KR101369876B1 - Apparatus and Method for Producing Electricity of Commercial Ship - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for producing electricity required by a merchant ship that receives freight and transports or services, comprising a methane that decomposes and methanates a liquid fuel for methanation, and reformes and reacts methane generated in the methane to produce a synthesis gas. Disclosed is a commercial vessel electric production apparatus comprising a reforming reactor to be produced and a fuel cell for producing electricity by electrochemically reacting syngas produced by reforming and reacting methane in the reforming reactor.

Merchant Marine, Liquid Fuel for Methanation, Methane, Reforming Reactor, Fuel Cell

Description

Apparatus and Method for Producing Electricity of Commercial Ship}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing electricity on a merchant ship, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for producing electricity required for a merchant ship.

Commercial ships are vessels that receive freight, transport passengers or cargo, or provide services, and generally use diesel generators to generate power for use inside the vessel.

However, diesel generators not only have low thermal efficiency of 30-40%, but also produce pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), sulfur oxides (SO _X ), and nitrogen oxides (NO _X ). There is a problem that occurs.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and to provide an electric production apparatus and method of a commercial ship configured to produce electricity necessary for a commercial ship without releasing environmental pollutants with high thermal efficiency. It is done.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a device for producing electricity required by a merchant ship that receives freight or passengers or cargo, and services, a methanator for decomposing and methanating liquid fuel for methanation A reforming reactor for generating a synthesis gas by reforming the methane produced in the methanator and a fuel cell for producing electricity by electrochemically reacting the synthesis gas generated by the methane reforming reaction in the reforming reactor. There is provided an apparatus for producing electricity of a merchant ship.

The liquid fuel for methanation is marine gas oil (MGO), marine diesel oil (MDO), methanol (Methanol; MeOH), dimethyl ether (Di-Methyl Ether, DME) and liquefied petroleum gas It is preferable that it is any one of (Liquefied Petroleum Gas; LPG).

It is preferable that a sulfur remover is installed at a rear end of the methanator to remove sulfur oxides generated during the methane production process.

The reforming reactor preferably includes an external reforming reactor for reforming and reacting methane with syngas outside the fuel cell and an internal reforming reactor for reforming and reacting methane with syngas inside the fuel cell.

The reforming reactor is preferably a steam reforming reactor for reforming the methane with steam to generate a synthesis gas.

Preferably, the fuel cell includes a steam supply line for supplying steam generated incidentally in the process of electrochemically reacting the synthesis gas to the reforming reactor.

The rear end of the reforming reactor is preferably provided with a separator for separating and removing the ash (ash) and water incidentally generated in the process of reforming the methane.

It is preferable to include a compressor for compressing and supplying air to the fuel cell.

The fuel cell is preferably connected to an electrical storage unit for storing the electricity produced by the fuel cell.

Preferably, the methanator, the sulfur remover, the reforming reactor, the separator, the fuel cell, the compressor, and the electrical storage unit are formed as one fuel cell module.

The fuel cell is preferably a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell.

When the fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell, the fuel cell includes a carbon dioxide collector for capturing carbon dioxide generated during the electrochemical reaction of syngas in the solid oxide fuel cell and carbon dioxide collected from the carbon dioxide collector. It is preferable to further install a carbon dioxide storage tank for storing.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, as a method for producing the electricity required by the merchant ship to receive passengers or freight or services, by reacting the synthesis gas electrochemically Install a fuel cell in the merchant vessel, and decompose and methanate the liquid fuel for methanation, reforming the methane produced by the methane to generate a synthesis gas, the synthesis gas generated by the reforming reaction Provided with a fuel cell is provided an electricity production method of a merchant ship characterized in that to produce electricity by reacting electrochemically in the fuel cell.

It is preferable to remove the sulfur oxides generated during the process of producing the methane after the methanation of the liquid fuel for methanation.

It is preferable to generate syngas by steam reforming the methane.

Steam generated in the process of electrochemically reacting syngas in the fuel cell is preferably used for the steam reforming reaction.

As described above, according to the electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention, since a fuel cell is used instead of a diesel generator, it is possible to produce electricity required by a ship without high environmental efficiency and discharge environmental pollutants.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention. The merchant ship 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a fuel cell module 10, a propulsion fuel storage tank 20, a propulsion diesel engine 30, and a propeller 40. In the embodiment of the present invention is to use a fuel cell module instead of a diesel generator as a means for producing power for use inside the ship.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing blocks of elements constituting the fuel cell module when the fuel cell of the present invention is a molten carbonate fuel cell. The fuel cell module illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a methanator 11, a sulfur remover 12, an external reforming reactor 13, a separator 14, a fuel cell 15, a compressor 16, and an electrical storage unit 17. It includes.

In the methanizer 11, marine gas oil (MGO), marine diesel oil (MDO), methanol (Methanol; MeOH), dimethyl ether (Di-Methyl Ether, DME), liquefied petroleum gas Various methanation liquid fuels, such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), are injected. The liquid fuel for methanation is not shown, but may be stored in a separate liquid fuel storage tank for methanation. In particular, it will be appreciated that when the liquid fuel for methanation is marine diesel oil, it may be stored in the propulsion fuel storage tank 20.

The methanator 11 generates methane (CH ₄ ) from the liquid fuel for methanation by performing a methanation process to decompose and methanate the injected liquid fuel for methanation.

The reaction scheme representing the methanation process is as follows.

2C ₁₂ H ₂₃ (average structural formula for offshore diesel) + heat (or catalyst) → 11CH ₄ + 13C + H ₂

Relatively low molecular weight methanol (CH ₃ OH), dimethyl ether (DME) and the like can be directly reformed in a liquid fuel state, that is, without the need for methanation, but relatively high molecular weight such as MGO, MDO, etc. Liquid fuels must be methanated with a low molecular weight fuel first through a methanator before reforming.

The sulfur remover 12 removes sulfur oxides (SO _x ) generated during the process of producing methane (CH ₄ ) in the methanator (11). The sulfur remover 12 is provided at the rear end of the methanator 11.

The reaction scheme representing the sulfur removal process is as follows. In the following scheme, a desulfurization process using a metal oxide (MO) is shown.

1) MO + H ₂ S → MS + H ₂ O

2) MS + 3 / 2O ₂ → MO + SO ₂

3) SO ₂ + 2CO (or H ₂ ) → S + 2CO (or 2H ₂ O)

Examples of the metal oxides include ZnO, Zeolite, Fe ₂ O ₃ , CaO and the like.

The external reforming reactor 13 reforms the methane (CH ₄ ) generated in the methanator 11 to generate a synthesis gas. The external reforming reactor 13 is installed at the rear end of the sulfur remover 12. The external reforming reactor 13 refers to a device for reforming methane to syngas from the outside of the fuel cell 15.

In addition, the reforming reactor illustrated in the embodiment of the present invention is a steam reforming reactor for reforming the methane with steam to generate a synthesis gas.

A reaction formula showing a process of generating synthesis gas by reforming methane (CH ₄ ) in the external reforming reactor 13 is as follows.

CH ₄ + H ₂ O → 3H ₂ + CO

In the embodiment of the present invention, a steam reforming reactor that generates a synthesis gas by reforming methane and steam as a reforming reactor is illustrated. However, in addition to the steam reforming reactor, a thermal reforming reactor that generates syngas by performing autothermal reforming of methane with steam and oxygen. , A carbon dioxide reforming reactor that produces a synthesis gas by reforming methane with carbon dioxide, a partial oxidation reforming reactor that produces a synthesis gas by partially oxidizing methane with oxygen, and a synthesis gas that produces a synthesis gas by reforming methane with steam and carbon dioxide. It will be appreciated that steam and carbon dioxide reforming reactors are also possible.

Here, the steam reforming reaction is triggered by a catalyst such as nickel (Ni). In the external reforming reactor 13, synthesis gas hydrogen (H ₂ ) and carbon monoxide (CO) are generated, and impurities are generated incidentally in the process of reforming methane. In the present specification, only hydrogen and carbon monoxide will be referred to as synthesis gas. Impurities include ash and water (H ₂ O).

A separator 14 is provided at the rear end of the external reforming reactor 13. Separator 14 separates and removes ash and water (H ₂ O), which are impurities that are incidentally generated during the reforming reaction of methane in the external reforming reactor (13).

The fuel cell 15 is provided at the rear end of the separator 14.

The syngas generated by the methane reforming reaction in the external reforming reactor 13 is supplied to the fuel cell 15 as fuel for fuel cell, and the fuel cell 15 is a fuel for fuel cell supplied from the external reforming reactor 13. The gas is electrochemically reacted to produce electricity. Fuel cells have a high thermal efficiency of 50-60%.

Meanwhile, steam (H ₂ O) is incidentally generated during the electrochemical reaction of the synthesis gas in the fuel cell 15, and the steam is supplied to the external reforming reactor 13 through the steam supply line L15. It is used to reform the methane in the external reforming reactor (13).

The compressor 16 is connected to the fuel cell 15 to compress and supply air to the fuel cell 15.

The electrical storage unit 17 is connected to the fuel cell 15 to store the electricity produced by the fuel cell 15. Electricity stored in the electric storage unit 17 is supplied to a power demand destination in the ship.

The methanator 11, the sulfur remover 12, the external reforming reactor 13, the separator 14, the fuel cell 15, the compressor 16 and the electrical storage 17 are formed as one fuel cell module. .

In addition, such a methanator, a sulfur remover, an external reforming reactor, a separator, a compressor, a fuel cell, and an electrical storage unit are well known technologies, and thus, the configuration thereof will not be described in detail.

On the other hand, the fuel cell 15 is preferably a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC, Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell) or a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell).

In the case where the fuel cell 15 is a molten carbonate fuel cell, a reaction equation showing a process of producing electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is a synthesis gas, in a molten carbonate fuel cell is as follows.

^{_{Anode: H 2 + CO 3 -2 →}} H 2 O + CO 2 + 2e -

^{_{CO + CO 3 -2 → 2CO 2}} + 2e -

  CO + H₂O → H₂ + CO₂

_{Cathode: 0.5O 2 + CO 2 + 2e} - → CO 3 -2

Overall reaction of fuel cell: H ₂ + 0.5O ₂ + CO ₂ → H ₂ O + CO ₂

Here, carbon monoxide supplied to the fuel cell 15 together with hydrogen is used for the reaction of producing hydrogen by reacting with water at the anode. Carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) generated at this time is sent to the air electrode is used in the reaction to produce carbon trioxide (CO ₃ ^-2 ) in the air electrode. That is, when the fuel cell 15 is a molten carbonate fuel cell, carbon dioxide generated in the process of producing electricity is circulated inside the fuel cell without being discharged to the outside.

In addition, when the fuel cell 15 is a solid oxide fuel cell, a reaction equation representing a process of producing electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen, carbon monoxide, which is a synthesis gas in a solid oxide fuel cell is as follows.

^{_{Anode: H 2 + O -2 → H}} 2 O + 2e -

_{^{CO + O -2 → CO 2 +}} 2e -

CO + H ₂ O → H ₂ + CO ₂

^{_{Cathode: 0.5O 2 + 2e - → O}} -2

Overall reaction of fuel cell: H ₂ + 0.5O ₂ → H ₂ O

Here, carbon monoxide supplied to the fuel cell 15 together with hydrogen is used for the reaction of producing hydrogen by reacting with water at the anode. Carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) generated at this time should be treated by a separate device.

When the fuel cell 15 is a solid oxide fuel cell as described above, in order to process carbon dioxide generated in the process of electrochemically reacting syngas in the fuel cell, as shown in FIG. A carbon dioxide collector 18 is installed at the carbon dioxide collector, and a carbon dioxide storage tank 19 is connected to the carbon dioxide collector 18 to store carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) collected at the carbon dioxide collector 18. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing elements constituting the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the fuel cell module of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

According to the fuel cell module shown in FIG. 3, when the fuel cell 15 is a solid oxide fuel cell, a carbon dioxide collector 18 and a carbon dioxide storage tank 19 are installed in the fuel cell module, thereby synthesizing it in the fuel cell. Since carbon dioxide generated in the process of electrochemically reacting gas is not discharged into the atmosphere, the problem of environmental pollution due to carbon dioxide emission can be solved.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the liquid fuel for methanation is supplied to the fuel cell through the methanation process and the reforming reaction process to produce electricity required for the vessel, and the sulfur oxides generated in the methanation process are removed from the sulfur remover 12. In addition, the carbon dioxide storage tank is circulated inside the fuel cell 15 or the carbon dioxide collector 18 without releasing carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) generated in the process of electrochemically reforming the synthesis gas in the fuel cell to the outside. Since stored in 19, and not the environment of sulfur oxide pollutants in the process of producing electricity required for the vessel (sO _X) and carbon dioxide as well as nitrogen oxide is not discharged to (CO ₂₎ to the outside (nO _X) is at all occurs Do not.

In addition, according to the fuel cell module according to another embodiment of the present invention, the fuel cell 15 may include an internal reforming reactor 23 therein. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating elements of the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a molten carbonate fuel cell and includes an internal reforming reactor therein. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating elements constituting the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell and includes an internal reforming reactor therein. In the fuel cell module of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the fuel cell module of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Therefore, in the fuel cell module according to another embodiment of the present invention, methane is reformed by syngas even inside the fuel cell 15. In a fuel cell module according to another embodiment of the present invention, only 10% of methane is reformed into syngas in the external reforming reactor 13 and 90% of methane is reformed into syngas in the internal reforming reactor 18. . It is known that the use of a mixture of an external reforming reactor and an internal reforming reactor increases the efficiency of the reforming reaction.

Since the internal reforming reactor is a known technique, the configuration thereof will not be described in detail herein.

6 is a view schematically showing each component in the merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The diesel engine 30 is supplied with a propulsion fuel. The diesel engine 30 drives the propeller 40 through the clutch 31.

The methanizer 11 of the fuel cell module is supplied with a liquid fuel for methanation. The methane produced in the methanator 11 passes through a sulfur remover 12 and an external reforming reactor 13, and the synthesis gas generated in the external reforming reactor 13 is supplied to the fuel cell 15. The fuel cell 15 is connected to the electricity demand in the ship, that is, the basic living electrical equipment and working electrical equipment of the vessel. Therefore, the electricity produced by the fuel cell 15 is supplied to the electricity demand destination in the ship, that is, the basic living electrical equipment and working electrical equipment of the vessel. A DC / AC converter 51 is disposed at the rear end of the electrical storage unit 17, and an AC / AC converter 53 is provided at a line connected to the basic living electrical equipment of the ship at the rear end of the DC / AC converter 51. It is arranged. On the other hand, the molten carbonate fuel cell has an operating temperature of 650 ° C. and the solid oxide fuel cell has an operating temperature of 650-1,000 ° C., whereby the fuel cell is a fuel cell when the fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell. Significant heat is generated. However, the high temperature heat generated in such a fuel cell is generally discarded, and a waste heat recovery device 55 may be installed in the fuel cell 15 in order to use the waste heat discarded in the fuel cell.

On the other hand, when the merchant ship according to the embodiment of the present invention is an LNG carrier, nitrogen must be supplied to maximize the thermal barrier effect of the insulation layer of the LNG storage tank, and for this purpose, a separate air compression package is provided to the LNG carrier. And a nitrogen generator package (N ₂ Generator Package) is installed. The Air Compression Package compresses and cools the air to the appropriate pressure / temperature. The nitrogen generator package (N ₂ Generator Package) serves to separate nitrogen and oxygen after filtering and heat treatment of the air treated in the front end. The generated nitrogen is stored in the N ₂ Buffer Tank of the N ₂ Consumer Package and supplied to the insulation layer of the LNG storage tank, and oxygen is dumped to the atmosphere outside the ship. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the merchant ship is an LNG carrier, the use of high purity oxygen which is thrown into the atmosphere outside the ship instead of air may increase the efficiency of the fuel cell.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of supplying oxygen, which is a by-product from a nitrogen generator package, to a fuel of a fuel cell when the merchant ship is an LNG carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, a nitrogen generator package 70 is connected to an oxygen storage tank 90 connected to the fuel cell 15, and nitrogen storage of the nitrogen consumption package 80 is connected to the nitrogen generator package 70. The tank 81 is connected. The nitrogen generator 70 includes a filter package 71, an electric heater 73, and a membrane separator 75. In addition, an air compression package 60 is connected to the front end of the nitrogen generator package 70. The air compression package 60 is composed of an air compressor 61 and a post cooler 63. Therefore, in the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, since the high purity oxygen (O ₂ ) passed through the nitrogen generator package 70 is supplied to the fuel cell 15, the efficiency of the fuel cell may be increased.

As described above, according to the electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention, since a fuel cell is used instead of a diesel generator, it is possible to produce electricity required by a ship without high thermal efficiency and discharge environmental pollutants.

While the invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications, changes or modifications may be made in the art within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and thus, the foregoing description and drawings It should be construed as illustrating the present invention rather than limiting the technical spirit of the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram of a merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing blocks of elements constituting the fuel cell module when the fuel cell of the present invention is a molten carbonate fuel cell.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing elements constituting the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating elements of the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a molten carbonate fuel cell and includes an internal reforming reactor therein.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating elements constituting the fuel cell module in blocks when the fuel cell of the present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell and includes an internal reforming reactor therein.

6 is a view schematically showing each component in the merchant ship according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing, in block form, a configuration of supplying oxygen to a fuel cell when the merchant ship is an LNG carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (19)

A device that produces electricity for a merchant ship that receives freight and transports or services passengers, A methanator which decomposes and methanates the liquid fuel for methanation; A reforming reactor for generating a synthesis gas by reforming the methane produced in the methanator; A fuel cell for producing electricity by electrochemically reacting a synthesis gas generated by methane reforming in the reforming reactor; And A sulfur remover installed at a rear end of the methanator to remove sulfur oxides generated during the process of generating methane in the methanator, The fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell, In order to use the waste heat discarded by the fuel cell, a waste heat recovery device is installed in the fuel cell, Wherein the merchant ship is an LNG carrier having a nitrogen generator supplying the oxygen through the nitrogen generator to the fuel cell, wherein the oxygen is stored in an oxygen storage tank connected to the fuel cell electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship. The method according to claim 1, The liquid fuel for methanation is marine gas oil (MGO), marine diesel oil (MDO), methanol (Methanol; MeOH), dimethyl ether (Di-Methyl Ether, DME) and liquefied petroleum gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas; LPG), any one of the electric vessel production apparatus. delete The method according to claim 1, The reforming reactor includes an external reforming reactor for reforming and reacting methane with a synthesis gas outside the fuel cell and an internal reforming reactor for reforming and reacting methane with synthesis gas inside the fuel cell. Device. The method of claim 4, The reforming reactor is a steam reforming reactor for producing a synthesis gas by reforming the methane with steam, the electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship. The method of claim 5, And a steam supply line for supplying steam generated incidentally in the process of electrochemically reacting the synthesis gas in the fuel cell to the reforming reactor. The method of claim 5, The rear end of the reforming reactor is a commercial ship production apparatus, characterized in that a separator for separating and removing the ash (ash) generated by the process of reforming the methane and remove water. The method according to claim 1, And a compressor for compressing and supplying air to the fuel cell. The method according to claim 1, The fuel cell is an electricity production apparatus of a merchant ship, characterized in that the electrical storage unit for storing the electricity produced by the fuel cell is connected. The method of claim 7, The methane generator, the sulfur remover, the reforming reactor, the separator and the fuel cell are formed as one fuel cell module. delete The method according to claim 1, When the fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell, the fuel cell includes a carbon dioxide collector for capturing carbon dioxide generated during the electrochemical reaction of syngas in the solid oxide fuel cell and carbon dioxide collected from the carbon dioxide collector. The electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship characterized in that the carbon dioxide storage tank for storing is further installed. The method of claim 8, In the case where the merchant ship is the LNG carrier provided with the nitrogen generator, the compressor is characterized in that the nitrogen generator is connected to the electricity production apparatus of the merchant ship. As a method of producing electricity for a merchant ship that receives freight and transports passengers or cargo or provides services, A fuel cell is installed on the merchant ship that produces electricity by reacting syngas electrochemically. Decompose and methanate the liquid fuel for methanation, Generating a synthesis gas by reforming the methane produced by the methanation, Supplying the synthesis gas generated by the reforming reaction to the fuel cell to produce electricity by reacting electrochemically in the fuel cell, Methanation of the liquid fuel for methanation and then removal of sulfur oxides generated during the process of producing methane, The fuel cell is a molten carbonate fuel cell or a solid oxide fuel cell, Using waste heat discarded from the fuel cell by a waste heat recovery device installed in the fuel cell, When the merchant ship is an LNG carrier with a nitrogen generator, the supply of oxygen through the nitrogen generator to the fuel cell, the oxygen is stored in an oxygen storage tank connected to the fuel cell, characterized in that the electricity production method of the merchant ship. 15. The method of claim 14, The liquid fuel for methanation is marine gas oil (MGO), marine diesel oil (MDO), methanol (Methanol; MeOH), dimethyl ether (Di-Methyl Ether, DME) and liquefied petroleum gas (Liquefied Petroleum Gas; LPG) any one of the electricity production method of a commercial ship. delete 15. The method of claim 14, A method for producing electricity on a merchant vessel, characterized in that to generate syngas by steam reforming the methane. 18. The method of claim 17, The steam generated in the process of the electrochemical reaction of the synthesis gas in the fuel cell is used for the steam reforming reaction of the merchant vessel characterized in that used for the steam reforming reaction. delete

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