Hybrid Installation For Passenger Vessel
The viability of the well used and much loved motor launch 72 ft (23 m) Angelena II, came under threat last September due to California State emissions requirements. The original twin 318 hp (237 kW) Detroit Diesel 8V-71N engines dated back to the build year of 1970 and needed replacement to ensure emission compliance with present and future regulations.
Caption: Owned by the Port of Los Angeles, the 72 ft Angelena II has the first series-hybrid propulsion system of this size and complexity to have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for installation on a passenger-carrying vessel.
Image credit: Port of Los Angeles
At an early stage it was realized that the vessel’s operating profile offered several propulsion possibilities. It was decided that instead of re-powering with new, lower emission, diesel engines, the best option would be to install a hybrid configuration that would offer a zero-emission operating mode for the Angelena's usual harbor assignments.
The zero emission requirement was best met by a Serial-Hybrid configuration, whereby a diesel generator set, is run only intermittently at its maximum efficiency to charge a battery bank of twin lithium ion batteries each of 150 kWh capacity. This is sufficient to operate the twin electric
propulsion motors of 250 hp (187 kW) continuous rating, 500 hp (373 kW) peak rating as well as all the onboard electrical loads. A completely new propulsion system uses a water jet drive replacing the old propellers and reduction gearbox arrangement.
Battery charging is not exclusive to the diesel generator, there is a dual on-board battery charging facility that can plug into a shore power supply to fully charge the batteries in three hours.
EnergyTech Marine Group, with support from Arc Lite Power, LLC is responsible for delivering the turnkey series-hybrid propulsion system. According to the Port of Los Angeles, this is the first series-hybrid propulsion system of this size and complexity to have been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for installation on a passenger-carrying vessel.
Caption: Schematic of the Serial-Hybrid installation in the Angelena II
Image credit: Arc Lite Power, LLC
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