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Hydrogen Ships & Subs
IS THE REAL SECRET OF FUEL CELL BREAKTHROUGHS AND THE KEY TO THE ADVENT OF THE HYDROGEN ECONOMY HIDDEN IN TOP SECRET MILITARY RESEARCH?

The Linde Group Opens the First Hydrogen Filling Station for Fuel Cell Passenger Ships   Linde   August 29, 2008

MUNICH - The technology company The Linde Group has today officially opened the world's first hydrogen filling station for fuel cell passenger ships in Hamburg. Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs was in attendance for this "Zemship-related" grand opening, an EU-sponsored project for the development of fuel cell ships.
    "As a pioneer in hydrogen technology, we want to make environmentally-friendly, hydrogen-based locomotion a reality in all areas. With this globally unique filling station, we are showing that hydrogen is well-suited as an emissions-free fuel for passenger ships," said Dr. Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG.
    The Zemship filling station is located in the Hamburg city park. It provides regular fill-ups of hydrogen gas for this "zero emissions ship". The first passenger ship for 100 people to be operated via a hydrogen fuel cell will convey passengers on both the Alster as well as the Elbe rivers. For fuelling, liquid hydrogen stored at a temperature of minus 253 °C is transformed into hydrogen gas in an evaporator and then compressed up to 450 bar via a two-stage compressor system. The complete fuelling station was designed and built by Linde.
    As one of the world's largest manufacturer of hydrogen systems, Linde offers a complete range of technologies that are required for a functioning hydrogen value-added chain - from production to fuelling.
    With 120,000 hydrogen fill-ups by the end of last year, the company has set a new fuelling record. This includes passenger cars with an average 300 fill-ups per week as well as lorries, busses and forklifts. Linde is the leading international equipment supplier for hydrogen fuelling stations. The gas company is represented in 15 countries with fuelling technology. The use of hydrogen as a fuel for motors does not cause any damaging emissions. Electrical energy is created in the fuel cell with the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to water with an efficiency of up to 70 per cent.

    Zemships
    To prove that hydrogen is well-suited as a fuel for ships, the Hamburg Office of Urban Planning and Environmental Affairs has brought together Germanische Lloyd AG, Proton Motor, Hamburger Hochbahn AG, The Linde Group, Alster-Touristik GmbH, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg, hySolutions GmbH and The UJV Nuclear Research Institute rez plc for this Zemship project. Zemship is a EU-sponsored project.

Solar and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sailboat to Voyage Globe
Sandra Upton     Plenty     July 17, 2008

Hydrogen Ship Soon to Set Sail
Ice News     February 2, 2008
Ship owner Vignir Sigursveinsson said: “When we have the hydrogen machine, the boat will be completely soundless, which will make the experience of seeing the whales in their natural habitat even more magical.”

  • Whale Watching Ship to be Powered by Hydrogen
    Iceland Review     May 9, 2007
        Icelandic energy company Nýorka is planning to install a hydrogen engine in the whale watching ship Elding by summer 2008, which would be the first of its kind in the world.


Christian Machens of Germany Establishes Claim
to World's First Certified Fuel Cell Boat in 2000

Machens was a founding member of the MHFCA in 2006

The Fuel Cell Passenger Boat     etaing, GmbH     Germany
    etaing GmbH realized a fuel cell system named "Europ 21" in the 2nd quarter 2000 which is being used on a passenger boat as the first propulsion system of its kind in Germany.
    The Europ 21 has been developed for mobile applications. Maritime requirements influenced the decision to use an AFC fuel cell. The AFC (alcaline fuel cell) is an electrochemical device that transforms hydrogen and aerial oxygen in a so called cold combustion into electricity and heat, in this process water is produced. It is a low temperature cell that works without pressure. The used electrolyte is potassium hydroxide that is giving the AFC the name.
    The Europ 21 has the following advantages: combined use of energy and heat, permanent productivity, modular design, high efficiency, no annoying noise or odor, absolutely no local emissions, the only by-product is pure water.
    The basic reaction that takes place in the AFC is a reverse electrolysis (the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water by introducing an electric current).
    In the Europ 21 hydrogen and aerial oxygen react in the fuel cell stack. This is a controlled chemical reaction of hydrogen and aerial oxygen which are separated by an electrolyte, in this case potassium hydroxide. At the anode hydrogen is oxidized using a catalyst and electrons are produced; at the cathode aerial oxygen is reduced using a catalyst and electrons are used. The resulting electric current is used to power the boat (electric motor on Hydra).
    The stack as the centrepiece of Europ 21 is a set of fuel cells connected in series and parallel to form a module. Every module produces about 465 Watt and 8 modules connected in series form a stack. To produce the output of 6.9 kW, brutto etaing uses 2 stacks.

214 Class submarine under construction at the Hellenic Shipyards in Greece. Photo: Hellenic Shipyards

Air Products said that the fuel cells do not emit any noise or noticeable exhaust heat, making the submarine virtually undetectable.
First Hydrogen Submarine Built in Greece
The Engineer (UK)     July 18, 2007

    The submarine was built by Hellenic Shipyards, part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. The shipyard plans to build more fuel cell-powered submarines for the Hellenic Navy under a HDW license, and conventionally-powered vessels will also be fitted with hydrogen-powered fuel cells.
  • Air Products Fuels New Hydrogen Submarine for Hellenic Navy
    Air Products     July 12, 2007
    “We are paving the way to the future hydrogen economy, by already supplying liquid hydrogen from Central Europe, as far as Ireland, Italy, Spain and Israel. By supplying liquid hydrogen as well as fueling equipment, we are able to offer a complete and safe package to our customers. We are proud to have already supplied hydrogen fueling equipment, as well as liquid hydrogen, to fuel submarines from the German Navy and now the Hellenic Navy, and we hope more will adopt this revolutionary technology soon,” said Ian Williamson, general manager-Future Energy Solutions, Air Products Europe.


Marine Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association celebrates first year.
The main task of this non-profit organization is the active support of the integration of hydrogen as an energy-carrier into marine systems and the active support of the development of regulations, codes and standards for marine hydrogen applications.

Fuel Cells to Help Clean Up Shipping
Wojciech Moskwa     Scientific American     August 3, 2007
When powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), as the first full-scale test model will be, carbon dioxide emissions are cut in half compared to diesel engines running on marine bunker fuel and sulphur and nitrogen oxide exhausts are nearly eliminated.

Whale Watching Ship to be Powered by Hydrogen
Iceland Review     May 9, 2007

    Icelandic energy company Nýorka is planning to install a hydrogen engine in the whale watching ship Elding by summer 2008, which would be the first of its kind in the world.

Soviet S-80 submarine used by Spain.
Soviet S-80

UTC Power To Design Fuel Cell for Spanish Submarine
UTC Power     July 19, 2006

    SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., July 19, 2006 – UTC Power, a United Technologies (NYSE: UTX) company, today announced that its UTC Fuel Cells unit will design and develop a 300 kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power module for the Spanish shipbuilder NAVANTIA, S.A. for use in the Spanish Navy’s S-80 submarine.
   The 300 kW PEM fuel cell will be designed to operate on reformed ethanol and pure oxygen. The Spanish Navy will install the new fuel cell power modules on its S-80 model, 2,500-ton submarines as part of the air-independent propulsion system. The S-80 submarines are designed to protect the coastline.
    UTC Power President Jan van Dokkum said, “We believe the cooperation between NAVANTIA and UTC Power will lead to a technologically advanced, world-class oceangoing/littoral water submarine and reinforce the leading roles of NAVANTIA and UTC Power in their respective fields. This application represents a whole new market for our fuel cell technology.”
    NAVANTIA is a leading worldwide designer and supplier of military and civil vessels. The company is based in Madrid with offices and shipyards throughout Spain.

HDW fuel cell submarine

Building the Fuel Cell Submarine U31
HDW     Windows Media

Disabled Canadian diesel-electric sub Chicoutimi, one of four purchased from Britain, adrift off Ireland after "major fire" killed a crewman.  Photo: Royal Navy
Disabled Canadian diesel-electric sub Chicoutimi, one of four purchased from Britain, adrift off Ireland on Oct 7 after "major fire" killed a crewman. 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
BALLARD'S FUEL CELL SUBS?

Germany dedicates the world's first fuel cell submarine.  Photo: HDW
Germany dedicates world's first fuel cell submarine in 2003.

"Air Independent Propulsion technology is evolving rapidly, and some experts predict, for example, that the power output of a typical fuel cell module could well double or triple in the next several years, allowing an even more advantageous trade-off between underwater speed and endurance."
Edward C. Whitman
Air Independent Propulsion   Undersea Warfare    Fall 2001

CANADA      BALLARD       DEFENCE CANADA     HDW                   October 25, 2004 

Fuel Cells for Canadian Subs a $12m Fizzle
Steven Maher     The Halifax Herald Limited

The navy paid a Canadian company more than $12 million to develop a high-tech fuel-cell propulsion system for its submarines, then shelved the project when the company lost interest. Briefing notes obtained under the Access to Information Act show that the Defence Department invested the money through Ballard Power Systems, a Vancouver fuel-cell company, between 1983 and 1996. ...The navy used the promise of such technology when it was trying to convince the government of Jean Chretien to buy four used subs from Britain in the 1990s, Defence Department briefing notes show. ...Canada is watching as other countries, including Sweden and Germany, outfit their subs with AIP technology. HDW, the company that provided Germany with its subs, acquired several fuel-cell modules from Ballard in 1996 for $9.3 million.      
GERMANY                                         Hydrogen Challenger GmbH

October 2004 

WORLD WITNESSES BIRTH OF NEW ERA OF SHIPPING AS
GERMAN MILITARY STRIVES FOR FREEDOM FROM OIL

Verical axis wind turbine is erected on the German hydrogen electrolysis ship HYDROGEN CHALLENGER.  Photo: Hydrogen Challenger GmbH

Verical axis wind turbine on the German hydrogen electrolysis ship HYDROGEN CHALLENGER.  Photo: Hydrogen Challenger GmbH
HYDROGEN
CHALLENGER

Extraordinary German ship claims it will sail windy seas to electrolyze and store hydrogen for commercial port delivery.  Or is it a prototype fuel cell submarine tender?

GERMANY BEGINS PRODUCTION OF FUEL CELL SUBMARINES
SUBhdw-fcS.jpg (7673 bytes)
German Shipbuilder Unveils Fuel-cell Submarine
AP     April 7, 2003

    Germany's biggest shipbuilder, Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft, on Monday unveiled what it described as the world's first submarine to be powered by fuel-cell technology. The submarine, the first of four in the company's new 212A class being built for the German navy, was launched from the company's shipyard in the northern city of Kiel for testing in the Baltic Sea.  The hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vessel is expected to head for Norway in July for deep-water testing, before returning to Kiel next March for final fitting and delivery. The technology is designed to cut out noise and emissions. The shipbuilder HDW is a leading manufacturer of non-nuclear military submarines.
  • Israel Plans to Buy Two German Fuel Cell Submarines, Bild Zeitung Says    Bloomberg    May 26, 2004
  • Diving Into Uncharted Waters   E4 Engineering    April 16, 2004
INDIA   GERMANY    SEIMENS    HDW      United News of India      September 6, 2004 

India's Navy Considering German Offer: Upgrading "Shishumar" Submarines to Fuel Cell Propulsion

The upgrade will comprise putting in the new technology 'Air Independent Propulsion' fuel cells in the submarines, which confer several benefits to the submarine's functioning, as regards noise, endurance and emissions. German electronics major Siemens, which has developed the PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell modules which generate energy by converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity, has offered to upgrade the Shishumar class with this new propulsion system. ...Siemens has already carried out the upgrade of five 209 class submarines for the Greek navy. The technology finds place in the 212 A and 214 classes of submarine, built by HDW, which are or shortly will be in service of German, Italian, Greek and South Korean navies.
GERMANY  HOWALDTSWERKE-DEUTSCHE WERF (HDW)

April 16, 2004

Diving Into Uncharted Waters    Jon Excell    E4Engineering

   The world's first fuel cell-powered submarine is currently undergoing deep-water trials and will enter service with the German navy in August. The 56m long, 11.5m high class 212A submarine, manufactured at the Kiel shipyard of German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werf, is powered by a hybrid propulsion system consisting of a diesel generator with a lead acid battery, and an air-independent propulsion system (AIP) based on nine Siemens proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. These produce electrical energy from oxygen and hydrogen and provide between 30 and 50kW each. The hydrogen for the cells is stored in metal hydride cylinders —where hydrogen is chemically bound to the metal.
     ...HDW is currently building three more 212A-class U-boats for the German navy, while two Italian boats of the same class, also built by HDW, are expected to enter service in 2005. The company is also in the process of building four 214-type fuel cell submarines; one is being built in Kiel, one in Scaramanga, Greece and two in Korea. The fuel cells can also be retrofitted to some existing U-boats, and HDW recently received an order from the Greek navy to upgrade three of its 209-class submarines.   
more

The high-speed vessel “Joint Venture” (HSV-X1) moves through the waters off the coast of southern California. Joint Venture is participating in Fleet Battle Experiment Juliet (FBE-J) as part of operations supporting Millennium Challenge 2002 (MC-02). MC-02 is the nation's premier joint integrating event, bringing together both live field exercises and computer simulations throughout the Department of Defense. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Frederick McCahan.
US NAVY                 March 5, 2004                             
 
Hybrids on the High Seas: Fuel Cells for Future Ships
 
U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research     

    As hybrid electric cars become more commonplace on America's highways, the Navy is working to bring hybrid electric ships to the high seas. The Office of Naval Research is developing innovative propulsion systems based on new fuel-cell technology for efficient generation of electrical power--and greater design flexibility--for future ships. To ensure a relatively quick transition to this promising technology, ONR is funding development of a method to extract hydrogen from diesel fuel.

U 31 – The Way to the High Seas
Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft      April 7, 2003

    Start of trials for the world‘s most up-to-date, non-nuclear submarine.
    "The Boat is back again" – headlined the New York Times with the news in 1994 that the German Navy would be getting a revolutionary new submarine – the 212 A class. "Conventional" does not really do justice to it – "non-nuclear" would be better. A submarine fitted out with a production-stage air-independent fuel cell propulsion system, which has caught the world’s imagination. A submarine that under normal operations can hardly be detected. This is the German Navy’s submarine of tomorrow.
    The christening at HDW in Kiel on 20 March 2002 was a milestone on the path to commissioning the first „U 31“ submarine in March 2004. Everything began on 6 July 1994 with the building contract for four boats between the German Office for Defense Technologies & Procurement and ARGE U 212 which formed Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG in Kiel as the lead shipyard and Nordseewerke in Emden for building the submarines. The first boat was begun on 1 July 1998 and launched at the end of April 2002. Extensive port and sea trials were then undertaken.
    Actually, trials had started earlier in January 2002. The requirements of the German Navy for air-independence, extremely low electronic codes and highly developed weapon and sensor systems have resulted in a high degree of integration. There is no longer any classic division into platform and payload – the shipyard and supplier system are now a unity. And, as a result, everything is checked to the core.
    Particular attention was, of course, paid to the newly developed components for the boat. It was not just enough to apply theoretical considerations to the very many questions that arose. Thus, for instance, two fully integrated land test facilities – namely the fuel cell testing facility at HDW in Kiel and the Command and Weapon Control System (CWCS) – came up with practically-oriented replies even before the submarine was afloat. Thus both time and money were saved.
    Life began in earnest for the young submarine on 20 April 2002 as it felt water under its keel for the first time and full practical trials began. A start had been made within HDW’s submarine production shop on the integration and startup of the equipment at the beginning of 2002 – something continued at HDW’s own pier. This was the place for the yard to furnish its "Port Operational Certificate". This would show that all the equipment was operating in a proper fashion both individually and interactively. And, of course, the equipment had to meet the tough test specifications.
    U 31 was in the port up to the beginning of 2003 and during this time the initial crew familiarized itself with the boat during a 4-week stint at the HDW Naval Training Center and in the submarine itself. After all, it is the German Navy that provides the crew for the coming sea trials.
7 April 2003: Sea trials begin
    From Kiel, U 31 will be engaged in shallow water trials in the western half of the Baltic Sea beginning on 7 April 2003. The entire marine engineering and operation will be looked into. The fact that, aside from the crew, shipyard and supplier staff along with inspection personnel from the German Office for Defense Technology & Procurement (BWB) are on board will certainly mean cramped working conditions.
    The other half of the trials mainly revolves around deep-water trials. It is expected that U 31 will be leaving home waters for the first time at the end of July 2003, heading for Norway. It will dock at Kristiansand, Stavanger and Bergen for assistance to be given by the Norwegian Navy, with its facilities, to their German comrades. Acoustics, sonar and the fire control system (FüWES) will all be tested during the depth diving trials, preferably in the Skagerak. And the first practice torpedoes are to be fired as well.
    The boat will be returning to Kiel mid-March 2004 after conclusion of all the trials. The submarine will again return to the yard for remaining work and for any defects that have to be put right. Then HDW finally hands over U 31 to the German Navy which will place it into service. From being christened by godmother Bärbel Kaempf with champagne in line with good seafaring tradition on 20 March 2002, a grown-up member of the German Navy has arisen – one representing the world’s most modern, non-nuclear submarine.

Greek Navy Class 209 Submarines to be Equipped with Fuel Cell Propulsion Systems
Seimens     March 19, 2003

    The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) together with Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) of Kiel are to equip three Greek class 209 submarines with a propulsion system that is independent of an outside air supply. The project covers the supply of the PEM fuel-cell modules and the electrical equipment for integration into their existing propulsion system. In addition, an option has been agreed upon for a fourth installation.
    Delivery is scheduled to be between mid-2004 and 2010. Modernization of the roughly 25 years old class 209 submarines is intended to increase their submersed range to that of new ships. Earlier orders placed with Siemens both from Greece and also South Korea included the equipment for modern class 214 submarines. A PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell system provides the power for the submarines when running submerged and so provides air-independent propulsion (AIP). The AIP system is an HDW development. Siemens is providing the fuel cell modules as well as the control and monitoring systems.
    The equipment to be supplied by Siemens is currently the most advanced type to supply air-independent power for non-nuclear submarines. The company's scope of supply also includes the control cubicles of the fuel cell system (FCS), the control gear to integrate the FCS into the existing propulsion system, and material packages to modernize the existing electrical equipment. Modernization of the submarines will be undertaken by HDW, the FCS being incorporated as a new some seven meter long hull section. A substantial part of the refurbishing and the commissioning will be carried out by HDW's Greek subsidiary, Hellenic Shipyards Co. (HSY) of Skaramanga, Attica.

Air Products to Build Fuel Station for First Hydrogen-powered Sub
by Hang Nguyen - The Morning Call (NJ)   
July 9, 2002

    The fueling station will be built for four submarines that Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG, or HDW, is making for the German navy. The submarines are slated to begin service as early as 2003. HDW, a shipyard based in Kiel, Germany, on the Baltic Sea, calls the class 212A submarine ''the most modern non-nuclear submarine in the world.'' It is known as the U-31.
    ...HDW also has orders for four U-31 submarines for the Greek navy, three for the Korean navy and two for the Italian navy. Because of these orders, Air Products has an option with HDW to build more fueling stations. This will be Air Products' 15th hydrogen fueling station. ...The new station will be placed at an unspecified location in Europe in 10 months. The unit also can be moved. The hydrogen at the station is stored in liquid form but is vaporized into its natural gas state as it is pumped into the submarine.

First Fuel-Cell Submarine In the World Is Christened
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW)     Kiel, Germany
March 22, 2002

    The new submarine class 212 developed by HDW is characterised by an air-independent propulsion system using the hydrogen fuel cell. HDW is thus the first shipyard in the world to offer a fuel cell propulsion system ready for series production.
    The fuel cell plant, which produces electrical energy from oxygen and hydrogen, permits the new class of submarines to cruise under water for weeks without surfacing. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have used up their battery power after about two days cruising under water. In addition, the fuel cell makes no noise and produces no giveaway exhaust heat. These factors help to make the submarine virtually undetectable.


First German Submarine with Hybrid Propulsion Plant
Now Being Built
MTU/DaimlerChrysler    February 24, 1999

    The 56-metre Class 212 submarine will have a fuel cell, apart from the MTU engine, battery and propulsion motor, integrated into the propulsion system. Enough energy can be produced with the fuel cell, without surfacing, to power the onboard electrical system when travelling at low speeds. The battery is therefore always at capacity and its energy is used, in contrast to conventional propulsion systems, only for peak speeds upon special demand. The building of the U212 has introduced a new chapter in submarine technology because, with a fuel cell, the submerged periods are notably lengthened. Regarding noise signature, the new propulsion technology offers advantages over conventional systems because of its functional principle. In addition, the low-temperature fuel cell works at an operating temperature of 70 to 80° Celsius and is therefore difficult to detect by external heat sensors.