Samsung Heavy Industries announced this week that it has developed the world’s first thermoelectric power generation module and system for ships through joint research with LG Innotek and signed an agreement with Japan’s NYK for actual application of the system to an LNG carrier to be delivered to the Japanese client.
The thermoelectric power generation system converts thermal energy into electrical energy by utilizing the characteristics of thermoelectric semiconductors. If this system is attached to the surface of equipment that generates heat, such as ship engines and generators, it generates electricity, pruning fuel costs and carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition, the new system neither generates noise and harmful gases nor requires mechanical devices such as rotors, which allows maintenance costs to be kept low.
SHI and LG Innotek developed the thermoelectric power generation module and system in March after about four years of research and obtained technology certification from Bureau Veritas (BV) of France.
SHI plans to apply the thermoelectric power generation system for the first time to an engine for a 174,000 cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier to be delivered to NYK in December and expand the scope of its application.
Source: Business Korea