Air supply apparatus for a ship, ship including the same, and method of supplying air to an air lubrication device
An air supply apparatus for a ship is described. The air supply apparatus includes a fuel cell and an air lubrication device for resistance reduction of the ship. An exhaust gas outlet of the fuel cell is connected with the air lubrication device via an exhaust gas line for supplying exhaust gas to the air lubrication device. Further, a ship comprising an air supply apparatus according to any embodiments described herein as well as a method of supplying air to an air lubrication device of a ship are described.
1 . An An air supply apparatus for a ship, comprising:
a fuel cell,
an air lubrication device for resistance reduction of the ship, wherein an exhaust gas outlet of the fuel cell is connected with the air lubrication device via an exhaust gas line for supplying exhaust gas to the air lubrication device, and
a turbine connected to the exhaust gas line, wherein the turbine is arranged downstream of the fuel cell and upstream of the air lubrication device.
2 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is connected to a compressor for providing the fuel cell with pressurized air.
3 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is connected to a fuel supply for providing the fuel cell with fuel, the fuel being at least one of hydrogen, methane, methanol, ammonia or any other suitable fuel.
4 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is a variable geometry turbine.
5 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: a turbine bypass connected to the exhaust gas line and bypassing the turbine, and a blow of valve arranged downstream of the turbine.
6 . The air supply apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the turbine bypass comprises a turbine bypass valve.
7 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one component selected from an after burner, an oxidizer, an expander, a heat exchanger, a throttle, a flap, and a recirculation device, wherein the at least one component is connected to the exhaust gas line.
8 . The air supply apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising at least one component selected from an after burner, an oxidizer, an expander, a heat exchanger, a throttle, a flap, a flow control device, and a recirculation device, wherein the at least one component is connected to the exhaust gas line, wherein the flow control device is provided in series to the at least one component, or wherein the flow control device is provided in parallel to the at least one component.
9 . The air supply apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flow control device connected to the exhaust gas line.
10 . The air supply apparatus of claim 9 , the flow control device being a valve or a flap.
11 . The air supply apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising at least one component selected from an after burner, an oxidizer, an expander, a heat exchanger, a throttle, a flap, and a recirculation device, wherein the at least one component is connected to the exhaust gas line, wherein the flow control device is provided in series to the at least one component and downstream of the at least one component.
12 . A ship comprising an air supply apparatus, the air supply apparatus comprising:
a fuel cell,
an air lubrication device for resistance reduction of the ship, wherein an exhaust gas outlet of the fuel cell is connected with the air lubrication device via an exhaust gas line for supplying exhaust gas to the air lubrication device, and
a turbine connected to the exhaust gas line, wherein the turbine is arranged downstream of the fuel cell and upstream of the air lubrication device.
13 . A method of supplying air to an air lubrication device of a ship, comprising:
supplying exhaust gas from a fuel cell to the air lubrication device, and
guiding the exhaust gas through a turbine prior to ejecting the exhaust gas from the air lubrication device, wherein the turbine is arranged downstream of the fuel cell and upstream of the air lubrication device.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the fuel cell with pressurized air.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising guiding the exhaust gas through at least one component selected from an after burner, an oxidizer, an expander, a heat exchanger, a throttle, a flap, and a recirculation device, prior to ejecting the exhaust gas from the air lubrication device.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising controlling the exhaust gas flow provided to the air lubrication device by using a flow control device.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the exhaust gas is O 2 -poor air and/or steam.
18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising using an air supply apparatus, the air supply apparatus comprising:
a fuel cell,
an air lubrication device for resistance reduction of the ship, wherein an exhaust gas outlet of the fuel cell is connected with the air lubrication device via an exhaust gas line for supplying exhaust gas to the air lubrication device, and
a turbine connected to the exhaust gas line, wherein the turbine is arranged downstream of the fuel cell and upstream of the air lubrication device.