Study on the architecture of a zero emission hydrogen fuel cell vessel power generating unit

This study focuses on providing design guidelines for a ves-sel’s power-plant in the multi-megawatt range, equipped with ahybrid fuel cell and battery system. Background information isprovided on the challenges to realizing such a system, spanningfrom a literature review on studies looking into energy manage-ment, to the technical limitations of state-of-the-art fuel cells andbatteries. The central part of the work consists of the descrip-tion of the model used to calculate the size of the hybrid powergenerating unit, including a case study on a single, real-worldscenario. The Plant Analysis Balance with Operational Profile(PABOP) model, developed by the author and presented in thepaper, is used to calculate the resources needed to retrofit a ves-sel operating on fossil fuels with a hybrid zero-emission power-plant. The model aim is to achieve a 1:1 replacement for diesel-electric configurations, both in terms of range and power, usingfuel cell and battery power. In the case study, the model is ap-plied to analyze the operational data of a double-ended ferryoperating with diesel-electric propulsion. Emphasis is put on theI/O needed and produced by the model, and how this tool canbe used by shipyard engineers to estimate the footprint required,the necessary storage capacity, lifetime of components and otherparameters. The presented solutions could help manufacturersestimate the economical viability of hydrogen vessels, filling agap in current maritime fleets where zero-emission systems aregaining increasing importance.