Project Summary
Steamology zero-emission power turbines replace diesel engines for marine, rail and road transport applications. The Zero Emission Marine – Hydrogen and Oxygen Fuel System (ZEM–HOFS) project will raise the Technology Readiness Level of the marine hydrogen and oxygen gaseous/liquid fuel, storage, supply chain and regulation systems in line with the marine operating and certification environment. Steamology has developed working demonstrations of its high power steam turbines, and the next steps are certification, commercialisation and scale up. ZEM-HOFS will deliver detailed design engineering, research and development of the gas/liquid fuel supply system in preparation for marinisation Approval in Principle and class certification.
Project Achievements
Steamology has raised the TRL level of the onboard fuel storage solutions. The financial impact of this technology on potential pilot projects is now well documented. Understanding of what is available has vastly improved, allowing us to specify a product for a range of design opportunities. We have learnt that most storage vessels with a transport use case are certified to road or rail transport standards. It is anticipated that any vessel
repowering design would seek Approval in Principle for the fuel tanks, engines and fuel system. Working with Lloyds Register with Risk Based Certification process has been particularly useful understanding how to break the engine and fuel systems down into assessable parts to analyse the intended functions, points of failure and methods to overcome these. Furthered the Technology Readiness Level of the engine design, which is close to TRL7 and the onboard fuel storage is moving towards TRL4.
Conclusions
Broad research of the market and networking with every supplier and developer of hydrogen and oxygen storage mediums forms the start of the project. The data gathered was formatted into a database to allow analysis of the range in terms of physical properties, intended application, certification, density of storage and cost. Working with experienced naval architects we generated a concept design for the repowering of a vessel. We started the process of Risk Based Certification to learn how to get approval for an innovative design in this industry. Using the research data along with our existing marinised engine to start the process.
The result of our work is a database of products we can refer to when scoping the redesign of a vessel with the Steamology engines, relative to the intended application, duty cycle and fuel storage capacity.
Next Steps
Next steps continue the Lloyds Register RBC process to gain Approval in Principle for the engine and fuel system. Continuing to evolve the design of the Steam Generator and Turbine in 900kW dynamometer test cell to develop a certifiable, performance, zero emission product meeting the correct pressure vessel codes. Drafting new IP and working towards commercialisation. Looking to implement the technology and fuel storage solutions gathered in this project in a real-world trial.
We are currently using the results of this work in Crew Transfer Vessel projects and in proposals for repowering Tugboats, shore power and shipping Combined Heat and Power as well as Rail Freight Locomotive heavy duty transport demonstrators.
We are actively looking for more partners for pilot projects at 200kW to MW scale where the energy density, long life and cost-effectiveness of the Steamology zero emission technology has distinct advantages over hydrogen fuel cell and battery alternatives.
