The setting of an experimental naval unit powered by fuel cell has been set up in Castellammare

Fincantieri explained that the research behind ZEUS improves the environmental sustainability of cruise ships, mega-yachts, ferries, ferries and research vessels oceanographic, by reducing gas emissions greenhouse gas and nitrogen oxides (NOx), oxides sulfur (SOx) and particulate matter. With a length of about 25 meters and a 170 tonnes, ZEUS will in fact be a floating laboratory aimed at acquiring information about the behavior in the real-world environment of fuel cells, device electrochemical that allows you to get electricity hydrogen without a thermal combustion process.

ZEUS will be equipped with a hybrid apparatus (two diesel generators and two electric motors) to be used as a conventional propulsion. In addition, there is a fuel cell of 130 kW, powered by about 50 kg of hydrogen contained eight metal cylinders, according to technologies already in use on submarines, and a battery system, which together will allow a range of about eight hours of navigation to zero emissions at a rate of about 7.5 knots.

Fincantieri specified that the architecture of the propulsion will allow the engines to be powered in four different ways: Zero Noise, in which you use only lithium batteries capable of guaranteeing a four-hour life of navigation at the speed of four knots; Zero Emission, in where electricity is supplied by fuel cells; Navigation on diesel generator with charging batteries; Navigation on diesel generator for transfers, with a range of 60 hours to nine Nodes.

The second objective of the research is to develop a new electric and thermal power generation model on board the cruise ships. This result - explained Fincantieri - will increase the level of passenger comfort, reducing the noise and vibrations produced by the systems increase energy conversion yield by adopting generative systems without mechanical parts increase the ship's safety by increasing the ship's safety redundancy of the systems in use today and to reduce the size of the groups diesels on board.

Solutions for the use of new materials will also be tested design greens, including new coatings, panels photovoltaics to maintain battery charge and low-power oled lamps.

The ZEUS project sees the participation of many realities of the naval mechanist group, including Castellammare di Stabia and Palermo, Fincantieri YES, Seastema, Cetena and Isotta Fraschini Motors. They have contributed to the as consultants, the NRC, universities Genoa, Palermo and Naples, the National Research and promotion for standardization and RINA. The unit will be carried out as part of the "Low-Level Technologies" project (TECBIA) and co-funded by the Ministry of Economic Development within the Operational Programme National.