In a significant stride towards enhancing the efficiency of marine hybrid power systems, a team of researchers led by Pan Geng from the Logistics Engineering College at Shanghai Maritime University has developed a novel energy management strategy. This strategy is designed to optimize the performance of multi-stack hybrid energy storage systems, particularly those incorporating fuel cells. The study, published in the journal ‘Energies’ (translated from German), addresses the shortcomings of conventional single-stack systems and offers a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for the maritime industry.
The research team, led by Pan Geng, focused on the limitations of traditional equivalent hydrogen consumption strategies used in single-stack fuel cell hybrid systems. By introducing a multi-stack energy management approach, they aimed to incorporate fuel cell health degradation into the power distribution process. This innovative strategy leverages a fuel cell efficiency decay model and a lithium-ion battery cycle life assessment to reformulate power distribution as an equivalent hydrogen consumption optimization problem with stack degradation constraints.
To achieve global optimization, the researchers employed a hybrid Genetic Algorithm–Particle Swarm Optimization (GA-PSO) approach. This method combines the strengths of both genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization to find the most efficient power distribution strategy. The experimental results were promising, demonstrating a significant reduction in hydrogen consumption and operational costs compared to traditional methods.
According to the study, the GA-PSO strategy reduced hydrogen consumption by 7.03 grams and operational costs by 4.78% compared to the Frequency Decoupling (FD) method. Additionally, it outperformed the traditional Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm by reducing hydrogen consumption by 3.61 grams per operational cycle and decreasing operational costs by 2.66%. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed strategy to ensure stable operation of marine power systems while providing an economically viable solution for hybrid-powered vessels.
The commercial impacts of this research are substantial. As the maritime industry increasingly turns to hybrid and electric propulsion systems to meet environmental regulations and reduce operational costs, the demand for efficient energy management strategies is growing. The multi-stack hybrid energy storage system proposed by Pan Geng and his team offers a promising solution that can enhance the performance and longevity of marine power systems.
Moreover, the strategy’s ability to optimize hydrogen consumption and operational costs presents significant opportunities for shipowners and operators. By adopting this approach, they can achieve more sustainable and cost-effective operations, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of decarbonizing the maritime industry.
In the words of Pan Geng, “This strategy ensures stable operation of the marine power system while providing an economically viable solution for hybrid-powered vessels.” The research team’s findings, published in ‘Energies’, underscore the importance of innovative energy management strategies in the quest for more efficient and sustainable marine propulsion systems. As the maritime industry continues to evolve, such advancements will play a crucial role in shaping the future of shipping.