Green hydrogen production on Kite Ships – with cynapse® gearboxes from WITTENSTEIN alpha

OCEANERGY opted for a reliable, future-proof technology comprised of robust TPK⁺ gearboxes and their cynapse^® functionality, i.e. with integrated sensors, logic and an IO-Link data interface in the gearboxes. “These smart gearboxes will supply essential operating and status data, while the energy ships that produce green hydrogen in the six permanent oceanic trade wind zones will be smartly navigated there according to the wind forecast”, explains Ulrich Dobler of the Stuttgart-based startup’s Executive Board.

Kite Hydrogen Ship – inspired by kitesurfing

It was kitesurfing that provided the inspiration for the Energy Ships – hardly surprising in view of the fact that OCEANERGY CEO Dr. Wolfram Reiners is an avid enthusiast of this thrilling water sport. “The basic idea was to harness the forces acting on the kite that pull the kite’s ropes and convert them into electricity”, he says, recalling the early days. At the heart of the Kite Hydrogen Ship concept is the patented K1 Kite Propulsion system, which can be imagined as a green power socket for the on-board electrolysis process. The challenge for the smart hypoid gearboxes is to control the kite’s four frequency converter-driven ropes as they generate electricity during the harvesting journey by launching and pumping the kites. A large part of the energy that is generated in this way by the K1 Kite Propulsion system is utilized directly on board for the production of green hydrogen. “A hydrogen plant of this kind is designed to produce around 1000 tons of green hydrogen during its eight-week harvesting journey”, Dobler continues. “That adds up to a good 6000 tons per year – enough to supply about 40,000 hydrogen cars or power an Airbus for almost twelve months.” The aim of the energy ship fleet now in the pipeline is to produce green hydrogen costing just 2 euros per kilo by 2035 – in other words, significantly more economically than with any other green technology known to date.

Dynamic wind loads of up to four tons per rope – no problem for a TPK⁺ hypoid gearbox

Hypoid gearboxes from the TPK⁺ series were selected to control the four steering ropes while pumping the kite based on simulation and application data. Their right-angle design is central to the ultra-space-saving principle of the entire K1 Kite Propulsion system and its integration into a seaworthy container. These size 30, two-stage gearboxes have a ratio of i=100 and are characterized by high torsional rigidity, low torsional backlash and greater absorption of external forces. The high-quality hypoid teeth simultaneously ensure high torque and exceptionally smooth running.

cynapse^® functionality enables gearbox monitoring online on the high seas

When a Kite Hydrogen Ship sets off semi-autonomously on a harvesting journey, the kites – and hence the propulsion system’s main axis – will be subjected to extremely diverse movements and forces. It was this that tipped the scales for OCEANERGY in favor of the TPK⁺ with cynapse^® functionality. “Transmission functions and operating data like acceleration values can be monitored and analyzed remotely in this way on the high seas”, comments Felix Bartels, Senior Mechanical Engineer.

More WITTENSTEIN gearboxes assist wind harvesting

OCEANERGY not only uses smart TPK⁺ gearboxes to control the ropes but also to handle other propulsion tasks on board its Kite Hydrogen Ships with assistance from WITTENSTEIN alpha gearboxes. For instance, the manual control unit of the K1 Kite Propulsion system features a low-backlash TP⁺ planetary gearbox from the alpha Advanced Line, a compact, torque-dense NVH worm gearbox from the V-Drive Value family and two TPM⁺ rotary servo actuators. The slewing ring utilizes a torque-dense and torsionally rigid XP⁺ planetary gearbox with special output geometry as the basis for its ultra-compact, space-saving overall design.

For more information on Kite Hydrogen Ships, go to:

www.oceanergy.com www.oceanergy.com