Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Drives Submarine Operational Performance... Successful Delivery of Methanol Reforming Plant for Submarines

Proven Expertise in Fuel Reforming and Hydrogen Technologies
Contributing to Enhanced Submarine Operation Capabilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) is strengthening its technological competitiveness in the defense industry sector.

DSME announced on the 24th that it successfully completed the delivery ceremony of the "Methanol Steam Reforming Plant for Submarine Fuel Cells" at its Siheung R&D Campus.

The plant delivered by DSME this time applies the "Methanol Steam Reforming Technology for Submarine Fuel Cells," a system that produces high-purity hydrogen through methanol and water. The Republic of Korea Navy and related agencies have evaluated this research as having elevated the operational performance of Korean submarines to a new level.

Fuel cells are representative eco-friendly power generation devices with high power generation efficiency, no noise or vibration, and no generation of foreign substances other than water after electricity production. They are considered the next-generation power source to replace conventional internal combustion engines. Additionally, submarine fuel reforming technology is a cutting-edge technology that major advanced energy countries such as Germany, France, and Spain have been developing for over 20 years.

Currently, hydrogen supply for submarine fuel cells generally uses metal hydride cylinders. However, this method has low storage efficiency per weight and requires secured space for equipment installation. It also needs separate auxiliary facilities for hydrogen charging and has a long charging time. In contrast, the fuel reforming method using methanol has high storage efficiency, improving submerged operation capability, and does not require separate facilities for recharging.

Meanwhile, DSME partnered with major domestic companies such as H&Power Co., Ltd. and KTE Co., Ltd. to produce the first high-pressure methanol reforming plant in Korea, based on core technologies owned by the Agency for Defense Development, including methanol reforming, hydrogen purification, and heat source supply technologies. They were selected as prototype manufacturers in December 2018 and have been focusing on product development by utilizing their technology and know-how as system integrators in energy and armament sectors.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.