It’s possible that I shall make an ass of myself. But in that case one can always get out of it with a little dialectic. I have, of course, so worded my proposition as to be right either way (K.Marx, Letter to F.Engels on the Indian Mutiny)
Saturday, May 20, 2023
ABS Uses Simulation and Modeling to Tackle Ammonia’s Safety Challenge
ABS Used CFD techniques to model the behavior of ammonia leaks.
In a pioneering safety development, ABS is using advanced modeling and simulation technologies to develop emergency response methods to assist ports and crew in responding to ammonia leaks or spills.
It is the first step towards a comprehensive and fast ammonia release response system, capable of predicting the behavior of an ammonia plume and directing emergency mitigation services accordingly.
Thanks to its potential for zero-carbon emissions, ammonia is widely viewed as a promising fuel solution for a more sustainable industry but its high toxicity presents significant operational challenges on board and ashore.
“ABS has always been a safety pioneer, so we are well placed to tackle the significant operational risks presented by this critical piece of the net-zero jigsaw puzzle. Our advanced simulation and modeling approach is already shining a light on the unique behaviors of this fuel in a range of scenarios. This will inform the strategies of ports, crews and emergency services and enable immediate and informed response to an ammonia release. This is the sweet spot for ABS, the nexus of advanced technology, regulation and safety and we are on course to deliver a significant safety development for the industry,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO.
An industry leader in modeling and simulation, ABS combined those techniques with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to create a high-fidelity model designed to replicate ammonia dispersion patterns in the engine room. Using this new model, ABS specialists studied the impact of various ventilation approaches on the behavior of ammonia plumes resulting from leakages from the fuel lines, revealing optimum methods to vent the ammonia plume.
Leveraging this industry-leading approach, a dynamic model will be able to swiftly predict the response of an ammonia plume to a range of parameters such as wind speed and direction, humidity, cubic meters per second and relationship of the vessel to port. In addition to dispersion analysis, agent-based discrete event simulations to study the response of crew, port authorities, and emergency services after dispersion will be conducted.
More information from ABS on the potential of ammonia as a marine fuel is available here. ABS requirements for ammonia-fueled vessels are available here.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
Project Explores Ammonia Power Refit for Offshore Vessel
Skansi operates five PSVs and will explore retrofitting one to ammonia power (Skansi)
Amogy, a U.S.-based startup that seeks to commercialize ammonia-fueled power systems, announced that it has signed an agreement to explore the installation of its ammonia-fuel system aboard an offshore vessel. This comes as the company is currently working on a project to demonstrate an ammonia-fueled tugboat by the end of 2023 after it has already demonstrated ammonia-fueled operations with a drone, heavy-duty tractor, and semi-truck.
Calling its newest project another important step toward decarbonizing sustainable technology in the maritime industry, the start-up which has investors including Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, SK, Saudi Aramco, and DCVC, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Skansi Offshore, a shipping company headquartered in the Faroe Islands, and Norwegian system developer and integrator SEAM.
"Given the whole industry's strong commitment to clean fuels, it is crucial for us to make a positive impact here," said Christian W. Berg, Managing Director of Amogy Norway. "We believe our partnership with Skansi and SEAM can serve as a compelling inspiration for other maritime operators to follow."
The three companies will investigate a potential technology collaboration in the field of ammonia application, with the goal of decarbonizing the offshore industry. The first focus of this collaboration is a possible retrofit of Amogy's ammonia-to-power system on one of Skansi's existing vessels.
"Integrating Amogy's ammonia-to-hydrogen technology in our vessel is a significant step in the right direction, bringing us closer to our long-term goal of decarbonizing the maritime industry and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Jens Meinhard Rasmussen, CEO of Skansi Offshore.
Skansi owns and operates five platform supply vessels. The company provides offshore support and transportation services for the international offshore oil and gas industry.
Amogy though its operations in Norway is working to test larger systems including a 200 kW ammonia-to-power platform that would be used for the demonstrations on the tugboat. The company acquired a tug built in 1957 and said it would be refitting it with a 1-megawatt version of the company’s system, three times larger than what has been field-tested on an ammonia-fueled semi-truck earlier this year. Amogy's ammonia-to-power technology feeds liquid ammonia through its cracking modules integrated into a hybrid fuel cell system, which powers the electric motors.
The company has said it plans to continue the testing in Norway and also plans a demonstration for an inland barge retrofit in partnership with Southern Devall.
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