Pollutant emissions by diesel-electric vessels could be reduced by more than 15%, RCGI research shows
The estimate was calculated by mathematical models that manage the operation of diesel generators and batteries; the system was validated on real vessels. Researchers from the Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), at the University of São Paulo (USP), demonstrated that diesel-electric platform support vessels (PSVs) could reduce pollutant emissions by more than 15%. The team developed mathematical models that simulate the vessels’ powertrain operation and emissions. The model also optimized the onboard diesel generators in order to improve fuel efficiency and manage the lithium-ion batteries. PSVs are widely used vessels in the oil and gas industry that transport supplies from ports to platforms. In the diesel-electric models, a set of diesel generators produce the electrical energy necessary to propel the ship. Using data obtained from a real vessel, two mathematical models of a diesel-electric PSV powertrain were developed. One used HOMER PRO software to estimate the entire course