EFFICIENCY OF USING THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS AS PART OF MARINE POWER PLANTS FOR VESSELS OF VARIOUS PURPOSES

Abstract

One of the topical areas of reducing fuel consumption and harmful substances into the environment is the additional use of thermal energy storage systems based on phase-change thermal energy storages as part of marine power plants, which allow pre-start up engine preparation and general vessel needs. The aim of the research is to determine the thermal energy storage systems efficient use indicators for pre-start up engine preparation and sanitary needs of personnel onboard under conditions of different marine power plants operational cycles. For three types of vessels, namely a cruise ship, a bulk carrier and a tanker, respectively, the use of thermal energy storage systems as part of diesel-electric and diesel plants is considered. The heat of exhaust gases from diesel engines was utilized in silencers-thermal energy storages with a phase change. The energy efficiency of the studied thermal energy storage systems was determined by the heat utilization and relative fuel economy, taking into account the selected materials and operating cycles of marine power plants. The use of thermal energy storage systems in marine diesel-electric and diesel plants at the expense of waste heat from exhaust gases has made it possible to expand the functionality of meeting the needs of power plants and personnel. As a result of mathematical modelling, a database was obtained to recommend the optimal choice of design solutions and operational characteristics of marine power plants with thermal energy storage systems. The use of the selected thermal energy storage materials in the thermal energy storage systems allows to obtain relative fuel savings per voyage on the level from 0.3 to 0.6% for the cruise ship, respectively. When using thermal energy storage system as part of the bulk carrier and tanker marine power plants with selected thermal energy storage materials for pre-start up preparation of the main engine and sanitary needs, the relative fuel savings per voyage is lower than for the cruise ship. So the possibility of more efficient use of thermal energy storage systems in these vessels requires coordination, which is associated with additional needs during the voyage.