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An external prime-mover rotates the rotor to a speed close to synchronous speed after which DC is available for magnetic locking. Two PEMs ensure redundancy as the failure of one does not render the ship to operate. Even each PEM has two separate drives or stator windings, known as half-drives which ensure redundancy. In case of failure of one of the windings, the other can be used to safely port the ship. The other lower voltage ship loads are also supplied from the HV busbar through step-down transformers thus eliminating the need for additional gensets and reducing costs.
Propulsion Electric Motor
When the cruise industry began in the mid-1800s, vessels were propelled by steam engines. We’ll cover some of the most popular technologies used by cruise ships. The engines on a cruise ship can be up to 45 feet long, 27 feet high, and weigh up to 275 tons. Here’s everything you need to know about a cruise ship’s engine room. In the future, ships might have solar panels shaped like sails.
Aeroderivative gas turbine powered cruise ships
Its chemical structure also has a stable composition that doesn't generate unburned residues, soot or any particulates. In addition, because the fuel is so clean, on LNG-powered ships maintenance intervals are doubled (over 25,000 hours / ~10140 days), as opposed to the standard MDO-powered 12,500 hours (520 days). LNG is natural gas, which consists of 90% methane and 10% ethane. When cooled to -160 C, it passes from gas to liquid, and its volume decreases over 600 times, making it very efficient for distribution. Long-distance LNG transportation is via dual-hull gas carriers.
Using Wind Propulsion Like a Sailing Ship

Should they also fail, vessels are required to have a battery backup. 24 hours of power are at least provided by battery rooms to the smaller emergency equipment list. All ships rely on propellers/screws to be pushed through the water, providing forward and reverse motion. Airplanes, for example, require tremendous propeller speeds to provide the forward motion, but ship propellers don't need to turn so fast and rely on torque power.
So How Do These Engines Make the Ship Move?

This ship is the biggest "floating superstore" on the Baltic Sea, featuring a 2-deck retail shopping complex and the unique self-service option called "Q-shopping". The RoPax vessel uses LNG as prime fuel and MDO (marine diesel oil) as secondary fuel. AIDAprima (2016) is one of the world's most technologically advanced cruise vessels. The Promas Lite propulsion future clients, besides passenger ships, are marine vessels like fishing and freighter ships. In November 2013, the manufacturing giant Rolls-Royce upgraded Hurtigruten's ship MS Richard With its new "Promas Lite" propulsion system (integrated propeller-rudder system). This is an older ship, and Promas Lite was the perfect choice as it is a combined "propeller-rudder" system increasing the efficiency of older passenger vessels with lesser tonnage.
Cruise Engine Sentinel: Cincoze's Open Frame Panel PC Enhances Monitoring of Cruise Ship Engine Status - A3 Association for Advancing Automation
Cruise Engine Sentinel: Cincoze's Open Frame Panel PC Enhances Monitoring of Cruise Ship Engine Status.
Posted: Thu, 29 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
By choosing engines that meet these criteria, cruise ship operators can provide an unforgettable cruising experience while minimizing the industry’s ecological footprint. Fuel efficiency and environmental impact are of paramount importance in engine selection. The adoption of LNG-powered engines and hybrid electric systems significantly reduces emissions, lowers fuel consumption, and minimizes environmental impact. LNG-powered engines utilize clean-burning liquefied natural gas to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Hybrid electric systems optimize fuel efficiency by integrating electric propulsion during low-speed operations, reducing emissions and noise pollution.
Flexibility of engine-room layout and huge space saving
Discover these hand-picked articles to learn about the many solutions for future-proof, sustainable cruise ship operations. The heat from the engines is removed by a series of heat exchangers. This is found on the exhaust path proceeding the turbocharger on the way to the scrubber. Exhaust gas reaches a temperature of 663°F yet is continuously cooled using heat extraction until it reaches 86°F when it comes out of the funnel. However, guests don’t have to be concerned if their cabins are in this area. The noise level will not damage your hearing because the surrounding cabins are well insulated.
Wind-assisted propulsion
RMS Queen Mary 2's four main diesel engines are above the keel, with two smaller gas turbines on top-deck (aft of the funnel). Gradually, technology allowed the consolidation of these spaces. However, current maritime legislation requires vessels to have equipment duplication and 2 engine rooms. This type of engine provides enough electricity to move the ship’s propellers and power the cruise ship’s appliances, lights, air conditioning, etc. Most ships will contain several engines connected to their generator.
The engine must have the capacity to generate sufficient electricity to meet these demands. Newer cruise ships have a large gap between the cruise ship engine room and passenger cabins to minimize noise and vibrations. Modern diesel-powered cruise ships have between four to six medium-speed (500 revolutions per minute) engines. Each engine can generate upwards of 25,000 horsepower or nearly 18.5 megawatts.
This technology is not that different from how the steamships of the 19th century. All new TUI ships are built to the latest standards with environmentally-friendly marine technologies. These vessels, both as design (hull and superstructure) and implemented technologies, are highly energy-efficient. The advanced exhaust cleaning system uses a catalytic and scrubber converter. This technology allows sulfur emissions to be reduced by 99%, and NOx emissions - by 75%.
As you can probably imagine, cruise ships require a lot of fuel. Gas turbines, although they use a non-renewable energy source, are a greener option than diesel. They work the same way that diesel-electric propulsion systems do, and the heat that the turbines generate is often used for onboard electricity. This type of propulsion is very similar to traditional diesel engines. The main difference is that instead of the engine and pistons being connected directly to the crankshaft and propellers, it is connected to a generator to generate electricity.
Robust design, quality manufacturing, and adherence to rigorous maintenance schedules are critical factors in ensuring engine reliability. Engines with high fuel efficiency can significantly improve the cruising range of a ship, enabling longer journeys without the need for frequent refueling. This is especially important for cruise itineraries that cover long distances or involve remote destinations where refueling options may be limited. With Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas, currently under construction in Finland, any milestone is significant! That includes when the engines are turned on for the very first time.
Due to high specifications and standards, it is rare for a cruise ship to experience engine failure. The International Maritime Organization has a “Safe Return to Port” initiative. While cruise ships can move upwards of 34.5 miles per hour (30 knots), most will only travel at 23 miles per hour (20 knots). There are various reasons for speed variations which are outlined in detail in this article. The largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, utilizes six marine-diesel sets, with each composed of three 16-cylinder Wartsila engines.
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