While this may look like any car ferry carrying people and vehicles in an estuary on the Norwegian coast, this 80-meter ship, called MV Ampere, was one of the world's first fully battery-powered ships. With the first fully powered electric maritime architecture, the vessel has virtually zero greenhouse gas emissions and quiet operation for clean transportation.
Launched by Norled Shipping Company in 2015, Ampere represented the beginning of an important trend in hybridization and electrification in the marine industry. Since then, many forward-thinking operators of fishing boats such as trawlers, fish farming boats, tugboats and steamer with cars have embraced the new wave represented by green energy and propulsion systems. Since these types of vessels spend most of their time working close to the shore, they are subject to strict legal regulations to reduce harmful air emissions.
Norwegian ferry the MV Ampere is the world's first all-electric car and passenger ferry, powered by two 450 kW electric motors with 10t lithium-ion batteries.
When one of the leading players in electrification needed an energy-efficient cooling circuit for the ferry's racks of batteries, they reached out to Parker's High-Pressure Connectors Europe (HPCE) Division in Annemasse, France. Their request was for an innovative solution that would be easy to install and test while offering low maintenance, leak-free, and energy-efficient performance.
"We proposed a solution with couplings that would not allow any fluid to leak out. We eliminated the tubing and the fittings so it's just couplings, manifold and the connection is done."
Liana Jaskot, product unit manager, Parker High-Pressure Connectors Europe
Working directly with the partner's engineering experts, the Parker team developed a proprietary ready-to-use solution that:
Parker went from design to manufacture to implementation of the thermal management manifold connector in only six months. During just one year of operation, an electric ferry like the Ampere saves approximately
Historically, watercraft were heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Diesel-electric ships used an internal combustion engine connected to an electric generator, while power was transferred to the propeller shaft via an AC inverter and electric motor. However, this traditional power and propulsion system began to develop in quite exciting ways. Advances in the field of hybridization and electrification have led to new architectures with some specific performance advantages, especially in the field of energy efficiency.
So what are the options for more environmentally friendly watercraft?
Series hybrids using a built-in motor to power the generator and the propeller is rotated by an electric motor.
Batteries can also be used to provide energy storage capability.
For parallel hybrids, the motor is mechanically connected to the driveshaft and an electric motor.
The propeller can be powered by the motor or electric motor, and power can be supplied from both sources simultaneously.
Fully electric systems using lithium-ion batteries to power electric motors.
The architecture chosen largely depends on the type of work cycle of the ships concerned. However, there is one fixed factor, regardless of the final choice, ship operators are seeking ways to maximize the overall performance of the ship by achieving maximum energy efficiency in all systems on the ship. This is achieved by the seamless integration of power drives with other technologies, such as hydraulics, which are commonly used to manage steering systems and gearbox lubrication, and to power auxiliary systems such as spring ramps and drive ramps, whether they are serial hybrid, parallel hybrid or full electric.
In addition to increased energy efficiency, the advantages of hybrid or fully electric propulsion systems include:
First of all, traditional hydraulic power units on older stock diesel engine ships traditionally need oversized pumps and engines to provide performance when the system requires the highest duty cycle. However, since energy costs are an ever-increasing problem, and environmental regulations become more stringent, wasted energy and high CO2 emissions are becoming increasingly problematic in marine applications. This requires the transition to more efficient systems where power is adjusted to the needs of specific tasks.
As a result, new technologies such as drive-controlled pump systems offer a more synergistic approach, in which hydraulic power units, frequency drives, electric motors, and hydraulic pumps are successfully integrated to meet every local load demand in a hydraulic system. Specifically, variable frequency drives provide the precise, variable pressure and flow required in the machine or at any point in the duty cycle by managing the working torque and speed of the electric motor. Drive control; It is guided using field-tested control algorithms designed to provide reliable, standardized, and customizable hydraulic functions.
These technical challenges have encouraged traditional hydraulic component suppliers to keep up with the age and become motion control experts who can understand the complex connection between a range of electrohydraulic technologies and control systems. Our response as Parker was to combine hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical sections to create a special Motion Systems Group with technical expertise in maritime environments.
The digital integration implemented with the use of mobile IoT can provide valuable insights into the instantaneous state of the hydraulic equipment, which makes it possible to continuously monitor a number of variables such as engine revolutions, torque, and other motion system parameters. The ability to share this data by assigning multi-tiered user types and permissions means maintenance is more predictable; this improves service time and supports more efficient work. As a result, mobile IoT brings a more cost-effective, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly way of working as a groundbreaking element in marine environments.
Looking ahead, the widespread use of 5G wireless systems promises even higher connectivity levels, enabling much higher levels of data transmission with lower latency. This will likely result in a new IoT-enabled way of working in the maritime industry, especially in port logistics and route planning where energy will be used more efficiently.
Technologies such as 5G will also support increased use of automation on smarter ships of the future. Automating onboard operations is seen as a valuable way to save time and money while reducing the need for crew onboard will also reduce the risk of accidents and injuries. These days, most major maritime organizations are investing heavily in IoT / automation research, and ship autonomy has become a global trend.
More environmentally friendly ways of working in maritime settings offer many opportunities for technical improvement. Boats such as trolleys and workboats are becoming more environmentally friendly and more efficient, which makes the maximum use of the power installed on the ship. Electrification also brings advanced connectivity possibilities, giving operators real-time information about the performance of basic equipment such as hydraulics. In short, greener ships are better ones, and this will benefit everyone.
This revolutionary vessel, MV Ampere, not only represents an early success in electrification for clean transportation within the marine industry, it is a huge opportunity in the fast-growing thermal management market. It's a beacon of purpose—and what can happen when Parker partners with customers to apply its core technologies to make a positive impact on the world.
Written by: Jari Rantanen, application development manager - Industrial Growth Team - Motion Systems Group Europe, Parker Hannifin.
Additional articles on this topic:
Bringing Our Purpose to Life: Propelling a Future of Clean Transportation
Defining Our Unique Contribution to the World
Electrification Put to the Test
Thermal Management: Quick Connect Solutions for Tempering and Cooling
Decoupling the Future of Electrification
Improving Efficiency of Diesel Truck and Bus Fleets
Changing the Environmental Impact of Electric Car Batteries
Overcoming Challenges of Fully Autonomous Vehicles
Challenges of Commercial Vehicle Electrification
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