Sofia, December 31 (BTA) - Scientists have developed a demonstration river vessel, powered by hydrogen and solar energy, within Bulgaria's first multidisciplinary projects with the participation of the industry, local authorities and the business.

HydRUforce is a demonstration vessel with a hybrid drive based on solar energy-battery-fuel cell with zero carbon emissions. With the implementation of this project Bulgarian scientists join research efforts for the use of low carbon energy in Europe's inland waterway transport.

DESIGN

A pontoon with a solar roof has been used for the hull. All control and propulsion systems of the vessel and their constructive integration have been designed and built under the National Science Program EPLUS.

A significant innovation is the combination of energy from the solar panels and a hydrogen fuel cell to power the vessel.

The demonstration vessel can transport a maximum of 12 people with the crew, at a speed of 5-7 km/h upstream and respectively 12-14 km/h downstream. The vessel has a rectangular shape, measuring 10.5 m in length, 4.5 m in width, 2.5 m in height and weighing 3.5 t.

It is propelled by two electric motors with a maximum power of 10 kW and a nominal voltage of 48V. Each electric motor is connected to a group of 400 Ah batteries with a voltage of 48V.

In addition, two hydrogen fuel cells with a nominal power of 3 kW are connected to extend the buoyancy range.

Hydrogen for the fuel cells is provided by special 10 liter cylinders and solar panels with a total power of 7 kW are installed on the roof of the vessel.

The capabilities of HydRUforce were tested during a trial sailing on the Danube River near the town of Silistra. In 2022 the vessel has to be legalized and scientists will continue to work on testing and assessing its operation, energy and economic efficiency, and developing a concept for training and demonstrations in a real hydrogen facility.

RESEARCH PROGRAMME

The project has been implemented under the National Research Programme Low Carbon Energy for Transport and Domestic Use (EPLUS) by a research team of the Ruse University and scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and SofiaТs Technical University.

EPLUS is funded by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Within its framework Bulgarian researchers are working on projects for the storage of RES energy, efficient methods for CO2 capture and utilization and the possibilities to use carbon in transport. Teams are developing the systems of a demonstration trolleybus with a hybrid extender of the battery-fuel cell range which will run on the public transport network in the capital Sofia and is a first of its kind in the world. Among the projects is a technology for the elimination of the principal pollutants from waste water for the semi industrial production of microalgae. Among its accomplishments are also a positive electrode for a lithium-ion battery with a new structure, zeolite adsorbents for CO2 capture, derived from waste coal ash, and photosynthesizing biofuel elements using higher water plant. PP/LN