Sustainable transport of polymetallic nodules

Sustainable transport of polymetallic nodules

van Laar, Ghislaine (TU Delft Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science; TU Delft Aerospace Science for Sustainable Engineering and Technology)

Polinder, H. (graduation committee)
Schmehl, R. (mentor)
Scholten, D.J. (graduation committee)
Breukels, J. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Electrical Engineering | Sustainable Energy Technology

2021-08-27

This research examines the possible pathways and available technologies that will help the shipping sector to achieve the climate goals set by the IMO. Reaching these goals will require financial incentives and policies regarding sustainability. These policies need to describe regulations at both international and regional level given the maritime sector’s 3% contribution to GHG emissions (Tatar & ÖZER, 2018).Previous research examines only the performances of the new technologies. This research includes both aspects to assess the different options, from the sustainable point of view as the business point of view.The goal of this researchwas to investigate the possibilities to apply renewable energy sources to a vessel that transports polymetallic nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Zone to Mexico in order to reduce the carbon footprint. Besides this, also look into which of these possibilities has the lowest costs. For this purpose, multiple propulsion drive train systems were examined which were based on the Panamax Leda C. The behavior of these new propulsion systems was examined to answer the following research question: “Which currently existing energy source(s) can be used to transport the polymetallic nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture zone to the coast of Mexico, a 2200 km route, and whose operational use is technically feasible in five years, in the most sustainable way and with the lowest costs?". To answer this research question, the following steps have been undertaken. First current technologies and their state, were analysed using technology readiness levels (TRLs). The known data was established which included the cargo, the requirements for the fleet, the total days at sea, total amount of nodules collected in one year and the buffer of the mining vessel. With this information an optimal base case was determined in terms of energy consumption and costs. The base case is a Panamax bulk carrier called the Leda C with a deadweight of 81526 dwt.Two different key performance indicators (KPIs) were set to analyse the different performance systems. These KPIs are the emission reduction per tonne collected nodules in %/tonne and the costs per tonne collected nodules in $/tonne.To examine the different propulsion systems, their performances had to be checked for this specific route. In this route analysis there is looked at the probability of the wind, which was necessary to calculate the performances of the wind assisted ship propulsion (WASP) systems. Drive trains of the different propulsion systems were schematically given and analyzed to understand which systems should be implemented for the different propulsion systems. After this, the components of each propulsion was checked, looking at their performance, sizes and costs.The costs of the total drive trains of the different propulsion systems were elaborated. Finally, three different scenarios were chosen to examine the KPIs of the different propulsions.It is concluded that the most cost-effective technology for the RE on board systems is the Flettner rotor and for the alternative fuels this is biofuel (HVO). The propulsion systems discussed in this research will only be attractive when the CO2 tax will increase. It is concluded that the higher the carbon tax, the more attractive the alternative fuels become in terms of cost effectiveness.The advice for Allseas will be, if nothing changes, to not install a sustainable energy propulsion system. Because all systems will be more expensive than the base case. If regulations make it necessary to reduce emissions, it is advised to install the Flettner rotor in hybrid with the current engine.

Wind assisted ship propulsion (WASP)
solar system
Hydrogen
ammonia
Biofuels
Innovation
Sustainability
Transport
bulk carrier
Alternative propulsion system on board
Fuel Cell

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ac42edba-a4ca-49ec-bb99-1c1b0b203f20

Student theses

master thesis

© 2021 Ghislaine van Laar