More NYK-Participating Projects to Receive MLIT Subsidies
December 21, 2009
In addition to the subsidies announced on May 29, four more technology-development projects in which the NYK Group is participating have been selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for subsidies during 2009 in the ministry’s “Support for Technology Development for Curtailing CO2 from Marine Vessels” program.
Outlines of the four projects are provided below.
1. Development of a system for monitoring ship performance
Participating companies: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), NYK Trading Corporation, and Kawaju Techno Service Corporation
Effective operation for vessels is a prerequisite for curtailing CO2 emissions. This project involves the development of a navigation monitoring system—a basic system for effective navigation—featuring comprehensive integration between vessels and land operations. The system accurately monitors the current operations of vessels from the land and suggests an appropriate speed for the vessels based on a specified standard. Another objective is to measure precisely the movement of waves and that of vessels’ hulls, and calculate the effect on the propulsion performance of vessels.
2. Development of a hybrid turbocharger application technology on marine vessels
Participating companies: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
This project involves equipping a Capesize bulk carrier (to be completed in 2011) with the world's first hybrid turbocharger generating system for vessels and proving its effectiveness. The power generation system comprises a small high-speed generator and a power frequency converter within the turbocharger,1 which is loaded within a low-speed diesel main engine. The system can provide all electricity needed on board during ordinary operations. This will make it unnecessary to operate a diesel power generator during operations, which will reduce fuel and maintenance costs, and curtail CO2 emissions.
1A device that sends air required for combustion in the main engine using energy derived from the exhaust gases generated from the main engine.
3. Development of load-fluctuation stabilizer for periodic disturbance from weather and sea conditions
Participating companies: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), and Terasaki Electric Co., Ltd.
The fuel consumption of a vessel varies in accordance with the way the main engine is affected by weather and sea conditions. The project aims to curtail fuel consumption of the main engine by equalizing load fluctuations, and developing a new control system for variable-pitch propellers2 and a shaft motor generator.3
2A propeller with blades that can change their angle. Vessel speed is adjusted by the revolutions of the main engine with fixed-pitch propellers, but with variable-pitch propellers, it can be adjusted by changing the angle of the blades.
3Power generator-cum-motor directly linked to the main shaft that rotates the propeller. It generates power when there is surplus on the load of the main engine, and supports the main engine as a motor if there is no surplus.
4. Research and development of application technology for secondary batteries on oceangoing vessels using large-capacity nickel hydrogen batteries
Participating companies: Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), and Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI)
This project focuses on CO2 emissions from a diesel power generator in order to curtail CO2 emissions from vessels, and aims to develop a hybrid power supply system by combining a conventional diesel power generator and a new type of large-capacity nickel hydrogen battery (Gigacell® by Kawasaki Heavy Industries). The project will also conduct experiments at sea by installing verification test devices on car carriers.
The NYK Group is committed to pursuing technological innovations to suppress global warming.
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