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Optimal EMS Design for a 4-MW-Class Hydrogen Tugboat: A Comparative Analysis Using DP-Based Performance Evaluation

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  • Seonghyeon Hwang

    (Center for Plant Engineering, Institute for Advanced Engineering, 175-28, Goan-ro 51beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea)

  • Changhyeong Lee

    (Center for Plant Engineering, Institute for Advanced Engineering, 175-28, Goan-ro 51beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea)

  • Juyeol Ryu

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea)

  • Jongwoong Lim

    (Center for Plant Engineering, Institute for Advanced Engineering, 175-28, Goan-ro 51beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea)

  • Sohmyung Chung

    (Center for Plant Engineering, Institute for Advanced Engineering, 175-28, Goan-ro 51beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea)

  • Sungho Park

    (Center for Plant Engineering, Institute for Advanced Engineering, 175-28, Goan-ro 51beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yongin 17180, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

In the current trend of hydrogen fuel cell-powered ships, batteries are used together with fuel cells to overcome the limitations of fuel cell technology. However, performance differences arise depending on fuel cell and battery configurations, load profiles, and energy management system (EMS) algorithms. We designed four hybrid controllers to optimize EMS algorithms for achieving maximum performance based on target profiles and hardware. The selected EMS is based on a State Machine, an Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy (ECMS), Economic Model Predictive Control (EMPC), and Dynamic Programming (DP). We used DP to evaluate the optimal design state and fuel efficiency of each controller. To evaluate controller performance, we obtained a 4-MW-class tug load profile as a reference and performed simulations based on Nedstack’s fuel cells and a lithium-ion battery model. The constraints were set according to the description of each equipment manual, and the optimal controller was derived based on the amount of hydrogen consumed by each EMS under the condition of completely tracking the load profile. As a result of simulating the hybrid fuel cell–battery system by applying the load profile of the tugboat, we found that the 4-MW EMPC, which requires more state variables and control inputs, is the most fuel-efficient controller.

Suggested Citation

  • Seonghyeon Hwang & Changhyeong Lee & Juyeol Ryu & Jongwoong Lim & Sohmyung Chung & Sungho Park, 2024. "Optimal EMS Design for a 4-MW-Class Hydrogen Tugboat: A Comparative Analysis Using DP-Based Performance Evaluation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:13:p:3146-:d:1422285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcin Kolodziejski & Iwona Michalska-Pozoga, 2023. "Battery Energy Storage Systems in Ships’ Hybrid/Electric Propulsion Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Jingang Han & Jean-Frederic Charpentier & Tianhao Tang, 2014. "An Energy Management System of a Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid Boat," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Antonio Nicolò Mancino & Carla Menale & Francesco Vellucci & Manlio Pasquali & Roberto Bubbico, 2023. "PEM Fuel Cell Applications in Road Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-27, August.
    4. Chen, Shuang & Hu, Minghui & Guo, Shanqi, 2023. "Fast dynamic-programming algorithm for solving global optimization problems of hybrid electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
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