Last modified: 2012-09-11
Abstract
Being able to produce energy from hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen without polluting emissions, Fuel Cell Italian Navy Submarines are an exemplary union of tactical-strategical requirements and research for oil alternative energy sources.
The basis idea is to produce and store reactants from sea water, open air and solar energy just on the quay adding a series of container-machines to our topping-up station.
The whole project is aimed at maximum working safety and obeys “Submarines reactants topping-up operation rules” acknowledging current EU and national regulations on the subject.
The hydrogen is to be produced by water electrolysis. It is economically uncompetitive, but it produces the oxygen as well. The nitrogen production is by Pressure Swing Adsorption.
The storage system is a board tanks duplicate. So the hydrogen is adsorpted into metal hydrides and the oxygen is to be liquefied by Claude Cycle before stored into a cryogenic tank although it implies a high energy consumption process.
Maximum electrical power to be supplied to the station is 1 MW, that means an at least 2 ha photovoltaic field. This is not much deployability compliant, while a grid-connected same power one could be 40% narrower and profit by State financial incentive to amortize just its cost within 8 years.
It’s not possible to amortize the whole station’s cost, but being hydrogen the potential best energy carrier from clean and cheap renewable sources, investing in R&D on the subject should be useful for both Defense Compound and civilian transports and power generation.
Finally, there is the idea to enhance the project by reducing dimensions and weight of production and topping-up machines so that they could be integrated aboard to permit the submarine to self refuel, simply taking energy supply from a renewable source ashore.