Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - October 2023 - 7

TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS
PROPULSION
Yanmar develops H2 fuel cell system for marine use
Yanmar has announced that its marine
subsidiary, Yanmar Holdings, is now offering
a marine-grade hydrogen fuel cell
propulsion system. According to the company's
announcement of the system's
availability, the system is suited for use in
various oceangoing vessels including passenger
ships, work ships, and cargo ships
operating in coastal areas where hydrogen
refueling is relatively accessible.
Yanmar states that due to the
International Maritime Organization's
(IMO) revised target of achieving zero net
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050,
the marine propulsion industry is robustly
pursuing all decarbonization efforts.
Yanmar reportedly aims to " provide
total solutions for decarbonization and
digitalization of ships with comprehensive
designs covering the entire powertrain of
fuel cell ships, encompassing power storage,
power management, propulsion,
hydrogen storage systems and more. "
Order up
As of August 1st, 2023, the H2
fuel cell
systems were reportedly available for
commercial orders. Lead times were not
provided in the company's announcement,
but Yanmar did note that each system
is made-to-order. The system has a
rated output of 300kW but is also customizable
to individual needs. The stated
output voltage is 650Vdc with a setting
range of 450-700Vdc. The system weighs
in at approximately 3,000 kg (6.614 lbs).
Yanmar claims that the system is 100%
zero emissions (CO2, NOx, SOx and PM)
and features low NVH, no exhaust gas
Yanmar's test boat featured the company's own
power-management system that coordinated and
controlled the operation of the fuel cell.
Yanmar also has tested a shore-toship
high-pressure hydrogen refueling
technology in collaboration with Toyota
Tsusho and Iwatani Corp.
odor and provides a smooth operation for
a more comfortable ride. A gas valve unit
is built into the system housing to simplify
installation and the system is equipped
with a maritime hydrogen fuel cell module
that has received an Approval in
Principle (AiP) from ClassNK.
Trial by sea
In 2015, Yanmar was " commissioned by
the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,
Transport and Tourism to formulate the
outline of the 'Safety Guidelines for
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ships' in collaboration
with the National Maritime
Research Institute. "
Over the next three years, Yanmar
Yanmar says its hydrogen fuel cell system is
100% zero-emissions (CO2
and boasts low NVH.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
, NOx, SOx and PM)
developed a marine hydrogen fuel cell
system using select components from
Toyota Motor Corp.'s Mirai fuel cell vehicle.
Yanmar then performed verification
trials with a test boat equipped
with their fuel cells and high-pressure
hydrogen tanks. The test boat also featured
a Yanmar-developed power management
system that coordinated and
controlled the operation of the fuel cell,
as well as a lithium-ion battery pack
and electric motors.
Yanmar's engineers were reportedly
able to verify the operation of the hydrogen
fuel cell system and the control
of the electric powertrain during their
sea trials. The team also collected data
under various sea conditions which was
used to improve the system's performance.
Yanmar also reportedly used
this test to verify shore-to-ship highpressure
hydrogen refueling technology
in collaboration with Toyota Tsusho and
Iwatani Corp. The firms implemented a
70MPa high-pressure hydrogen refueling
using a mobile hydrogen station.
Matt Wolfe
October 2023 7
ALL IMAGES: YANMAR
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - October 2023

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