EP2855254A1

EP2855254A1 - Passenger cabin for cruise ship and cruise ship with such cabins

Info

Publication number: EP2855254A1
Application number: EP12740233.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emanuele TRUANT
Original assignee: Fincantieri SpA
Current assignee: Fincantieri SpA
Priority date: 2012-05-31
Filing date: 2012-05-31
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Also published as: WO2013179319A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a passenger cabin for cruise ships comprising at least one portion 3, 10 destined to be positioned, when assembled, on the outside of the ship, and an electrical system 30. The cabin 1 comprises one or more photovoltaic panels 40 positioned on the outer portion of the cabin 1 and connected to the electrical system 30 of said cabin.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"PASSENGER CABIN FOR CRUISE SHIP AND CRUISE SHIP WITH

SUCH CABINS"

Field of application

The present invention relates to a passenger cabin for a cruise ship and cruise ship with such cabins.

State of the art

As is known, in modern day cruise ships 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.

However this configuration exposes the passenger cabins to the risk of electricity black-out caused by failures in the electricity generators or distribution lines. With the aim of offering the guests on cruise ships an increasingly improved service, the need is increasingly felt to reduce the inconvenience to passengers related to such electricity black-out (even if rare and generally not prolonged) .

At the same time, there is an ever more pressing need to reduce fuel consumption and the introduction of energy- saving solutions on board ship is a step in this direction. Such need has up till now been tackled by focusing on improving the efficiency both of electricity generator and distribution systems and of the utilities consuming such.

Presentation of the invention

Consequently, 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.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid purposes, can be seen clearly from the contents of the following claims and the advantages of the same will be more clearly comprehensible from the detailed description below, made with reference to the attached drawings, showing one or more embodiments by way of non-limiting examples, wherein:

- Figure 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;

- Figure 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; and

- Figure 7 is a simplified view of an electrical system of a passenger cabin according to the present invention.

Detailed description

With reference to the appended drawings, 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. Here and henceforth in the description and the claims, reference will be made to the cabin 1 and to the ship 100 in conditions of use. The references to an upper or lower position should therefore be understood in this sense.

According to a general embodiment of the invention, 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.

According to the invention, 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.

According to the preferred embodiment solution illustrated in Figure 7, the electrical system 30 of the cabin comprises:

- at least one energy storage system, connected to the aforesaid one or more photovoltaic panels 40; and

- an electricity distribution system, connected to the energy storage system.

Advantageously, the energy storage system comprises one or more batteries 31 and one or more battery-chargers 32, electrically connected to the photovoltaic panels 40. In particular 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. In particular 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.

Preferably, the electricity distribution system comprises at least one electric inverter DC/AC 33.

In particular the 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) .

Preferably, 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. In the case of the batteries being totally flat, the electric switch 4 automatically switches to the on board grid to guarantee the electricity supply to the cabin utilities in any case.

Advantageously, 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); and an immission/distribution group in the cabin (inverter and switch) , with connection to the centralised on board grid of the ship.

According to a preferred embodiment solution, as shown in Figure 5, 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. Advantageously, as shown schematically in Figure 5 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. Preferably the cabin is also provided with an en suite bathroom.

Advantageously,- 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.

Preferably, 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 . In particular the balcony 10 is accessible through a door or French window made in the outer perimetral wall 3 of the aforesaid cabin 1. As shown in the appended drawings, advantageously, 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.

In particular 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.

More specifically, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, the balcony comprises:

- a main support element 11, which defines the floor surface of the balcony, and, in particular, may project from the main structure of the ship; and

- a parapet 12, connected to the main support element 11 and/or to the box-like structure of the cabin.

In particular, 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.

Preferably, the photovoltaic panels 40 are positioned on the parapet 12 of the balcony. In particular, the photovoltaic panels 40 may · be built in to the structure of the parapet itself. For example, in the case in which the parapet 12 comprises glazed elements, the photovoltaic panels 40 can be built in to said glazed elements, for example positioned between two glass sheets .

Advantageously, 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.

Advantageously, 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.

As shown in particular in Figure 6, the balcony may comprise a coaming 16, connected to the main support element 11 and/or to the box-like structure of the cabin. In particular as shown in Figure 6, 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.

In particular, the panels may be placed on the floor surface 15 of the balcony. This particular arrangement may be envisaged alternatively to or in combination withthe previous arrangements.

The photovoltaic panels 40 may be of the thin^' film type, preferably of third generation. For example the Nanosolar product, made from photovoltaic ink, lightweight and high performance, may be used. Alternatively, 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. For example 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;

give better performance in conditions of high environmental temperatures by having a lower functioning temperature .

Both technologies provide sufficient modularity to the panels to fill the available surfaces in an optimal manner .

The choice of the two technologies (thin film or wafer) , given the comparable technical characteristics, is also linked to the better aesthetic finish and lesser impact on the skyline of the ship achieved during the mock-up phase .

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 4.8m² taking the glazing of the parapet and 1.2m² of the two partitions, to a total of 6m²-

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.

In particular, all the furnishing elements are contained inside this cabin, as shown in a generalised manner in Fig. 5. Preferably in a cabin there are:

- sleeping area with at least two beds, relative bedside tables ;

- 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.

Advantageously, the cabin is well-lit according to the most modern standards and provided with every comfort, such as television, telephone, Internet access etc.

Hypothesising the coefficients of use over a period of 24 hours for each utility, the energy needed to power the cabin was calculated at around ~ 6.100 W h / day. The coefficients were chosen so as to overestimate the energy consumption of the cabin.

To verify whether it is possible to ensure the power supply of the cabin with the photovoltaic technology identified and with the available surface area, 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 / (m²/day) .

Hypothesising a real efficiency of the panel of 11% (conservative estimate compared to the real value) , and estimating an availability of photovoltaic surface of 6m² (4.8 m² of the parapet + 1. 2 m² of the partitions) the energy which can be produced is 9,200 h / (m² day) x 0.11 x 6 m², amounting to ~ 6.100 W h / day.

The estimates made allow one to concede that the passenger cabin according to the invention is energetically self-sufficient, given .that the photovoltaic surface is able to cover the daily energy requirement of such cabin. It is important to emphasise that the irradiation measured was at a land weather station ; consequently the value of 9.200 W h / (m² day) is a conservative estimate compare to the real conditions of use of the system.

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. 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.

In particular the cruise ship comprises a plurality of passenger cabins 1 according to the invention, ^' arranged over various decks and looking onto the two sides. In particular each cabin is provided with a balcony 10, with photovoltaic panels 40.

The invention permits numerous advantages to be achieved, in part already described.

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 according to the invention 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.

The invention thus conceived thereby achieves the intended objectives.

Obviously, its practical embodiments .may assume forms and configurations different from those described while remaining within the sphere of protection of the invention .

Furthermore, all the parts may be replaced with technically equivalent parts and the dimensions, shapes and materials used may be varied as required.

Claims

1. Passenger cabin for cruise ships comprising at least one portion (3, 10) destined to be positioned in an assembled condition on the outside of the ship, and an electrical system (30) , characterised by the fact of comprising one or more photovoltaic panels (40) positioned on said outer portion (3, 10) of the cabin (1) and connected to the electrical system (30) of said cabin .

2. Cabin according to claim 1, comprising a lodging compartment delimited by a box-like structure with a plurality of perimetral walls (2, 3, 4, 5), said outer portion comprising at least one of said perimetral walls (3), said one or more photovoltaic panels (40) being positioned on said at least one perimetral wall (3) of the box-like structure comprised in the outer portion of the cabin.

3. Cabin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer portion of the cabin (1) comprises a balcony (10) , said photovoltaic panels (40) being positioned on one or more of the outer surfaces of said balcony (10) .

4. Cabin according to claim 3, wherein the balcony (10) comprises _. one or more glazed surfaces, said photovoltaic panels (40) being positioned on . one or more outer surfaces.

5. Cabin according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the balcony (10) comprises a main support element (11), defining the floor surface (15) of the balcony and a parapet (12) .

6. Cabin according to claim 5, wherein the photovoltaic panels (40) are positioned on the parapet (12) .

7. Cabin, according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the photovoltaic panels (40) are positioned on the main support element (11) .

8. Cabin according, to claim 7, wherein the photovoltaic panels (40) are placed on the floor surface

(15) .

9. Cabin according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said main support element (11) comprises a coaming (16) , said photovoltaic panels (40) being positioned on the coaming

(16) .

10. Cabin according to one or more of the claims from 3 to 9, wherein the balcony (10) comprises one or more partition elements (13, 14) with respect to the balconies of adjacent cabins, the photovoltaic panels (40) being positioned in one or more of said partition elements (13, 14) .

11. Cabin according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said one or more photovoltaic panels (40) are of the thin film type.

12. Cabin according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said one or more photovoltaic panels (40) are of the wafer type.

13. Cabin according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the electrical system (30) of the cabin comprises :

- at least one energy storage system, connected to said one or more photovoltaic panels (40) ; and

- an electricity distribution system, connected to the energy storage system.

14. Cabin according to claim 13, wherein the energy storage system comprises one or more batteries (31) and one or more battery-chargers (32), electrically connected to the photovoltaic panels (40) .

15. Cabin according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the electricity distribution system comprises at least one electric inverter DC/AC (33) .

16. Cabin according to one or more of the claims from 13 to 15, wherein the distribution system comprises an electric switch (34) by means of which the electrical system (30) of the cabin is connected to the electricity grid on board ship.

17. Cruise ship, comprising a plurality of passenger cabins, of which at least a part faces the outside of the ship (100), one or more of the passenger cabins facing the outside of the ship being passenger cabins according to one more of the previous claims.