Feasibility and Design Implications of Fuel Cell Power for Sealift Ships

Fuel cell technologies provide clean and efficient power solutions for both stationary and mobile applications. For shipboard applications, most studies published so far have focused on ship service power or on propulsion power for small vessels with moderate power requirements. Using a military sealift vessel as the platform, this project aims at investigating the implications of implementing fuel cells as the primary power source on a large military cargo ship. A notional solid oxide fuel cell SOFC module is proposed and the implications of the technology on fuel savings and machinery arrangements are analyzed. The study shows that, by using a hybrid SOFC-GT gas turbine system, high system efficiency can be achieved through combined power-heat-steam generation within the constraints of the given machinery space. The modular features of the fuel cell systems and electrical components are also exploited for flexible machinery arrangements. This paper documents the quantitative analysis of the fuel cell powered sealift vessel, provides detailed space arrangement schematics for the proposed concept, and identifies the technology gaps and future development opportunities to pursue the next generation of clean and efficient military sealift vessels or commercial cargo ships.