DNV GL grants type approval to SHI ESS

The TA covers the use of the system in battery-powered or hybrid vessels, offshore units and high speed and light craft.

SHI collaborated with leading battery supplier Samsung SDI in the application and said that the TA would permit the company to produce lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery system more economically in Korea, rather than using costly Li-Ion battery systems predominantly supplied by large-scale equipment makers in Northern Europe.

“The implementation of the recently developed modular battery system will provide high versatility to meet specific operational demands such as adjustment of battery capacity according to vessel size and power usage. Not only that, we will be able to achieve cost competitiveness by using a domestic system,” said Shim, Yong-Lae, Vice President of SHI Ship & Offshore Research Institute.

“By securing the battery system technology applicable to all types of vessels, SHI will take the advantageous position in the competition for orders for vessels,” he added.

The air-cooled energy storage system comprises switchgear, battery modules and a battery management system (BMS). Up to 16 individual battery cells are connected in series to form a battery tray. Up to 16 trays can be connected in series to form a rack, with a maximum voltage of 1049.6V, and a maximum energy of 63.5 kW.

The type approval covers battery systems of up to 48 racks in parallel and a system BMS (mounted in one of the switchgears).

The type approval specifies a 68AH capacity Li-Ion cell, with an operational voltage range of 49.6~65.6V and an energy of 3.97 kWh. This exceeds the specifications of Samsung SDI’s 17kg 67AH Li-Ion cell.

SHI expects the application of battery systems as efficient auxiliary power units for large-scale commercial ships and offshore units to continue to expand. It is currently undertaking joint research and development with Wärtsilä for a wider application of Li-Ion battery system-based energy storage systems.