engleski

MARINE APPLICATIONS FOR FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

The majority of ships running in the world’s oceans and waterways today are powered by diesel engines. Oil is a limited resource, the use of which is not environmentally friendly. Fuel prices fluctuate daily with a general upward trend in the past few years. The accidental leakage and dumping of oils overboard has caused terrible effects on marine environments worldwide. On top of this, increasing amounts of fossil fuel combustion have been linked to devastating global environmental effects through emissions of green house gases. A fuel cell utilizes basic electrolytic properties of oxygen and hydrogen molecules to produce electricity. The transfer of electrons between the molecules can be used to supply direct current power. The supplied electrical power will be continuous as long as both oxygen and hydrogen flows are maintained and constant. The only waste by-product produced by this ideal system is pure water. Unlike batteries that also use this fundamental principle, this cell will not degenerate over time. This hypothetically provides a permanent electrical power supply needing minimal support, and requiring only the provision of a fuel and oxygen supply. Fuel cell power systems have attracted attention because of their potential for high efficiency, low emissions, flexible use of fuels and quietness. Application of fuel cell technology to the transportation field in general and marine transportation field in general and to the marine transportation are particular is still in the early exploratory stage. A unique problem related to transportation applications is the need for quick start up and rapid large power variations during operations. Despite potential benefits the marine market is not in itself large enough to drive fuel cell technology developments. Hence, it cannot be expected that fuel cells will penetrate marine markets before they become firmly established in the commercial utility sector. In addition, cost advantages to onsite shore users due to large –scale production may not accrue to the marine industry.

Fuel cell; ship power system; energy efficiency

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