WO2024236611A1

WO2024236611A1 - Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel

Info

Publication number: WO2024236611A1
Application number: PCT/IT2024/050096
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giulio GIANNOLI
Original assignee: Reimex S.R.L.
Priority date: 2023-05-15
Filing date: 2024-05-10
Publication date: 2024-11-21
Also published as: IT202300009681A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of drinking water and waste treatment plants, and more specifically concerns an eco- sustainable multi-function vessel, adapted to carry out various functions, in addition to the desalination of seawater, while sustaining itself energetically. Said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) comprises: - a hull (101 ) equipped with its own thermal propulsion motor means (102); - a gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant (1 ) with the production of solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels; - a seawater desalination plant (2) comprising at least one distillation apparatus. Said seawater desalination plant (2) and said gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant (1 ) operate in synergy using solar energy and the related by-products, so as to make said plants energetically autonomous.

Description

ECO-SUSTAINABLE MULTI-FUNCTION VESSEL

Technical field of application

The present invention relates to the field of drinking water and waste treatment plants, and more specifically concerns an eco- sustainable multi-function vessel, adapted to carry out various functions, in addition to the desalination of seawater, while sustaining itself energetically.

State of the art

A direct consequence of the pollution suffocating the Earth is what is called climate change, which is in turn generating a rapid, progressive and serious scarcity of water.

As is known, approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water; however, the content of salts dissolved in the water of the seas and oceans is harmful to human health and use in agriculture.

The problem of drinking water scarcity is partially stemmed mostly by land-based desalination systems today.

These are large fixed plants which are normally installed in coastal areas and have significant problems in terms of environmental impact, mainly linked to the production of brine, the alteration of water temperatures and the presence of large suction pipes, which produce significant negative effects on the ecological balance and on marine flora and fauna.

The aforesaid desalination plants are impressive artefacts, the construction of which, whether in hinterlands or near the coasts, has an irreversible impact on the territory, producing a negative effect in places which may be of high landscape value, or in spaces which could alternatively be used for various purposes, including public ones, and in almost all cases create discomfort and social disturbance for the local communities.

Due to the above and for their very nature, the construction of these land-based plants requires particularly long and complicated bureaucratic and technical processes, which pass through successive levels of evaluation and approval, whereby their construction and commissioning can also require ten years or more.

A further negative feature of this type of large traditional land-based plants is that, once started, they use large quantities of energy, mostly produced from non-renewable sources, in turn generating polluting emissions.

Furthermore, as an improvement solution to the above problems, vessels are known which are equipped with a desalination plant on board provided with a reverse osmosis apparatus.

Patent application 102020000002785 describes an example of such solutions.

The known desalinating vessels solve the environmental and bureaucratic problems, being mobile by nature.

However, the traditional desalinating vessels still have some very critical points from a sustainability perspective, namely: they are based on reverse osmosis technology and require frequent and constant replacement of the filtration membranes, which then result in polluting waste to be disposed of in turn; they use chemical additives such as acid and soda, antiflocculants, granular materials, etc.; they consume non-negligible quantities of energy, mostly produced from non-renewable sources.

Even more disadvantageously, both the land-based plants and the mobile desalinating vessels are mono-functional, i.e., they can only carry out one function during their technical life, multiplying the resources used and the environmental impact, with the broadening of the intervention horizon.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks and disadvantages described above.

An object of the present invention is to create an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel which is quick and economical to build, does not require land-based installations, has no negative impacts from the environmental, landscape, land consumption, archaeological and tourism point of view, therefore from the viewpoint of the ecosystem where it operates and from a health viewpoint.

An object of the present invention is to create an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel, which does not emit emissions into the atmosphere as regards its process apparatuses and significantly reduces the CO2 emissions of its traditional propulsion and services system.

The objects are achieved with an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel comprising:

- a hull equipped with its own thermal propulsion motor means;

- a seawater desalination plant, characterised in that it comprises a gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant with the production of solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels, comprising: at least one gasification/pyrolysis reactor, comprising at least one pyrolysis oil separator system, at least one pyrolysis gas condensation system, at least one activated carbon recovery system as by-products;

- at least one electric induction heating apparatus for said gasification/pyrolysis reactor;

- at least one apparatus for producing heat using burners which use said gasification/pyrolysis by-products;

- at least one heat exchange/recovery apparatus adapted to feed said seawater desalination plant, where said seawater desalination plant is of the type comprising:

- at least one distillation apparatus with MSF/MED thermal distiller for the desalination of seawater adapted to produce desalinated water and brine;

- at least one condensation apparatus associated with said MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus;

- at least one pre-heating apparatus for the residual condensate of said MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus, adapted to interact with said heat exchange/recovery apparatus of the solid waste treatment plant;

- at least one steam generator heated by burners fed by gasification/pyrolysis by-products;

- at least one steam turbine comprising an electric generator, adapted to power said electric induction heating apparatus for said gasification/pyrolysis reactor, where said desalination plant and said solid waste treatment plant operate in synergy using electrical energy and thermal energy obtained as by-products of the desalination plant and the solid waste treatment plant respectively, so as to make them energetically autonomous.

Further features of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.

The invention has numerous advantages.

The use of solid waste, treated with an eco-friendly process without emissions, as an energy propulsion for the other processes to be carried out on the vessel, primarily the desalination of seawater, represents an undoubted innovative technical advantage in the mode of use.

The gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant and the seawater desalination plant work in synergy with each other in a closed cycle of passage and exchange of heat and electricity: the heat produced by gasification/pyrolysis serves the desalination plant, in particular to support the pre-heating apparatus and the steam generator; the electrical energy produced by the steam turbine of the desalination plant is adapted to power the electric induction heating apparatus of the gasification/pyrolysis reactor.

Furthermore, it must be mentioned that the waste itself represents the only fuel in the world which is profitable from an economic point of view, therefore bringing a fundamental advantage to the technical solution adopted, also in the commercial sector.

Advantageously, the operation of the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel according to the invention is carried out without the use of fossil fuels, but through the sustainable disposal of solid waste, with a positive balance in terms of CO2 and energy recovery through the selfconsumption of products within the gasification/pyrolysis process.

Even more advantageously, in a possible more complete variant, said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel is provided on board with a desalination plant for distillation, a sludge photobiotreatment plant and a gasification/pyrolysis solid waste disposal plant, including an undifferentiated portion of MSW, so that it can operate where the risk of water shortage and/or pollution from solid and liquid waste is greatest, such as urban agglomerations located on islands or developing countries, or even areas affected by emergencies and/or disasters.

The sludge treatment plant complete with photobioreactors placed on the vessel and connected to the desalination and waste treatment plants, allows an effective and autonomous procedure for the extraction of biomolecules from polluted effluents by means of a biophotosynthesis process, purifying them and also neutralizing the already limited emissions of the entire complex of the multi-function vessel, introducing oxygen into the atmosphere, thanks to the fixation of the CO2 intrinsic in the process itself.

Said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel is advantageously capable of producing green hydrogen, by means of an electrolysis process, fed by a non-fossil source.

In addition to its peculiar mobility, with the possibility of going quickly and effectively to the place of use, another innovative advantage of the present invention is its intrinsic modular nature, which implies the possibility of easily varying its plant structure and/or its operating mode so as to adapt it to each specific application, both in quantitative and qualitative terms, i.e., giving preference to the production of drinking water, the purification of polluted water, the treatment of sewage sludge or environmental pollution, the disposal of waste or the production of biomolecules or green hydrogen.

In general, said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel, operated with non-fossil fuels without emissions (waste and self-consumption of internal process products), essentially solves all the problems exposed so far for the traditional techniques: in fact, it ensures rapid design and construction times, minimal bureaucratic constraints, no damage to both the land and marine ecosystem, no use of land, positive environmental impact, support for the circular economy, targeted and contained investments, profitability in operation, no negative social impact.

Brief description of the drawings These and other advantages will be more evident from the description of the invention, set out below with the help of the drawings, which represent embodiments thereof, where:

- Figure 1 illustrates, with a conceptual block diagram, the apparatuses and processes integrated on an eco-sustainable multifunction vessel according to a first possible variant of the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively by means of a plant layout and a diagram of the matter and energy flows, the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel according to the first variant of the invention of Fig. 1 ;

- Figures 4 and 5 illustrate, respectively by means of a diagram of the matter and energy flows and a plant diagram, an eco- sustainable multi-function vessel according to a further possible variant of the invention;

- Figures 6 and 7 illustrate, respectively by means of a diagram of the matter and energy flows and a plant diagram, an eco- sustainable multi-function vessel according to a further possible variant of the invention;

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c schematically illustrate the layouts, on multiple levels, of distribution of the various plant components of an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel according to the invention, in a more complete configuration thereof.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figure 1 , a conceptual block diagram of the apparatuses and processes integrated on the eco-sustainable multi- function vessel 100 is illustrated in a first basic version thereof. Such a depiction refers only to one of the possible process embodiments of the invention and is not intended as a limitation thereof.

In all the variants illustrated, said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 comprises a hull 101 and is equipped with its own thermal propulsion motor means 102, or alternatively with electric propulsion motor means 102'.

Returning to Figure 1 , said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 comprises a solid waste treatment plant 1 and is provided on board with process lines for the collection and disposal of solid waste RS, delivered from collection points on land or dispersed in open water, which allows timely and targeted interventions in the reclamation or disposal action, increasing the positive environmental impact.

Said solid waste treatment plant 1 comprises a loading, pretreatment and storage station for said solid waste RS, which in turn comprises at least one shredder/separator 5 adapted to render the solid waste RS suitable for the subsequent treatment.

The storage containers of the pre-treated solid waste RS can either be obtained from the basic vessel equipment or prepared as an additional installation. The same applies to the pumping and transfer systems serving them.

Said solid waste treatment plant 1 uses gasification/pyrolysis processes and is adapted to produce heat from said pre-treated solid waste RS, using all or some of the by-products such as pyrolysis gas, pyrolysis oil and activated carbon.

In detail, said solid waste treatment plant 1 comprises at least one gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3, comprising at least one pyrolysis oil separator system, at least one pyrolysis gas condensation system, at least one activated carbon recovery system.

Said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 is then provided on board with a seawater desalination plant 2 by means of at least one MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus 9, adapted to treat seawater AM both during navigation and in static phase, without the use of chemical additives, which are consumable and then to be disposed of, such as soda and acid or the membranes of traditional reverse osmosis plants. Advantageously, such a desalination plant can sometimes also be adapted to the purification of polluted water.

Said seawater desalination plant 2 is then connected to a posttreatment and purification apparatus 10 of the desalinated water produced to transform it into drinking water AP.

Advantageously, the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 uses as process energy, and partly as propulsion, that generated by the treatment of the solid waste itself in a zero-emission gasification/pyrolysis plant, designed to use the resulting products for the production of steam in an electrical cogeneration system 25 located on board the multi-function vessel itself. The specific attention in the design of widespread heat recovery in all steps of the process makes the operation of the multi-function vessel particularly sustainable, avoiding the use of fossil fuels of any kind. Said electric cogeneration system 25 comprises:

- a pre-heating apparatus 11 of the condensate in output from the seawater desalination plant 2;

- a steam generator 12 for steam production equipped with burners 6 fed by the bio-fuel produced in the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3;

- an electrical generation system with at least one turbine 13/electric generator 14 group for the production of the energy necessary for processes, on-board services and navigation support;

- a heat exchange/recovery apparatus 7 for powering said seawater desalination plant 2.

Said eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 then comprises a plurality of algae photobioreactors 16 and a system for recovering and conveying the exhaust fumes of the burners 6 and the thermal motor propulsion means 102 of the vessel into said photobioreactors 16 for the fixation of CO2 and the production of O2.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the plant diagram of an eco- sustainable multi-function vessel 100 is illustrated according to the basic variant of Figure 1 , useful for exemplifying one of the possible operating and implementation logics of the processes included in the operation of the multi-function vessel itself.

Considering the system of processes as a whole, there are input vectors and output transformation products. Specifically, solar energy enters through the line L1 , sunlight LS through the line L2, solid waste RS through the line L3, seawater AM through the line L4. Instead, drinking water AP exits through the line LC, brine S through the line L7, biomolecules BIOM through the line L8 and oxygen O2 through the line L9.

The eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 produces the thermal energy necessary for the transformation processes mainly through the solid waste treatment plant 1. This solid waste RS is collected and pre-treated in a shredder/separator 5 and then decomposed in a gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3. This process generates heat, biomolecules BIOM and waste bio-fuels.

The quantities of heat and thermal energy contained in the bio-fuels produced are sufficient to self-power the gasification/pyrolysis process itself, with an excess being used to power the seawater desalination plant 2.

While the recovered heat is conveyed to a heat exchange/recovery apparatus 7 for pre-heating the condensate of the steam production circuit on the line L10, the bio-fuels are used in special burners 6, located on the line L1 1 , serving the steam generator 12.

The steam produced expands in the steam turbine 13 on the line L12, generating electrical energy by means of the alternating current electric generator 14 powering an energy storage system 23 with the line L13 and thus the electric induction heating apparatus 4 of the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3, the auxiliary process systems and the artificial lighting means 17 for the photobioreactors 16. The electrical energy produced by the generator is distributed through an energy storage system 23, so as to ensure uniformity and operating continuity of all the systems. Downstream of the expansion, the steam maintains the physical features necessary and sufficient to feed the thermal distillation apparatus 9 on the line L14. The condensate is then conveyed back to the pre-heating apparatus 11 and then to the steam generator 12 for a new cycle.

The seawater AM is taken and introduced from the line L4 into the MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus 9.

The desalinated water produced in the distillation process is conveyed on the line L15 to the post-treatment and purification apparatus 10 and then sent to the collection tanks to then be unloaded at the delivery point through the line L6.

The eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 discharges the distillation concentrate, i.e., the brine S, during navigation from the line L7, so as to ensure a rapid dilution of the brine, with rapid dispersion of the concentrate and minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.

The photobioreactors 16 operate both by means of direct sunlight LS on the line L2, and by artificial lighting means 17 supported by the steam generator 12 and by a photovoltaic plant 20 on the line L16.

The CO2 contained in the emissions of the thermal propulsion motors 102 of the multi-function vessel 100 is introduced into the photobioreactors 16, by means of the line L18, making the system as a whole essentially zero-emissions.

The exhaust fumes from the burners 6 are also conveyed to the photobioreactors 16 by means of the line L17, further reducing the environmental impact. In the photobioreactors 16, the particular reaction process of the algae with CO2 releases O2, which is emitted into the atmosphere by the line L9.

The biomolecules BIOM produced by the photobioreaction process are treated and collected in the line L21 for delivery and use in the bio-industry, while the excess of unusable algae A are introduced into the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3 from the line L19. The organic products resulting from the gasification/pyrolysis process are instead collected by means of the line L8.

With particular reference to Figure 3, a possible quantitative balance of mass and energy is illustrated in application to the input and output vectors above for an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 in its basic version as in Figures 1 and 2, therefore integrated with a solid waste treatment plant 1 , seawater desalination plant 2, CO2 recovery plant 33.

It is hypothesised that a quantity of solid waste RS equal to 462 m³ is loaded onto the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100, corresponding to approximately 139 t. Said solid waste RS is pretreated in a shredder/separator 5 and sent to a gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3 which produces 1.2 million kcalh derived from its process products, such as gas, pyrolysis oil and carbon, and used in special burners 6 of the steam generator 12.

The steam generator 12 produces a flow rate of 1 .7 t/h of steam at 10 barg - 305 °C which feeds a steam turbine 12 connected to an electric generator 14 which generates 167 kWh. The residual conditions of the steam downstream of the expansion in turbine 13 are 1.7 t/h - 0.3 barg - 107 °C, suitable for feeding an MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus 9 for the production of 410 m³/day of desalinated water, obtained from seawater AM loaded on board by the pumping system 8 of the vessel 100. This desalinated water is treated in a purification apparatus 10 and rendered drinking water AP suitable for human and agricultural use.

The condensate from the steam circuit of the turbine 13, having just passed through the thermal distillation apparatus 9, is conveyed to a pre-heating apparatus 11 , where the residual heat from the insulation of the gasification/pyrolysis apparatus and the exhaust ducts of the burners 6 is collected, thus reducing the amount of heat to be supplied through the burners of the steam generator 12 to return to the conditions of use in the turbine 13.

When fully operational, a part of the electrical energy produced by the alternator of the steam turbine 13, equal to 117 kWh, is used to power the electrical induction heating apparatus 4 of the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3.

The remaining 50 kWh are instead used to power the artificial lighting system of the photobioreactors and/or other utilities, as needed.

An innovative advantage of the present invention is the contribution of a photovoltaic plant 20 with an installed power of 147 kW, to further support the energy autonomy of the entire set of processes of the eco- sustainable multi-function vessel 100. With particular reference to Figures 4-5, a more complex variant of the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 according to the invention is illustrated, where in addition to what is described above for the basic version, a sludge treatment line F and an electrolysis apparatus 15 are provided for the production of green hydrogen H2 from desalinated water.

In the plant diagram of Figure 4, the sludge F is added between the input vectors on the line L5, and hydrogen H2 is added between the output vectors on the line L20.

From a comparison with the diagram in Figure 2, the following additions can be noted:

- the line L15, already used to convey the desalinated water to the drinking water purification apparatus 10, also distributes the desalinated water to the electrolysis apparatus 15 for the production of H2, which is stored in special tanks both for internal use and support of the gasification/pyrolysis process and to be discharged to the delivery point through the line L20;

- the line L5 is dedicated to loading the sludge F entering the photobioreactors 16, with an increase in the O2 produced and the quantities of organic residues and biomolecules BIOM, always treated and collected in the line L8 for delivery and use in the bio-industry, and of the quantities of unusable algae A always introduced into the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3 from the line L19.

In the quantitative mass and energy balance illustrated in Figure 5, compared to the balance in Fig. 3, it can be noted that 5,545 m³ of sludge F per year can be loaded and treated on the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100, considering the production cycle of a suitable set of algae photobioreactors 16. Such photobioreactors 16 are powered by sunlight LS and by the contribution of the turbogenerator (turbine 13/generator 14), and can produce a total of 2,580 kg/year of different types and qualities of biomolecules BIOM, part of which can also be converted into bio-fuel directly on board the vessel for self-consumption.

The contribution of 20 kg/day for 25,000 kcal/h of the green hydrogen H2 produced by the electrolysis apparatus 15 is determined, to be added to the contribution of the photovoltaic plant 20 with installed power of 147 kW, as a further support for the energy autonomy of the entire set of processes of the eco-sustainable multifunction vessel 100. These contributions, although appearing minor, are crucial for powering the auxiliary systems of all the devices considered (pumps, electric valves, control systems, etc.).

With particular reference to Figures 6-7, a further variant of the eco- sustainable multi-function vessel 100 according to the invention is illustrated, where compared to what is described above for the basic version, the seawater desalination plant 2 is used to produce desalinated water for the production of green hydrogen H2 through a first electrolysis plant 15 and the presence of a second electrolysis plant 26 dedicated to the recovery of CO2 is envisaged.

From a comparison with the basic diagram of Figure 2, in the plant diagram of Figure 6 the output vectors of drinking water are absent, since all the seawater is used for the production of green hydrogen H2, and the input of sunlight, since photobioreactors are not used.

Similar to the plant diagram of the version of the vessel in Figure 4, the line L15 is used to convey the desalinated water only to the electrolysis plant 15 for the production of H2, which is stored in special tanks 33 both for internal use supporting the gasification/pyrolysis process and to be discharged to the delivery point through the line L20.

The lines L17 and L18 convey the fumes respectively from the burners 6 and the thermal propulsion means 102 to the CO2 electrolysis plant 26, instead of to the photobioreactors 16, which are absent in this variant.

With particular reference to Figure 7, a possible quantitative mass and energy balance is illustrated in application to the input and output vectors for an eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100 with reference to the variant of Figure 6.

It is hypothesized that a quantity of solid waste RS equal to 462 m³ is loaded onto the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel 100, corresponding to approximately 139 t. as in the basic version, to which 5,545 m³ of sludge F are added as in the previous variant. Unlike the previous variant, in this configuration the set of solid and liquid waste is sent to a gasification/pyrolysis reactor group 3 which produces 2.4 million kcal/h derived from its process products, such as gas, oil pyrolysis and carbon, then used in special burners 6 of the steam generator 12. The steam generator 12 produces a flow rate of 16.30 t/h of steam at 9.8 barg - 300 °C which feeds a steam turbine 13 served by an electric generator 14 which generates 1 ,095 kWh.

The residual conditions of the steam downstream of the expansion in turbine 13 are 16.30 t/h - 2 barg - 171 °C, suitable for feeding an MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus 9 for the production of 4,000 l/day of desalinated water, obtained from seawater AM loaded on board by the pumping system 8 of the vessel. This desalinated water is treated in an electrolysis plant 15 which produces 343 kg/day of green hydrogen H2.

The condensate from the steam circuit of the turbine 13, having just passed through the thermal distillation apparatus 9, is conveyed to a pre-heating apparatus 11 , where the residual heat from the insulation of the pyrolysis apparatus and the exhaust ducts of the burners 6 is collected, thus reducing the amount of heat to be supplied through the burners 6 of the steam generator 12 to return to the conditions of use in the turbine 13.

When fully operational, a part of the electrical energy produced by the alternator of the steam turbine 13, equal to 234 kWh, is used to power the electrical induction heating apparatus 4 of the gasification/pyrolysis reactor group 3.

Another part of this electrical energy is instead used to power the electrolysis plant 26 to fix the CO2.

As seen above, an appropriate division of resources and a correct balancing of processes can also make it possible to use the thermal energy produced by the waste and other non-fossil fuels for the propulsion and services of the vessel, effectively making it a green vessel, especially when sailing in port or in the immediate vicinity of coasts.

A significant innovative advantage of the present invention is that the process apparatuses of the multi-function vessel does not generate emissions into the atmosphere. In fact, by its nature, the gasification/pyrolysis process does not emit any external emissions and its products intrinsically have a very low environmental impact when burned. Furthermore, the fumes from the special burners fed with the aforesaid pyrolysis products are filtered and conveyed to a CO2 fixation process in the photobioreactors, which instead generates O2 which is released into the atmosphere.

Similarly, an innovative advantage of the present invention is that the exhaust fumes from the traditional propulsion of the boat are treated in photobioreactors, thus reducing harmful emissions and the production of CO2 of the eco-sustainable multi-function vessel.

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c are a schematic depiction of a possible arrangement of the apparatuses on board the eco-sustainable multifunction vessel 100 in its most complete variant.

The hull 101 is schematically divided into three planes: the keel (Fig. 8a), the main bridge (Fig. 8b), the upper level (Fig. 8c).

The keel level (Fig. 8a) is provided with a plurality of drinking water storage tanks 18 and a plurality of sludge storage tanks 19 delivered to the vessel 100 by tankers in the port or collected by a pumping apparatus 31 in polluted water in the nearby outboard of the vessel itself.

On the upper level of the vessel (Fig. 8c), a photovoltaic plant 20 is provided with a reserve of electrical energy to support the power supply of the process plants and on-board services provided by the electric generator 14 of the steam turbine 13.

The main bridge level (Fig. 8b) houses the actual plants.

In sequence, from the bow area to the stern area, the following are arranged:

- a pre-treatment apparatus 21 and a loading apparatus 22 of the solid waste RS delivered by land vehicles on the quayside, adapted to make them suitable for use in the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3. The pre-treatment apparatus 21 , which comprises a shredder/separator 5, can include a special collection line 29 of solid waste present in the water immediately outside the vessel;

- a plurality of storage containers 24 for the pre-treated solid waste RS ready to be sent to the gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3;

- two continuous feed lines 28 of solid waste RS;

- two gasification/pyrolysis reactors 3 for the treatment of solid waste RS placed in parallel with each other and each fed by one of said feed lines 28;

- two feed apparatuses with the pyrolysis by-products of the burners 6 of the steam generator 12 of two corresponding desalination plants 2 for the distillation of seawater AM;

- two pre-heating apparatuses 11 of the condensate in output from the two desalination lines, interfaced with the heat exchange/recovery apparatus 7 of the respective gasification/pyrolysis reactor 3 of the solid waste treatment plant 1 ;

- a collection apparatus provided with at least one seawater AM intake associated with at least one pumping device 8 adapted to introduce it into the desalination plant 2;

- two steam generators 12 equipped with special burners 6 for the use of pyrolysis products, each to feed one of the desalination plants;

- two thermal distillers 9 of seawater based on an MSF/MED distillation process, each equipped with a suitable discharge line of brine S;

- an apparatus 10 for the post-treatment and purification of the desalinated water produced;

- two steam turbine groups 13 with relative electric generator 14 for powering the electric induction heating system 4 of the gasification/pyrolysis apparatus, the sludge F treatment line, the electrolysis apparatus 15 and the on-board services;

- a group of electrolysis apparatuses 15, 26 which use the desalinated water obtained from seawater AM both for the production of green hydrogen H2 and for the fixation of the CO2 produced by the combustion fumes of the thermal propulsion motor means 102, according to the plant configuration;

- a line for the treatment of sludge F comprising a plurality of algae photobioreactors 16 with natural lighting LS and artificial lighting means 17 and CO2 fixation; - feed means 32 for said photobioreactors;

- means for collecting and drying 30 algae/biomolecules in output from each group of photobioreactors 16;

- a system for conveying the fumes from the burners and thermal propulsion motors 102 of the vessel to the photobioreactors 16 for the treatment of the CO2 and an output line of the O2 produced.

Claims

1) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) comprising:

- a hull (101 ) equipped with its own thermal propulsion motor means (102);

- a seawater desalination plant, characterised in that it comprises a gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant (1 ) with the production of solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels, comprising: at least one gasification/pyrolysis reactor (3), comprising at least one pyrolysis oil separator system, at least one pyrolysis gas condensation system, at least one activated carbon recovery plant as by-products;

- at least one electric induction heating apparatus (4) for said gasification/pyrolysis reactor (3);

- at least one apparatus for producing heat using burners (6) which use said gasification/pyrolysis by-products;

- at least one heat exchange/recovery apparatus (7) adapted to feed said seawater desalination plant (2), where said seawater desalination plant (2) is of the type comprising:

- at least one distillation apparatus with MSF/MED thermal distiller (9) for the desalination of seawater (AM) adapted to produce desalinated water and brine (S);

- at least one condensation apparatus associated with said MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus (9); - at least one pre-heating apparatus (11 ) for the residual condensate of said MSF/MED thermal distillation apparatus (9), adapted to interact with said heat exchange/recovery apparatus (7) of the solid waste treatment plant (1 );

- at least one steam generator (12) heated by burners (6) fed by gasification/pyrolysis by-products;

- at least one steam turbine (13) comprising an electric generator (14), adapted to power said electric induction heating apparatus (4) for said gasification/pyrolysis reactor (3), where said seawater desalination plant (2) and said gasification/pyrolysis solid waste treatment plant (1 ) operate in synergy using electrical energy and thermal energy obtained as by-products of the desalination plant (2) and the solid waste treatment plant (1 ), respectively, so as to make them energetically autonomous.

2) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said solid waste treatment plant (1 ) further comprises a loading, pre-treatment and storage station for said solid waste (RS).

3) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 2, characterised in that said loading, pre-treatment and storage station for said solid waste (RS) comprises:

- at least one collection section equipped with a suitable shredder/separator (5) adapted to render the solid waste (RS) suitable for gasification/pyrolysis treatment; - a plurality of storage containers;

- at least one apparatus for loading the pre-treated solid waste into said storage containers;

- at least one feed apparatus adapted to take the pre-treated waste from said storage containers and continuously feed said gasification/pyrolysis reactor (3) on a 24-hour basis.

4) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said seawater desalination plant (2) comprises:

- at least one collection apparatus comprising at least one seawater intake and at least one pumping device (8) for said seawater (AM);

- at least one apparatus for the post-treatment and purification (10) of the desalinated water produced to obtain drinking water (AP);

- at least one drinking water storage tank (AP);

- at least one apparatus for discharging said residual brine (S) into the sea.

5) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that said seawater desalination plant (2) comprises at least one electrolysis apparatus (15) of the desalinated water produced from seawater (AM) for the extraction of green hydrogen (H2).

6) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a plant for recovering the CO2 (33) produced on board the vessel itself by at least said thermal propulsion motor means (102).

7) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that said CO2 recovery plant (33) comprises:

- feed means for the CO2 produced on board said vessel;

- a plurality of photobioreactors (16);

- artificial lighting means (17) for said photobioreactors (16);

- at least one apparatus for collecting and drying algae (A) produced in said photobioreactors (16) and separating the biomolecules (BIOM).

8) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that said CO2 recovery plant comprises a sludge treatment line (F) placed on board said eco-sustainable multifunction vessel (100) in special storage tanks.

9) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 8, characterised in that said sludge treatment line (F) comprises means for pumping (27) said sludge (F) into said photobioreactors (16).

10) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 8, characterised in that said sludge treatment line (F) comprises at least one apparatus for the recovery of biomaterial to be used as biofuel for the processes and services on board said eco- sustainable multi-function vessel (100).

11) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises an apparatus for collecting and conveying into said photobioreactors (16) the CO2 produced in the combustion by burners (6) of the solid waste treatment plant (1 ).

12) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a biofuel production plant comprising at least one electrolysis apparatus (26) for the CO2 produced on board the vessel itself by at least said thermal propulsion motor means (102).

13) Eco-sustainable multi-function vessel (100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a photovoltaic system (20).