a cabin there are:
• - a living area which may vary in size, but which is generally furnished with a sofa, armchairs, a table and a desk; - a wardrobe area;
• a bathroom consisting of a shower cabin and/or bath, washbasin, bathroom fixtures.
• the cabin is well-lit according to the most modern standards and provided with every comfort, such as television, telephone, Internet access etc.
• the irradiation for one year was measured at a weather station situated in Treviso inland from Venice. The value found was ⁇ 9.200 W h / (m 2 /day) .
• the present invention also relates to a cruise ship 100, comprising a plurality of passenger cabins, a part of which face the outside of the ship.
• a cruise ship 100 comprising a plurality of passenger cabins, a part of which face the outside of the ship.
• One or more of the passenger cabins facing the outside of the ship consist of passenger cabins 1 according to the invention, as described above.
• the cruise ship comprises a plurality of passenger cabins 1 according to the invention, ' arranged over various decks and looking onto the two sides.
• each cabin is provided with a balcony 10, with photovoltaic panels 40.
• the passenger cabin 1 for cruise ships according to the invention is energetically autonomous. This way it is possible to separate the cabin 1 from the electricity grid on board and thereby significantly reduce the inconvenience to users related to any black-out (despite rare) of the on board electricity grid, thereby ensuring a higher level of comfort.
• the passenger cabin 1 for cruise ships helps to considerably reduce the overall electricity demand of the ship and therefore the fuel consumption, with advantages also in terms of reduced environmental impact. Thanks to its energetic autonomy and to the fact that the electric power derives from solar energy (renewable energy source) , in normal conditions the passenger cabin 1 does not absorb energy from the on board grid, except in particular circumstances, such as in the case of excess energy demand and/or non-functioning of the photovoltaic panels. Considering the number of passenger cabins on a cruise ship, the overall energy saving is considerable compared to the case of traditional cabins dependent on the on board grid for energy.
• the passenger cabin 1 for cruise ships according to the invention proves reliable as regards functioning, considering the technology already available on the market today.
• the passenger cabin 1 for cruise ships according to the invention is also easy to produce, not requiring substantial modifications to the structure of a traditional type cabin. Retrofitting programmes for existing ships may also be envisaged.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46582046

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (1)

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• 2012
  • 2012-05-31 EP EP12740233.7A patent/EP2855254A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-05-31 WO PCT/IT2012/000162 patent/WO2013179319A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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