KR20240150347A - Methanol Fuel Propelled Ship - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel, comprising: a hull; a methanol tank provided on the hull; and a methanol fuel supply system for supplying methanol received from the methanol tank to a demander, wherein the hull is provided with a lashing bridge for loading a container on the upper portion thereof, and the methanol fuel supply system includes a vent portion for releasing methanol discharged from the methanol tank portion into the atmosphere, wherein the vent portion can be provided on the upper portion of the lashing bridge.

Description

Methanol Fuel Propelled Ship

The present invention relates to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel.

Recently, the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) contained in exhaust gases emitted from ships are being regulated by international agreements, and these regulations are being strengthened every year.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is being used as an environmentally friendly fuel as a response to exhaust gas regulations because it does not contain sulfur and produces less carbon dioxide.

의 극저온 상태를 유지할 필요가 있기 때문에, 연료탱크나 연료공급시스템은 극저온에 견딜 수 있는 특수한 재료로 구성될 필요가 있으며 액화천연가스의 방열을 위한 설비가 추가로 필요할 수 있으므로 연료탱크 등을 구성하기 위해 설비 비용이 추가로 필요하게 된다. 또한 탱크로 침입되는 열을 모두 차단하기 어려워 침입열에 의해 액화천연가스가 증발하므로 이때 발생하는 증발가스로 인해 연료 효율이 악화될 수 있다.However, it is difficult to liquefy liquefied natural gas by pressurization alone, and the temperature for liquefaction is about -165

Since it is necessary to maintain the extremely low temperature, the fuel tank or fuel supply system needs to be composed of special materials that can withstand extremely low temperatures, and additional equipment for heat dissipation of the liquefied natural gas may be required, so additional equipment costs are required to construct the fuel tank, etc. In addition, it is difficult to block all heat entering the tank, so the liquefied natural gas evaporates due to the infiltrating heat, and the fuel efficiency may deteriorate due to the evaporated gas generated at this time.

Instead of this liquefied natural gas, methanol (CH3OH) can be used as fuel for ships. That is, methanol is easy to handle because it is liquid at room temperature, and it does not contain sulfur components and has a low carbon content in the fuel itself, so it emits less carbon dioxide when burned. Accordingly, research is being conducted to efficiently use methanol as fuel for ships.

The present invention has been created to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a methanol fuel propulsion vessel capable of reducing the amount of sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide emissions in exhaust gas by using methanol as fuel.

The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the description below.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a methanol fuel propulsion vessel comprises: a hull; a methanol tank provided on the hull; and a methanol fuel supply system for supplying methanol received from the methanol tank to a demander, wherein the hull is provided with a lashing bridge for loading a container on the upper portion thereof, and the methanol fuel supply system includes a vent portion for releasing methanol discharged from the methanol tank portion into the atmosphere, wherein the vent portion may be provided on the upper portion of the lashing bridge.

Specifically, the vent portion is a sheet portion installed on the upper portion of the lashing bridge;

It may include a lower duct part installed on the upper part of the above sheet part; and an upper duct part extending on the upper part of the lower duct part.

Specifically, the sheet portion and the lower duct portion may be connected by a first flange having an airtight function, and the lower duct portion and the upper duct portion may be connected by a second flange having an airtight function.

Specifically, the lower duct section may include a pressure/vacuum control valve for discharging methanol discharged from the methanol tank section to the outside; and a monitoring window for maintaining the pressure/vacuum control valve.

Specifically, the upper duct section has an air intake port and an air exhaust port, and a vertical bulkhead may be provided between the air intake port and the air exhaust port.

Specifically, the pressure/vacuum control valve may be provided at the lower portion of the vertical bulkhead.

Specifically, the vent section can mix methanol discharged from the pressure/vacuum control valve with air flowing in from the air intake port and descending along the vertical bulkhead, and discharge methanol rising along the vertical bulkhead together with the air through the air outlet.

Specifically, each of the air outlet and the air intake can be installed with a barrier to block rainwater.

Specifically, the vent portion may further include a vibration prevention portion for preventing vibration, and the vibration prevention portion may include a first lashing ring provided on the upper duct portion; a second lashing ring provided on the upper portion of the lashing bridge at a predetermined distance from the sheet portion; and a wire connecting the first lashing ring and the second lashing ring.

The methanol fuel propulsion vessel of the present invention has the following effects.

A methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to the present invention can reduce the amount of sulfur oxides and carbon dioxide emitted from exhaust gas by using methanol as fuel.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a first conceptual diagram for explaining the methanol tank section and methanol fuel supply system of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a second conceptual diagram for explaining the methanol tank section and methanol fuel supply system of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a drawing for explaining the methanol service tank of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a drawing showing the methanol storage tank of Figure 1 installed on the upper deck of a ship.
Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the methanol storage tank shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a plan view for explaining the side and internal bulkhead of the methanol storage tank shown in Figure 6.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along portion “A” to explain the left and right walls of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the “B” portion to explain the front and rear walls of the methanol storage tank illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the “C” portion to explain the longitudinal bulkhead of the methanol storage tank illustrated in Figure 6.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the “D” portion to explain the transverse bulkhead of the methanol storage tank shown in Figure 6.
Figure 12 is a drawing showing the methanol service tank of Figure 1 installed inside the hull of a ship.
FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 14 is a front view of the vent part shown in Fig. 13.
Fig. 15 is a side view of the vent part shown in Fig. 13.
FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a demand-side cooling system applied to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a demand-side cooling system applied to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The purpose, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this specification, when adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that, as much as possible, the same components are given the same numerals even if they are shown in different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

In addition, please note that terms indicating directionality such as front, back, left, right, vertical, horizontal, etc. are defined based on a ship consisting of bow, stern, sides (port and starboard), upper deck, and bottom.

In addition, it is to be noted that the methanol fuel propulsion ship in this specification is a concept that includes not only a commercial ship that transports cargo from a point of departure to a destination, but also a marine structure that floats at a certain point in the sea and performs a specific task.

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

FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a first conceptual diagram for explaining a methanol tank section and a methanol fuel supply system of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a second conceptual diagram for explaining a methanol tank section and a methanol fuel supply system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a methanol service tank of FIG. 1.

In addition, FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the methanol storage tank of FIG. 1 installed on the upper deck of a ship, FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the side and inner bulkhead of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a side sectional view taken along the "A" portion for explaining the left wall and the right wall of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a front sectional view taken along the "B" portion for explaining the front wall and the rear wall of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is a side sectional view taken along the "C" portion for explaining the longitudinal bulkhead of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6, and FIG. 11 is a front sectional view taken along the "D" portion for explaining the transverse bulkhead of the methanol storage tank illustrated in FIG. 6.

Additionally, Fig. 12 is a drawing showing the methanol service tank of Fig. 1 installed inside the hull of a ship.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 12, a methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) may include a methanol tank section (2) for storing methanol, and a methanol fuel supply system (3) for supplying methanol delivered from the methanol tank section (2) as fuel to a demander (14).

In this embodiment, the term methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) is used to encompass all vessels that propel themselves with methanol as fuel, and the following description will describe a case where the methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) is a crude oil carrier as an example.

A methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) equipped with a methanol tank section (2) and a methanol fuel supply system (3) may include a hull (11), a crude oil storage tank (12), an engine room (13), and a demand location (14). The methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) may include various other components in addition to the above-described components, and in this embodiment, only the components necessary for the present invention will be described.

The hull (11) is composed of an upper deck (111), a side shell (112), a bottom plate (113), a bow (114), and a stern (115) to form the exterior of a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1).

A methanol tank section (2) may be provided in a location exposed to the outside on the hull (11). At this time, the methanol tank section (2) may be a methanol service tank (22) provided on the upper deck (111) as shown in Fig. 1, or a methanol storage tank (21) provided on the upper deck (111) as shown in Fig. 5.

In addition, a methanol tank section (2) may be provided in a location that is not exposed to the outside in the hull (11). At this time, the methanol tank section (2) may be a methanol storage tank (21) provided inside the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 1, or a methanol service tank (22) provided inside the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 12.

A plurality of crude oil storage tanks (12) are arranged in the longitudinal direction within the hull (11) and can store crude oil. The crude oil storage tanks (12) can be separated into at least three spaces by longitudinal bulkheads (121), as shown in Fig. 5, but are not limited thereto.

The engine room (13) is placed at the stern (115) of the hull (11), and a demand source (14) using methanol as fuel can be accommodated.

The demand source (14) may be provided in the engine room (13) and may be operated by receiving methanol stored in the methanol tank section (2) through the fuel supply section (31) of the methanol fuel supply system (3). In this embodiment, the demand source (14) is not limited to being provided in the engine room (13), but may be provided in various locations and may encompass various demand sources that operate using methanol as fuel.

The demand source (14) may refer to a device such as a propulsion engine or a power generation engine installed for propulsion or power generation of a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1), and may include, for example, a MELGI engine, an XDF-M engine, a DF engine included in DFDE, a DF power generation engine, a DF boiler engine, a turbine engine, etc.

The demand source (14) may include a first demand source (141) that operates at high pressure, such as a propulsion engine, and a first demand source (142) that operates at low pressure, such as a power generation engine.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first demand source (141) can be connected to the methanol tank unit (2) and the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11), and can be operated using high-pressure methanol as fuel delivered from the first fuel supply unit (311) of the fuel supply unit (31). The first demand source (142) can be connected to the methanol tank unit (2) and the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12), and can be operated using low-pressure methanol as fuel delivered from the second fuel supply unit (312) of the fuel supply unit (31).

The first demand source (141) can be connected one or more in parallel to the first fuel supply unit (311), and the first demand source (142) can be connected one or more in parallel to the second fuel supply unit (312).

The above-mentioned engine room (13), as illustrated in FIG. 12, may include a longitudinal bulkhead (131) provided on the left and right sides of the first demand (141), which is a propulsion engine, a first support deck (132) connected to the side plating (112) of the hull (11) above the first demand (141) and supporting the first demand (142), which is a power generation engine, and a second support deck (133) connected to the longitudinal bulkhead (131) and the side plating (112) at a position lower than the first support deck (132) and supporting the methanol service tank (22).

In the engine room (13) configured as described above, a first demand source (141) can be provided in a space formed by the bottom plate (113), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the first support deck (132), a first demand source (142) can be provided in a space formed by the first support deck (132), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the upper deck (111), and a methanol service tank (22) can be provided in a space formed by the second support deck (133), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the first support deck (132).

In addition, the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) may be placed at a relatively low location in order to maintain the pressure of methanol supplied from the methanol tank unit (2) above a certain level. In this case, when the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) is placed at a relatively low location, a hammering phenomenon may occur in the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) when methanol is filled in the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12).

If air or gas exists in the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12), the hammering phenomenon may occur more strongly. If methanol and air are supplied together to the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142), the fuel efficiency of the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) may decrease, and the function of the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) may be damaged.

Therefore, the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) should be placed at a relatively low height, but in order to prevent the hammering phenomenon from occurring strongly, air or the like should not move along the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12).

Accordingly, the present embodiment provides a means for removing air or gas, such as a degassing tank (DT), a first degassing line (DL1), and a second degassing line (DL2), which will be described later, so as to remove air or gas existing in a high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or a low-pressure fuel supply line (L12).

The methanol tank section (2) can store methanol, and the stored methanol can be supplied to a demand source (14) through a methanol fuel supply system (3).

The methanol tank section (2) includes a methanol storage tank (21) for storing methanol, a methanol service tank (22) for transferring methanol supplied from the methanol storage tank (21) to a methanol fuel supply system (3), a methanol transfer pump (P) for pressurizing methanol stored in the methanol storage tank (21) and supplying it to the methanol service tank (22), a methanol supply line (L1) connecting the methanol transfer pump (P) and the methanol service tank (22) and supplying methanol discharged from the methanol transfer pump (P) to the methanol service tank (22), and a methanol return line (L2) connecting the methanol service tank (22) and the methanol storage tank (21) and returning methanol stored in the methanol service tank (22) to the methanol storage tank (21). Can be.

In this embodiment, the methanol tank section (2) is described as including a methanol storage tank (21) and a methanol service tank (22), but the methanol service tank (22) may be omitted. In this case, the methanol storage tank (21) may be configured to directly deliver methanol to the methanol fuel supply system (3). That is, the methanol storage tank (21) may have both a methanol storage function and the function of a methanol service tank (22).

The methanol tank section (2) may be provided at a location exposed to the outside of the hull (11). At this time, the methanol tank section (2) may be a methanol service tank (22) provided on the upper deck (111) as shown in Fig. 1, or a methanol storage tank (21) provided on the upper deck (111) as shown in Fig. 5.

In addition, the methanol tank section (2) may be provided at a location that is not exposed to the outside of the hull (11). At this time, the methanol tank section (2) may be a methanol storage tank (21) provided inside the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 1, or a methanol service tank (22) provided inside the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 12.

The methanol storage tank (21) may be provided outside the hull (11) or inside the hull (11) as described above.

The methanol storage tank (21) may be placed one on each side of the upper deck (111), as shown in FIG. 5, but is not limited thereto.

The methanol storage tank (21), as shown in Fig. 3, is connected to an inert gas supply unit (33) and can be purged with inert gas supplied from the inert gas supply unit (33).

In addition, the methanol storage tank (21) can be connected to a vent mast (34) and a vent line (L3), and the internal pressure can be controlled by releasing the internal gas to the outside through the vent mast (34). A pressure/vacuum control valve (PVRV) can be provided at the end of the vent line (L3). The pressure/vacuum control valve (PVRV) can have its opening controlled by a pressure sensor (PS) installed in the methanol storage tank (21). A rupture disk (RD) can be installed at a part of the vent line (L3). The rupture disk (RD) is configured to automatically rupture when a dangerous situation is reached in which the internal pressure of the methanol storage tank (21) becomes so high that it cannot be relieved through the vent mast (34).

In addition, the methanol storage tank (21) can be connected to a bunkering station (not shown) provided on the port side and starboard side of the hull (11) and a bunkering line (L4), and the internal pressure can be controlled by releasing the internal gas to the outside through the bunkering station. An on/off valve (SV) can be provided in the bunkering line (L4). The on/off valve (SV) can be turned on/off by a pressure sensor (PS) installed in the methanol storage tank (21).

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 11, the methanol storage tank (21) may be configured to have an upper surface (211), a lower surface (212), and a plurality of side surfaces (213) and to form a methanol storage space therein. In addition, the methanol storage tank (21) may further include an internal bulkhead (214), a corner pillar (215), a center pillar (216), and a cofferdam (217).

The plurality of side walls (213) may be formed of wrinkled bulkheads in which valleys and mountains alternately face each other. The plurality of side walls (2133) may be formed of a front wall (2131), a rear wall (2132), a left wall (2133), and a right wall (2134).

A methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1) is a crude oil carrier in which a crude oil storage tank (12) is provided separated into at least three spaces by longitudinal bulkheads (121) within the hull (11), and in the case where the methanol storage tank (21) is provided on the upper deck (111), at least one side (213) of the left wall (2133) and the right wall (2134) of the methanol storage tank (21) can be arranged parallel to the longitudinal bulkhead (121) of the crude oil storage tank (12).

The upper surface (211) can be installed on the upper side of multiple sides (213) and can be formed as a flat bulkhead of a reinforcing panel structure with reinforcing material (2111) installed.

The lower portion (212) can be installed at the bottom of multiple sides (213) and can be formed as a flat bulkhead with a reinforcing panel structure in which a reinforcing member (2121) is installed.

An internal bulkhead (214) can be provided within a methanol storage space formed by an upper surface (211), a lower surface (212), and multiple side surfaces (213).

The inner bulkhead (214) can be arranged to intersect within the methanol storage space, and can alleviate the sloshing phenomenon of methanol stored in the methanol storage tank (21) caused by the shaking of the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1). As a result, the inner bulkhead (214) can reduce the pressure applied to the multiple sides (213) due to the sloshing of methanol, thereby preventing damage to the methanol storage tank (21).

These internal bulkheads (214) may include longitudinal bulkheads (2141) and transverse bulkheads (2142).

The longitudinal bulkhead (2141) and the transverse bulkhead (2142) may be formed as a corrugated bulkhead with alternating valleys and mountains.

The methanol storage space can be divided into multiple parts by longitudinal bulkheads (2141) and transverse bulkheads (2142).

A plurality of openings (2143) may be provided in the height direction in either the valleys or peaks of the longitudinal bulkhead (2141) and the transverse bulkhead (2142) to allow methanol to flow between the multiple divided spaces.

The longitudinal bulkhead (2141) can be formed as a single plate with one side connected to the front side wall (2131) and the other side connected to the rear side wall.

Additionally, the longitudinal bulkhead (2141) may be formed of a first longitudinal bulkhead (2141a) that is connected to the front side wall (2131) and extends to the intersection point, and a second longitudinal bulkhead (2141b) that is connected to the rear side wall (2132) and extends to the intersection point.

The transverse bulkhead (2142) can be formed in a single plate shape with one side connected to the left wall (2133) and the other side connected to the right wall.

Additionally, the transverse bulkhead (2142) may be formed of a first transverse bulkhead (2142a) that is connected to the left wall (2133) and extends to the intersection, and a second transverse bulkhead (2142b) that is connected to the right wall (2134) and extends to the intersection.

A corner pillar (215) can be provided between two sides that meet at a certain angle among a plurality of sides (213).

The corner column (215) may be formed as a square column, and the size of the cross-section may correspond to the depth of the wrinkles of the wrinkled bulkhead.

These corner pillars (215) can be provided at each of the square corners of the methanol storage tank (21), and have the function of reinforcing the connection strength of the areas connecting the front side wall (2131) and the left side wall (2133), the left side wall (2133) and the rear side wall (2132), the rear side wall (2132) and the right side wall (2134), and the right side wall (2134) and the front side wall (2131).

That is, the corner pillar (215) can serve as a reinforcing material that disperses the pressure concentrated at the corner of the methanol storage tank (21) formed by connecting multiple sides (213), thereby preventing structural damage to the multiple sides (213) due to the sloshing phenomenon of methanol.

Additionally, the corner pillar (215) may be provided with a number of openings (2151) in the height direction for maintenance of the corner portion of the methanol storage tank (21).

The center pillar (216) can be provided by connecting the first longitudinal bulkhead (2141a), the second longitudinal bulkhead (2141b), the first transverse bulkhead (2142a), and the second transverse bulkhead (2142b) forming the internal bulkhead (214) at the intersection point.

The center column (216) can be formed by connecting the mountain portion of the first longitudinal bulkhead (2141a) to the valley portion of the first transverse bulkhead (2142a), the valley portion of the first transverse bulkhead (2142a) to the valley portion of the second longitudinal bulkhead (2141b), the valley portion of the second longitudinal bulkhead (2141b) to the mountain portion of the second transverse bulkhead (2142b), and the mountain portion of the second transverse bulkhead (2142b) to the mountain portion of the first longitudinal bulkhead (2141a).

The center column (216) may be formed as a square column at the intersection point, and the size of the cross-section may correspond to the depth of the wrinkles of the wrinkled bulkhead.

These center columns (216) can serve as reinforcing materials to disperse the pressure concentrated at the connection portions of the first longitudinal bulkhead (2141a), the second longitudinal bulkhead (2141b), the first transverse bulkhead (2142a), and the second transverse bulkhead (2142b), thereby preventing structural damage to the inner bulkhead (214) due to the sloshing phenomenon of methanol.

In order to store methanol fuel, a special coating is applied inside the tank that requires a certain coating thickness management. In order to facilitate the painting work, the methanol storage tank (21) of the present embodiment has multiple side walls (213) and internal partition walls (214) formed as corrugated partition walls instead of protruding structures for reinforcement. However, due to the use of the corrugated partition walls, the corner connection portion of the side wall (213) of the methanol storage tank (21) becomes vulnerable. In the present embodiment, not only is a corner pillar (215) provided to optimize the corner connection vulnerable portion structure, but a center pillar (216) is provided at the intersection of the internal partition walls (214) to also optimize the connection vulnerable portion structure in this portion.

A cofferdam (217) can be provided between the upper deck (111) of the hull (11) and the lower surface (212) of the methanol storage tank (21) to separate the methanol storage space from the upper deck (111) vertically.

Additionally, the cofferdam (217) may be provided with a number of openings (2171) in the longitudinal direction for maintenance of the lower surface (212) of the methanol storage tank (21).

The methanol service tank (22) can deliver methanol supplied from the methanol storage tank (21) to the methanol fuel supply system (3).

A methanol service tank (22) may be provided in the hull (11). The methanol service tank (22) may be provided on the upper deck (111) of the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 1, or may be provided inside the hull (11) as shown in FIG. 12.

Additionally, a methanol service tank (22) may be provided to be accommodated within the methanol fuel supply system (3).

The methanol service tank (22), as shown in Fig. 3, is connected to an inert gas supply unit (33) and can be purged with inert gas supplied from the inert gas supply unit (33).

In addition, the methanol service tank (22) can be connected to a vent mast (34) and a vent line (L3), and the internal pressure can be controlled by releasing the internal gas to the outside through the vent mast (34). A pressure/vacuum control valve (PVRV) can be provided at the end of the vent line (L3). The pressure/vacuum control valve (PVRV) can have its opening controlled by a pressure sensor (PS) installed in the methanol service tank (22). A rupture disc (RD) can be installed at a part of the vent line (L3). The rupture disc (RD) is configured to automatically rupture when a dangerous situation is reached in which the internal pressure of the methanol service tank (22) becomes so high that it cannot be relieved through the vent mast (34).

In addition, the methanol service tank (22) can be connected to a bunkering station (not shown) provided on the port side and starboard side of the hull (11) and a bunkering line (L4), and the internal pressure can be controlled by releasing the internal gas to the outside through the bunkering station. An on/off valve (SV) can be provided in the bunkering line (L4). The on/off valve (SV) can be turned on/off by a pressure sensor (PS) installed in the methanol service tank (22).

The above-mentioned methanol service tank (22) is provided inside the hull (11), as shown in FIG. 12, and can be placed at a lower position than the first demand source (142), which is a power generation engine.

The methanol service tank (22) can be connected to the first demand source (142) and the fourth return line (RL4).

Since the methanol service tank (22) is positioned lower than the first demand source (142), methanol discharged from the first demand source (142) through the fourth return line (RL4) can be recovered to the methanol service tank (22) by gravity. Here, the first demand source (142) may be a power generation engine.

As described above, when the engine room (13) includes a longitudinal bulkhead (131), a first support deck (132), and a second support deck (133), a first demand source (141), which is a propulsion engine, can be provided in the space formed by the bottom plate (113), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the first support deck (132), a first demand source (142), which is a power generation engine, can be provided in the space formed by the first support deck (132), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the upper deck (111), and a methanol service tank (22) can be provided in the space formed by the second support deck (133), the longitudinal bulkhead (131), and the first support deck (132).

That is, the methanol service tank (22) can be provided on the second support deck (133) on one side of the engine room (13), for example, on the left or right side of the engine room (13), and can be isolated from the first demand source (141), which is a propulsion engine, and the first demand source (142), which is a power generation engine, by a longitudinal bulkhead (131).

The methanol service tank (22) can be formed in a cylindrical structure.

In addition, the methanol service tank (22) may be formed so that the lower surface has a downward slope of a certain angle from one side to the other side, as shown in Fig. 4. It may be formed as a square structure composed of an upper surface (drawing symbol not shown), a lower surface (drawing symbol not shown), and a plurality of side surfaces (drawing symbol not shown). Here, the lower surface may be provided so as to have a downward slope of a certain angle from one of the plurality of side surfaces to the other side surface.

The square-shaped methanol service tank (22) may have a double bulkhead (228) provided inside.

The double bulkhead (228) may be formed of a first bulkhead (not shown in the drawing) that is spaced apart from one side by a certain distance, connected to the upper surface, and extends a certain length in the lower direction, and a second bulkhead (not shown in the drawing) that is spaced apart from the first bulkhead by a certain distance in the other side direction, connected to the lower surface, and extends a certain length in the upper direction.

The methanol service tank (22) can be divided into a first space, a second space, and a third space by a first bulkhead and a second bulkhead forming a double bulkhead (228).

The first space may be formed by one side and the first bulkhead, the second space may be formed by the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead, and the third space may be formed by the second bulkhead and the other side.

The first space and the second space may be spaces filled with methanol returned through the third return line (RL3) or the fourth return line (RL4) connected to the fuel supply valve unit (32) of the methanol fuel supply system (3). The third return line (RL3) or the fourth return line (RL4) may be connected to the upper surface of the methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the first space.

The third space can be said to be a space filled with methanol supplied through a methanol supply line (L1) connected to a methanol storage tank (21). The methanol supply line (L1) can be connected to the upper surface of a methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the third space.

As described above, the returned methanol filled in the first space and the second space may contain foreign substances and thus is unsuitable for use as fuel for the demander (14). Therefore, a drain line (L5) for discharging the returned methanol to a drain tank (not shown) or the like may be provided on the lower surface of the methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the second space.

Additionally, a purging line (L6) for purging the interior may be provided on the upper surface of the methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the second space.

In addition, a vent line (L3) and a bunkering line (L4) for discharging internal gas to the outside may be provided on the upper surface of the methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the third space.

In addition, a fuel supply line (L11, L12) for delivering methanol to a demander (14) can be provided on the lower side of the other side of the methanol service tank (22) corresponding to the third space.

The methanol fuel supply system (3) may be a system that supplies methanol from the methanol tank section (2) to the demand source (14).

This methanol fuel supply system (3) may include a fuel supply unit (31) that pressurizes and heats methanol supplied from a methanol tank unit (2) to a pressure and temperature required by a demander (14) and supplies it to a demander (14), a fuel supply valve unit (32) that opens when methanol supplied from the fuel supply unit (31) reaches the pressure required by the demander (14), an inert gas supply unit (33) that purges the methanol tank unit (2) and the methanol fuel supply system (3), and a vent mast (34) that discharges gases existing in the methanol tank unit (2) and the methanol fuel supply system (3) to the outside.

The fuel supply unit (31) can receive methanol from the methanol tank unit (2), pressurize it to an appropriate pressure required by the demander (14), and heat it to an appropriate temperature. This fuel supply unit (31) can be a LFSS (Low-flashpoint Fuel Supply System).

When the demand source (14) is composed of a first demand source (141) that operates at high pressure, such as a propulsion engine, and a first demand source (142) that operates at low pressure, such as a power generation engine, the fuel supply unit (31) may include a first fuel supply unit (311) provided on a high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) that connects the methanol tank unit (2) and the first demand source (141), and a second fuel supply unit (312) provided on a low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) that connects the methanol tank unit (2) and the first demand source (142).

The first fuel supply unit (311) can receive methanol from the methanol tank unit (2), pressurize it to an appropriate pressure required by the first demand source (141), and heat it to an appropriate temperature.

The first fuel supply unit (311) may include a first-first pump (P11), a first-first heat exchanger (HE11), a first-first pressure regulating valve (PCV11), a first degassing line (DL1), a degassing tank (DT), a first-second pump (P12), a first-second heat exchanger (HE12), a first-second pressure regulating valve (PCV12), and a first filter (F1).

The 1-1 pump (P11) is installed on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can pressurize methanol supplied from the methanol tank section (2) to an appropriate pressure required by the degassing tank (DT) and supply it to the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11).

In this embodiment, the first-1 pump (P11) may be a magnetic pump (Magnetic Drive Pump). The magnetic pump (MP) has an external magnet attached to the motor rotating part and an internal magnet attached to the pump rotating part, so that when the motor rotates, the pump rotating part can rotate and operate by the rotational force of the motor and the magnetic force of the magnet. The external magnet provided in the motor rotating part of the pump and the internal magnet provided in the pump rotating part can be designed to have different poles, and a magnetic force can be formed between the external magnet and the internal magnet.

A mechanical seal is applied to general fluid transfer pumps, and mechanical sealing can seal the pump rotating part by using springs and carbon packing to prevent fluid from escaping from the pump rotating part. Mechanical sealing generates a contact surface within the pump, and friction occurring at the contact surface can cause wear to the packing, etc., and fluid leakage can occur due to wear of the packing, etc.

Since the motor rotating part and the pump rotating part can be separated from each other by the diaphragm, structural sealing such as packing is not applied to moving parts such as the pump rotating part, so leakage of fluid due to wear of packing, etc. can be prevented.

The 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) is installed on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can primarily heat methanol supplied from the 1-1 pump (P11) and deliver it to the degassing tank (DT). If the 1-1 return line (RL1) described below is installed, the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) can be installed on the 1-1 return line (RL1).

The first-first heat exchanger (HE11) may include a configuration for discharging air or gas to the outside in order to remove air or gas within the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11). For example, if the first-first heat exchanger (HE11) is of the shell-and-tube type, air or gas may be collected at the upper portion of the body of the shell, and if the first-first heat exchanger (HE11) is of the shell-and-plate type, air or gas may be collected at the upper portion of the body of the shell or at the discharge nozzle of the plate. In this way, air or gas may be collected in a certain area of the first-first heat exchanger (HE11) and discharged to the outside.

The 1-1 pressure regulating valve (PCV11) may be provided on the 1st return line (RL1) through which methanol is returned from the downstream of the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) to the upstream of the 1-1 pump (P11), and may be adjusted to an open state when the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) upstream of the 1-1 pump (P11) is not filled with methanol, and may be adjusted to a closed state when the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) upstream of the 1-1 pump (P11) is filled with methanol.

The first degassing line (DL1) may be arranged to branch off from the first return line (RL1) upstream of the first-1 pressure regulating valve (PCV11). The first degassing line (DL1) can degas gas within methanol before it is supplied to the degassing tank (DT) via the first-1 heat exchanger (HE11).

Gases such as air existing in the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) can move along the first degassing line (DL1) and be collected in the degassing header (not shown).

An on/off valve (not shown) may be installed in the first degassing line (DL1). If only the on/off valve is installed in the first degassing line (DL1), a large amount of liquid together with gas may be discharged into the first degassing line (DL1) due to the pressure difference between the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) to which the first return line (RL1) is connected and the first degassing line (DL1). Accordingly, the pressure of the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) may drop rapidly. In order to prevent the pressure of the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) from dropping rapidly, a control valve (not shown) may be further provided on the first degassing line (DL1). The control valve may allow the degassing to proceed slowly.

In the above, during the initial operation of the first fuel supply unit (311), methanol may not be completely filled in the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) upstream of the first-first pump (P11) or may be supplied to the first-first pump (P11) while containing gas in the methanol. In this case, the net positive suction head required (NPSHr) of the first-first pump (P11) may not be correct, which may cause a problem of cavitation.

In this embodiment, the above problem is solved by providing a first-first pressure regulating valve (PCV11) and a first degassing line (DL1) in the first return line (RL1), and air or gas contained in the initially supplied methanol is removed, and methanol is circulated through the first return line (RL1) until the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) upstream of the first-first pump (P11) is filled with methanol, and then methanol is supplied to the degassing tank (DT).

The degassing tank (DT) is provided on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can remove air or gas contained in methanol supplied from the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) and supply it to the 1-2 pump (P12).

Air or gas contained in methanol supplied to the degassing tank (DT) was removed through the first degassing line (DL1) mentioned above, but it cannot be considered to have been completely removed, and therefore, in this example, the degassing tank (DT) was provided upstream of the 1-2 pump (P12).

The degassing tank (DT) can be configured to discharge air or gas collected at the top to the outside and transfer liquid collected at the bottom to the 1st-2nd pump (P12).

The degassing tank (DT) may be equipped with a device capable of removing air or gas, and may also be equipped with a device capable of controlling the operation of the No. 1-2 pump (P12) according to the level of methanol filled inside.

That is, the degassing tank (DT) is equipped with multiple level switches for each height to measure the methanol level, and when the methanol level falls below a certain level, the operation of the 1st-2nd pump (P12) can be stopped.

For example, the degassing tank (DT) may be provided with a low level switch and a high level switch. The low level switch may be installed at the lowest water level of the degassing tank (DT). The lowest water level of the degassing tank (DT) may be designed to be higher than a height at which the impeller of the 1-2 pump (P12) can be completely immersed in methanol. The high level switch may be installed at a height at which the capacity that the 1-2 pump (P12) can discharge for 1 minute and the volume of the degassing tank (DT) become equal. In the above, it is possible to check whether the impeller of the 1-2 pump (P12) is immersed in methanol by using the low level switch provided in the degassing tank (DT), and if the impeller of the 1-2 pump (P12) is not immersed in methanol, the 1-2 pump (P12) may not be operated.

The above degassing tank (DT) can be deleted. This is because there is no problem with vaporization due to fuel heating in the case of methanol fuel.

The 1-2 pump (P12) is installed on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can pressurize methanol supplied from the degassing tank (DT) to an appropriate pressure required by the first demand source (141) and supply it to the 1-2 heat exchanger (HE12).

In this embodiment, the 1-2 pump (P12) may be a magnetic pump (Magnetic Drive Pump) identical to or similar to the 1-1 pump (P11) described above.

In this embodiment, the 1-2 pump (P12) can be deleted, and only the 1-1 pump (P11) can be applied. At this time, the 1-1 pump (P11) can be configured to perform the function of the 1-2 pump (P12). However, due to the maximum flow rate limit of the available pumps, the 1-1 pump (P11) can be applied by connecting it in parallel according to the demand flow rate of the 1st demand source (141), and the flow rate ratio of the 1-1 pump (P11) is set to 1.3 times the demand flow rate of the 1st demand source (141).

The 1-2 heat exchanger (HE12) is installed on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can secondarily heat methanol supplied from the 1-2 pump (P12) to an appropriate temperature required by the first demand source (141).

The first-second heat exchanger (HE12) may include a configuration for discharging air or gas to the outside in order to remove air or gas within the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11). For example, if the first-second heat exchanger (HE12) is of the shell-and-tube type, air or gas may be collected at the upper portion of the body of the shell, and if the first-first heat exchanger (HE11) is of the shell-and-plate type, air or gas may be collected at the upper portion of the body of the shell or at the discharge nozzle of the plate. In this way, air or gas may be collected in a certain area of the first-second heat exchanger (HE12) and discharged to the outside.

In this embodiment, the 1-2 heat exchanger (HE12) can be deleted, and only the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) can be applied. In this case, the 1-1 heat exchanger (HE11) can be configured to perform the function of the 1-2 heat exchanger (HE12).

The 1-2 pressure regulating valve (PCV12) may be provided on a return line (not shown in the drawing) through which methanol is returned to the degassing tank (DT) from downstream of the 1-2 heat exchanger (HE12), and may be opened when the pressure of methanol discharged from the 1-2 pump (P12) is higher than the pressure required by the demander.

The first filter (F1) is provided on the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and can remove foreign substances contained in methanol supplied from the first-second heat exchanger (HE12) and supply it to the first demand source (141).

The second fuel supply unit (312) can receive methanol from the methanol tank unit (2), pressurize it to an appropriate pressure required by the first demand source (142), and heat it to an appropriate temperature.

The second fuel supply unit (312) may include a second pump (P2), a second heat exchanger (HE2), a second pressure regulating valve (PCV2), a second degassing line (DL2), and a second filter (F2).

The second pump (P2) is installed on the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) and can pressurize methanol supplied from the methanol tank (2) to an appropriate pressure required by the first demand source (142) and supply it to the second heat exchanger (HE2).

In this embodiment, the second pump (P2) may be a magnetic pump (Magnetic Drive Pump) identical to or similar to the first-first pump (P11) described above.

The second heat exchanger (HE2) is installed on the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) and can heat methanol supplied from the second pump (P2) to an appropriate temperature required by the first demand source (142).

The second heat exchanger (HE2) may include a configuration for discharging air or gas to the outside in order to remove air or gas within the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12). For example, if the second heat exchanger (HE2) is of the shell & tube type, air or gas may be collected at the upper part of the body of the shell, and if the second heat exchanger (HE2) is of the shell & plate type, air or gas may be collected at the upper part of the body of the shell or at the discharge nozzle of the plate. In this way, air or gas may be collected in a certain area of the second heat exchanger (HE2) and discharged to the outside.

To remove air or gas within the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12), the second heat exchanger (HE2) may include a configuration for discharging air or the like to the outside.

The second pressure regulating valve (PCV2) may be provided on the second return line (RL2) through which methanol is returned from the downstream of the second heat exchanger (HE2) to the upstream of the second pump (P2), and may be adjusted to an open state when the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) upstream of the second pump (P2) is not filled with methanol, and may be adjusted to a closed state when the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) upstream of the second pump (P2) is filled with methanol.

The second degassing line (DL2) may be arranged to branch off from the second return line (RL2) upstream of the second pressure regulating valve (PCV2). The second degassing line (DL2) may degas the gas in the methanol before it is supplied to the first demand source (142) via the second heat exchanger (HE2). The second degassing line (DL2) may be configured similarly to the first degassing line (DL1) described above.

The second filter (F2) is provided on the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) and can remove foreign substances contained in methanol supplied from the second heat exchanger (HE2) and supply it to the first demand source (142).

As described above, the present embodiment may be provided with a first return line (RL1) through which methanol is returned from downstream of the 1-1 pump (P11) to upstream of the 1-1 pump (P11), and a second return line (RL2) through which methanol is returned from downstream of the 2nd pump (P2) to upstream of the 2nd pump (P2). The return lines (RL1, RL2) may be provided with pressure regulating valves (PCV11, PCV2), and since the pressure regulating valves (PCV11, PCV2) are open, the upstream of the 1-1 pump (P11) or the 2nd pump (P2) may be filled with methanol.

A return line may be provided to return methanol from the downstream of the No. 1-2 pump (P12) to the upstream of the No. 1-2 pump (P12), and a pressure regulating valve (PCV12) may be provided in the return line.

A level switch is provided in front of the No. 1-1 pump (P11) or the No. 2 pump (P2) to check whether the No. 1-1 pump (P11), the No. 2 pump (P2) and the return lines (RL1, RL2) are filled with methanol. If it is determined that the No. 1-1 pump (P11) or the No. 2 pump (P2) and the return lines (RL1, RL2) are filled with methanol, the No. 1-1 pump (P11) or the No. 2 pump (P2) can be operated.

A degassing tank (DT) may be installed in front of the 1-2 pump (P12) to discharge air, etc., in the fuel supply line (L11, L12). The water level of the drum (130) may be controlled so that the impeller of the 1-2 pump (P12) is immersed in methanol. When the 1-2 pump (P12) is determined to be filled by a level switch installed in the degassing tank (DT), the 1-2 pump (P12) may be operated.

In addition, in this embodiment, the methanol tank section (2) can be installed at a higher position than the 1-1 pump (P11) so that the impeller of the 1-1 pump (P11) is immersed in methanol. It is preferable that the methanol tank section (2) be designed to be located about 3.3 m above the 1-1 pump (P11). Of course, the methanol tank section (2) can be designed to be located above the 2nd pump (P2).

The methanol tank section (2) is positioned above the 1-1 pump (P11) so that methanol can fill the 1-1 pump (P11) and the second pump (P2). A level switch may be provided in front of the 1-1 pump (P11) and the second pump (P2), and it is possible to check whether the 1-1 pump (P11) and the second pump (P2) are filled with methanol through the level switch.

A fuel supply valve unit (32) can be provided between the fuel supply unit (31) and the demand unit (14) to fill the demand unit (14) with methanol.

The fuel supply valve unit (32) can effectively cut off the fuel supply by separating the fuel supply unit (31) and the demand unit (14) when the fuel supply unit (31) is not functioning properly. The fuel supply valve unit (32) can be composed of valves for double blocking and discharge, venting, pressure control, nitrogen supply, etc., filters, various sensors, etc. This fuel supply valve unit (32) is a mechanism in which control valves for controlling the supply of methanol to the demand unit (14) are centrally arranged, and can be a fuel valve train (FVT).

When the demand source (14) is composed of a first demand source (141) that operates at high pressure, such as a propulsion engine, and a first demand source (142) that operates at low pressure, such as a power generation engine, the fuel supply valve unit (32) may include a first fuel supply valve unit (321) provided on a high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) that connects the methanol tank unit (2) and the first demand source (141), and a second fuel supply valve unit (322) provided on a low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) that connects the methanol tank unit (2) and the first demand source (142).

The first fuel supply valve unit (321) can be provided between the first fuel supply unit (311) and the first demand unit (141) to fill the first demand unit (141) with methanol.

The first fuel supply valve unit (321) can be opened when the methanol supplied from the first fuel supply unit (311) reaches the pressure required by the first demand source (141).

A second fuel supply valve unit (322) may be provided between the second fuel supply unit (312) and the first demand source (142) to fill the first demand source (142) with methanol.

The second fuel supply valve unit (322) can be opened when the methanol supplied from the second fuel supply unit (312) reaches the pressure required by the first demand source (142).

The first fuel supply valve unit (321) and the second fuel supply valve unit (322) can be connected to the methanol tank unit (2) and the third return line (RL3), and methanol can be returned through the third return line (RL3). In this embodiment, the third return line (RL3) is described as being connected to the methanol service tank (22) of the methanol tank unit (2), but it can also be connected to the methanol storage tank (21).

The inert gas supply unit (33) can be configured to purge the methanol tank unit (2) and the methanol fuel supply system (3).

As shown in Fig. 2, the inert gas supply unit (33) is connected to the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) and the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) in front of the fuel supply valve unit (32) to purge the inside of the line.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 3, the inert gas supply unit (33) is connected to the methanol storage tank (21) and the methanol service tank (22) forming the methanol tank unit (2) to purge the inside of the tank.

That is, the inert gas supply unit (33) is configured to supply an inert gas such as nitrogen gas (N2) or carbon dioxide gas (CO2), and may include a device for generating an inert gas or a device for storing an inert gas. This inert gas supply unit (33) can supply an inert gas to a methanol storage tank (21) and a methanol service tank (22) forming a methanol tank unit (2), a fuel supply unit (31), a fuel supply valve unit (32), a demand source (14), and various lines, and can purge methanol with the inert gas.

The vent mast (34) can be configured to discharge gases, etc. existing in the methanol tank section (2) and the methanol fuel supply system (3) to the outside.

The vent mast (34), as shown in FIG. 3, can be connected to a methanol storage tank (21) and a methanol service tank (22) through a vent line (L3), and can control the pressure inside the tank by releasing gas inside the tank to the outside.

The vent mast (34) may include a pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) provided at the end of the vent line (L3). The pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) may have its opening adjusted by a pressure sensor (PS) installed in the methanol storage tank (21) and the methanol service tank (22).

The vent mast (34) may include a rupture disc (RD) installed on a portion of the vent line (L3). The rupture disc (RD) is configured to automatically rupture when a dangerous situation is reached in which the internal pressure of the methanol storage tank (21) and the methanol service tank (22) becomes so high that it cannot be relieved through the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV).

In the present embodiment, the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) connected to the front end of the first demand source (141) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) connected to the front end of the first demand source (142) may have a double-pipe structure, as illustrated in FIG. 2. One of the double-pipes may be connected to the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) or the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) as a pipe through which methanol flows, and the other pipe may be connected to the fourth return line (RL4) that returns methanol inside the first demand source (141) or the first demand source (142) to the methanol tank section (2).

In addition, in this embodiment, an air inlet line (AL1) and an air discharge line (AL2) may be provided at the front end of the first demand source (141) to which the high-pressure fuel supply line (L11) is connected or at the front end of the first demand source (142) to which the low-pressure fuel supply line (L12) is connected, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to implement a gas safety zone. At this time, the air may be dry air.

FIG. 13 is a drawing for explaining a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a front view of the vent part illustrated in FIG. 13, and FIG. 15 is a side view of the vent part illustrated in FIG. 13.

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, a methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1a) may include a methanol tank section (2) for storing methanol, and a vent section (35) of a methanol fuel supply system (3) for supplying methanol delivered from the methanol tank section (2) as fuel to a demander (14).

In this embodiment, the case where the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) is a container carrier is described.

A methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1a) equipped with a methanol tank section (2) and a methanol fuel supply system (3) may include a hull (11), an engine room (13), a demand location (14), a cabin (15), an engine casing (16), and a lashing bridge (17). The methanol fuel propulsion vessel (1a) may include various other components in addition to the above-described components, and in this embodiment, only the components necessary for the present invention will be described.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the methanol fuel supply system (3) may be the same as or similar to the first embodiment described above, and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted below.

Additionally, the methanol tank section (2) may include a methanol storage tank (21) and a methanol service tank (22) as described in the first embodiment.

The hull (11) is composed of an upper deck (111), a side shell (112), a bottom plate (113), a bow (114), and a stern (115) to form the exterior of a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a).

The demand source (14) may be placed in the engine room (13) and may include a first demand source (141) and a first demand source (142) as described in the first embodiment.

The cabin (15) can be provided in the middle part of the upper deck (111) because the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) is a container carrier.

The engine casing (16) can be provided on the upper deck (111) above the engine room (13).

A lashing bridge (17) may be provided to load containers on the upper deck (111) of the hull (11).

The vent section (35) can be configured to release methanol discharged from the methanol tank section (2) into the atmosphere through the vent line (L3).

The vent section (35) may be provided on the upper part of the lashing bridge (17) and may include a seat section (351), a lower duct section (352), and an upper duct section (353). The vent section (35) in which the seat section (351), the lower duct section (352), and the upper duct section (353) are assembled and installed must have a height (h) of at least 3 m to ensure safety from harmful components of methanol.

The seat portion (351) can be installed on the upper part of the lashing bridge (17), and a pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) can be installed on the upper part.

The lower duct section (352) can be installed on the upper part of the sheet section (351).

The lower duct section (352) may be provided to accommodate a pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV), and may be provided with a monitoring window (3521) for maintaining the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV). Here, the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) may discharge methanol discharged from the methanol tank section (2) to the outside.

Additionally, the lower duct section (352) may have a drain (not shown) installed at the bottom for drainage when water builds up.

The upper duct section (353) can be installed so as to extend to the upper portion of the lower duct section.

The upper duct section (353) has an air intake port (3531) and an air exhaust port (3532), and a vertical bulkhead (3533) may be provided between the air intake port (3531) and the air exhaust port (3532).

The vertical bulkhead (3533) may be provided to extend from the inner upper portion of the upper duct section (353) to the upper portion of the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) provided inside the lower duct section (352).

These vertical bulkheads (3533) form air passages inside the upper duct section (353) and the lower duct section (352).

The air passage formed by the vertical bulkhead (3533) allows air sucked into the air intake port (3531) to descend and be discharged through the air discharge port (3532) together with methanol discharged through the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV). Since methanol is heavier than air, if the air passage is not formed as described above, it will remain inside the lower duct section (352) and cannot be discharged to the outside.

A blocking film (3534) may be installed in each of the air outlet (3532) and the air intake (3531). The blocking film (3534) may be formed with a structure that prevents rainwater, etc. from penetrating into the interior of the upper duct section (353). A lamella may be applied to the blocking film (3534).

In the above, the sheet portion (351) and the lower duct portion (352) can be connected by a first flange (354) having a sealing function.

In the above, the lower duct part (352) and the upper duct part (353) can be connected by a second flange (355) having an airtight function.

In this embodiment, the lower duct part (352) and the upper duct part (353) are described as being connected by the second flange (355), but it is of course possible to omit the second flange (355) and form a single duct structure.

The vent section (35) configured as described above can mix methanol discharged from a pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) with air flowing into an air intake port (3531) and descending along one side of a vertical bulkhead (3533), and can discharge methanol mixed in the air by raising it along the other side of the vertical bulkhead (3533) through an air discharge port (3532).

Additionally, the vent part (35) may further include a vibration prevention part (356) for vibration prevention.

The vibration prevention part (356) may include a first lashing ring (3561) provided in the upper duct part (353), a second lashing ring (3562) provided on the upper part of the lashing bridge (17) at a certain distance from the sheet part (351), and a wire (3563) connecting the first lashing ring (3561) and the second lashing ring (3562).

The vibration prevention unit (356) can be removed so as not to interfere with the worker's container lashing work, and is installed during operation to perform the vibration prevention function.

The vent section (35) may further include a pressure gauge and an alarm section, although not shown.

That is, when methanol is discharged through the pressure/vacuum regulating valve (PVRV) installed on the top of the lashing bridge (17), a gas harmful to the human body is emitted. Therefore, a pressure gauge can be installed to notify the worker in advance through an alarm unit when a certain pressure is reached, thereby preventing access to the vent unit (35). The alarm unit can be a traffic light, an alarm sound, etc.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a demand-side cooling system applied to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 16, the demand cooling system (4) can be applied to the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1) which is a crude oil carrier of the first embodiment and the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) which is a container carrier of the second embodiment, and of course, can be applied to all ships that propel themselves with methanol as fuel, without being limited thereto.

The demand cooling system (4) can be configured to circulate and supply cooling water to the demand (14), and can include a cooling water cooler (41), a cooling water circulation pump (42), a fresh water generator (43), a cooling water pre-heater (44), and a waste heat recovery unit (45).

In this embodiment, the demand source (14) may be a demand source (14) applied to a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1) which is a crude oil carrier of the first embodiment described above or a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) which is a container carrier of the second embodiment, and may be, for example, a propulsion engine. That is, the demand source (14) may be an engine that operates by receiving methanol as fuel from a methanol tank section (2).

In addition, the demand cooling system (4) may further include a cooling water circulation line (CL1) provided so that cooling water discharged from the demand (14) circulates along a cooling water cooler (41) and a cooling water circulation pump (42), and a cooling water branch line (CL2) branched off from the cooling water circulation line (CL1) downstream of the demand (14), joined upstream of the cooling water cooler (41), and provided with a steam booster (452) and a power generation unit (451).

Additionally, the demand cooling system (4) may further include a cooling water bypass line (CL3) provided to bypass the cooling water cooler in the cooling water circulation line (CL1).

A cooling water cooler (41) is provided in the cooling water circulation line (CL1) and can cool high temperature cooling water discharged from the demand source (14).

The cooling water cooler (41) can indirectly cool the cooling water by a method such as delivering the cooling water to a central fresh water cooler (Central F.W. cooler) provided in the ship, and the cooling water can be cooled by an unrestricted refrigerant such as seawater.

A cooler bypass valve in the form of a three-way valve or the like is provided upstream of the coolant cooler (41) in the coolant circulation line (CL1) so that at least a portion of the coolant can bypass the coolant cooler (41) and be returned to the demand source (14).

A cooling water circulation pump (42) is provided in the cooling water circulation line (CL1) and can pressurize cooling water supplied from the cooling water cooler (41) and deliver it to the demand source (14).

A plurality of cooling water circulation pumps (42) can be installed in series/parallel, similar to the fruit pump. The cooling water circulation pump (42) can return cooling water discharged from a demand source (14) and passing through a cooling water cooler (41), etc., to the demand source (14).

The fresh water generator (43) can generate fresh water from seawater by using the waste heat of cooling water discharged from the demand source (14).

A fresh water generator (43) can be installed in parallel with the cooling water circulation line (CL1) and supply the generated fresh water to the cooling water cooler (41).

The fresh water generator (43) is installed upstream of the cooling water cooler (41) in the cooling water circulation line (CL1) and generates fresh water from seawater using high temperature cooling water discharged from the demand source (14). The fresh water generator (43) heats seawater with the high temperature of the cooling water, and can separate the fresh water components by distillation, leaving only impurities such as salt.

A cooling water pre-heater (44) is provided in the cooling water circulation line (CL1) and can preheat cooling water supplied from a cooling water cooler (41) upstream of a demand source (14). The cooling water pre-heater (44) can be operated at the beginning of operation of the demand source (14).

The coolant preheater (44) of this embodiment can heat the coolant using steam.

The coolant preheater (44) can share steam with the steam booster (452) of the waste heat recovery unit (45).

The waste heat recovery unit (45) is provided in a cooling water branch line (CL2) branched from a cooling water circulation line (CL1) downstream of a demand source (14), and can recover waste heat of cooling water discharged from the demand source (14).

The waste heat recovery unit (45) may include a power generation unit (451) and a steam booster (452).

The power generation unit (451) can generate power by using the waste heat of cooling water discharged from the demand source (14).

The power generation unit (451) may include, although not shown, a heater that heats refrigerant using waste heat of cooling water and a turbine that generates electricity using the refrigerant heated in the heater.

The power generation unit (451) may be an ORC unit, and the ORC unit may be composed of an evaporator, an expander, a condenser, and a refrigerant circulation pump provided in a refrigerant circulation line. The evaporator may evaporate the refrigerant using waste heat of cooling water. The expander may expand the refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator. The condenser may condense the refrigerant that has passed through the expander. The refrigerant circulation pump may compress the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser and supply it to the evaporator.

At this time, the heater of the above-mentioned power generation unit (451) may correspond to the evaporator of the ORC unit, and the turbine of the above-mentioned power generation unit (451) may correspond to the expander of the ORC unit.

This power generation unit (451) can be installed in series with respect to the steam booster (452) downstream of the steam booster (452) in the cooling water branch line (CL2), and of course can be installed in parallel with the cooling water branch line (CL2).

The steam booster (452) can heat cooling water delivered to the power generation unit (451) using steam.

The demand cooling system (4) of the present embodiment may further include, although not shown, a boiler that generates steam and a steam user that consumes the steam generated in the boiler.

The above boiler can produce steam at a saturated steam pressure of 7 bar or less. It can produce steam at a pressure less than the saturation pressure but within 5 bar.

At this time, the steam booster (452) and the cooling water pre-heater (44) can use the surplus steam generated in the boiler, excluding the amount consumed by the steam user.

Figure 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a demand-side cooling system applied to a methanol fuel propulsion vessel according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 17, the demand-side cooling system can be applied to the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1) which is a crude oil carrier of the first embodiment and the methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) which is a container carrier of the second embodiment, and is not limited thereto, but can of course be applied to all ships that propel themselves with methanol as fuel.

The demand cooling system (4) can be configured to circulate and supply cooling water to the demand (14), and can include a cooling water cooler (41), a cooling water circulation pump (42), a cooling water auxiliary pump (421), a fresh water generator (43), a cooling water pre-heater (44), a waste heat recovery unit (45), and a collecting unit (46).

In this embodiment, the demand source (14) may be a demand source (14) applied to a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1) which is a crude oil carrier of the first embodiment described above or a methanol fuel propulsion ship (1a) which is a container carrier of the second embodiment, and may be, for example, a propulsion engine. That is, the demand source (14) may be an engine that operates by receiving methanol as fuel from a methanol tank section (2).

In the demand cooling system (4) of this embodiment, the cooling water cooler (41), cooling water circulation pump (42), fresh water generator (43), cooling water pre-heater (44), and waste heat recovery unit (45) are identical to the configuration described in the demand cooling system (4) of the third embodiment described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

However, in the demand cooling system (4) of the present embodiment, the cooling water auxiliary pump (421) and the collecting unit (46) are different from the configuration of the demand cooling system (4) of the third embodiment described above, so the following description will focus on the cooling water auxiliary pump (421) and the collecting unit (46), which are different configurations, and the peripheral configuration that is changed due to this will be described.

The demand cooling system (4) of the present embodiment, unlike the demand cooling system (4) of the third embodiment described above, may further include a cooling water circulation line (CL1) provided so that cooling water discharged from the demand (14) circulates along the cooling water cooler (41) and the cooling water circulation pump (42), and a cooling water delivery line (CL4) branched off downstream of the demand (14), joined upstream of the cooling water cooler (41), and provided with a collecting section (46) for temporarily storing the cooling water.

In the above, the collecting unit (46) can temporarily store high-temperature cooling water supplied from the demand source (14), supply the stored high-temperature cooling water to the steam booster (452) and power generation unit (451) provided in the cooling water branch line (CL2), and also deliver the cooling water passing through the steam booster (452) and power generation unit (451) to the cooling water cooler (41).

In addition, the demand cooling system (4) of the present embodiment may be different from the demand cooling system (4) of the third embodiment described above in that a collecting unit (46) is provided in a cooling water branch line (CL2) in which a steam booster (452) and a power generation unit (451) are provided, and a cooling water auxiliary pump (421) that pressurizes cooling water and supplies it to the steam booster (452) is further provided.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may include a combination of the above embodiments or a combination of at least one of the above embodiments and a known technology as another embodiment.

In the above, the present invention has been described focusing on the embodiments of the present invention, but this is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those with ordinary knowledge in the field to which the present invention pertains will understand that various combinations or modifications and applications not illustrated in the embodiments are possible without departing from the essential technical contents of the present embodiments. Accordingly, technical contents related to modifications and applications that can be easily derived from the embodiments of the present invention should be interpreted as being included in the present invention.

1, 1a: Methanol fuel propulsion vessel 11: Hull
111: upper deck 112: side shell
113: Ship's hull 114: Bow
115: Stern 12: Crude oil storage tank
121: Bulkhead 13: Engine room
131: Bulkhead 132: First support deck
133: 2nd support deck 14: Demand
141: 1st demand source 142: 2nd demand source
15: Cabin 16: Engine casing
17: Lashing bridge 2: Methanol tank section
21: Methanol storage tank 211: Top surface
2111: Reinforcement 212: Bottom
2121: Reinforcement 213: Side
2131: Front wall 2132: Rear wall
2133: Left wall 2134: Right wall
214: Internal bulkhead 2141: Longitudinal bulkhead
2141a: First class bulkhead 2141b: Second class bulkhead
2142: Transverse bulkhead 2142a: First transverse bulkhead
2142b: Second transverse bulkhead 2143: Opening
215: Corner Column 2151: Opening
216: Center column 217: Cofferdam
2171: Opening 22: Methanol service tank
228: Double Bulkhead 3: Methanol Fuel Supply System
31: Fuel supply section 311: First fuel supply section
312: Second fuel supply section 32: Fuel supply valve section
321: First fuel supply valve section 322: Second fuel supply valve section
33: Inert gas supply unit 34: Vent mast
35: Bent section 351: Seat section
352: Lower duct section 3521: Observation window
353: Upper duct section 3531: Air intake
3532: Air exhaust port 3533: Vertical bulkhead
3534: Barrier 354: Flange 1
355: 2nd flange 356: Vibration prevention part
3561: 1st lashing hook 3562: 2nd lashing hook
3563: Wire 4: Demand Cooling System
41: Coolant cooler 42: Coolant circulation pump
421: Coolant auxiliary pump 43: Fresh water generator
44: Coolant preheater 45: Waste heat recovery unit
451: Generator Unit 452: Steam Booster
46: Collection section L1: Methanol supply line
L11: High pressure fuel supply line L12: Low pressure fuel supply line
L2: Methanol return line L3: Vent line
L4: Bunkering line L5: Drain line
L6: Purging line CL1: Cooling water circulation line
CL2: Coolant branch line CL3: Coolant bypass line
CL4: Coolant delivery line DT: Degassing tank
DL1: 1st degassing line DL2: 2nd degassing line
RL1: 1st return line RL2: 2nd return line
RL3: Third return line RL4: Fourth return line
AL1: Air inlet line AL2: Air exhaust line
HE11: 1-1 heat exchanger HE12: 1-2 heat exchanger
HE2: Second heat exchanger P: Methanol transfer pump
P11: No. 1-1 pump P12: No. 1-2 pump
P2: 2nd pump PCV11: 1-1 pressure regulating valve
PCV12: 1-2 pressure regulating valve PCV2: 2nd pressure regulating valve
PVRV: Pressure/Vacuum Regulating Valve RD: Rupture Disc
SV: On/Off Valve PS: Pressure Sensor
F1: 1st filter F2: 2nd filter

Claims (9)

hull;
A methanol tank section provided on the above hull; and
Includes a methanol fuel supply system that supplies methanol received from the above methanol tank unit to a demand source,
The above hull,
A lashing bridge is provided to load containers on top,
The above methanol fuel supply system,
Includes a vent section for releasing methanol discharged from the above methanol tank section into the atmosphere;
The above vent part,
A methanol fuel-propelled vessel provided on the upper part of the above-mentioned lashing bridge. In the first paragraph, the vent part,
A sheet portion installed on the upper part of the above lashing bridge;
A lower duct section installed on the upper part of the above sheet section; and
A methanol fuel propulsion vessel comprising an upper duct section extending above the lower duct section. In the second paragraph, the sheet portion and the lower duct portion,
Connected to the first flange with a confidential function,
The above lower duct part and the above upper duct part,
A methanol fuelled propulsion vessel, connected to a second flange with a secret function. In the second paragraph, the lower duct part,
A pressure/vacuum control valve for releasing methanol discharged from the above methanol tank to the outside; and
A methanol fuelled vessel comprising a sight glass for maintaining the above pressure/vacuum regulating valve. In the fourth paragraph, the upper duct part,
Having an air intake and an air exhaust,
A methanol fuel propulsion vessel having a vertical bulkhead provided between the air intake and the air exhaust. In the fifth paragraph, the pressure/vacuum control valve,
A methanol fuel propulsion vessel provided at the lower part of the above vertical bulkhead. In the fifth paragraph, the vent part,
A methanol fuel propulsion vessel, which mixes methanol discharged from the above pressure/vacuum control valve with air flowing in from the above air intake and descending along the above vertical bulkhead, and discharges methanol rising along the above vertical bulkhead together with the air through the above air exhaust port. In the fifth paragraph, each of the air outlet and the air intake,
A methanol-fueled vessel with a rainwater blocking barrier installed. In the second paragraph, the vent part,
It further includes a vibration-prevention unit to prevent vibration.
The above vibration prevention part is,
A first lashing ring provided in the upper duct section;
A second lashing ring provided on the upper part of the lashing bridge at a certain distance from the above sheet portion; and
A methanol fuel propulsion vessel comprising a wire connecting the first lashing ring and the second lashing ring.

Images