Salinity and volatile organic compounds in engine room air of a sea-going vessel
Annabel Broer (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Henk Polinder (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
Lindert van Biert (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
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Abstract
Introducing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in vessels is a viable way to accomplish zero-emission shipping. However, PEMFC performance can degrade due to intrusion of airborne contaminants via the cathode inlet. This study focuses on salt and the VOCs benzene, toluene and naphthalene specifically. Little to no data is available on their concentration inside engine rooms of sea-going vessels because on board measurements have not been conducted or reported. Especially for air salinity, experimental contamination concentrations might be significantly higher than the salt in sea air. Therefore, field-measurements were conducted on board of a ship in various weather conditions and at different locations on Western European sea routes. The average saline concentration was (Formula presented.) g/L with a maximum of (Formula presented.) g/L inside the ship. The highest measured value is (Formula presented.) times lower than the average concentration applied in experimental literature. This suggests further degradation studies are needed to clarify the impact of lower, representative amounts of salt on PEMFCs performance. Benzene, toluene and naphthalene remained at least one order of magnitude below harmful concentrations and are therefore not expected to cause degradation in maritime fuel cells.
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