RFI_ Energy and Fuel Monitoring on NOAA Ships.pdf

Energy and Fuel Monitoring on NOAA Ships - RFI

Department of Commerce

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

Energy and Fuel Monitoring on NOAA Ships

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

October 2024

RFI: Energy & Fuel Monitoring on NOAA Ships

Introduction

This is Request for Information (RFI). In preparation for an upcoming anticipated procurement, the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(NOAA), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), Norfolk, VA on behalf of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), is conducting market research to gather feedback from industry and to identify capable providers.

The intention of this RFI is to better understand industry capabilities and identify potential vendors to develop a bridge and engine room mounted Energy Usage Monitor (“the system”) for research ships. The system will provide bridge personnel with real time vessel energy usage information to include, but not be limited to the vessel’s speed, electrical energy usage, fuel consumption, shaft speed. Preliminary requirements are described below.

OMAO wants to monitor fuel & energy aboard their research ships to allow operators (bridge and engine room) to better manage fuel and energy, effectively handle the automatic power management system, and to allow engineers to better manage energy generation.

Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to determine the ability to acquire or develop an Energy Use Monitor

(“the system”) to be installed on NOAA vessels using existing and/or new monitoring equipment. The final requirement will be based on the options available, equipment (hardware and software) necessary, and an understanding of the resources required for the scope of this project.

Scope or Mission

Vendors are requested to describe existing solutions or the capability to develop solutions for an

Energy Use Monitor including, but not limited to data collection methodologies, equipment required, conceptual monitor layout(s), and proposed trending reports as discussed in this RFI.

Each solution should include a brief qualitative assessment of the current availability of existing solutions or the level of effort required to develop a system, and the level of effort to implement the system.

Background

NOAA has an ongoing initiative to reduce carbon emissions from its vessels with a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Paramount to that goal is the reduction of fuel usage on

NOAA’s vessels. In order to reduce fuel usage, it is important for the vessel’s operating officers to fully understand and be aware of instantaneous fuel usage, historic fuel usage trends, and how changes in the vessel’s operations, however slight, affect changes in the fuel usage.

In order to accomplish the fuel usage understanding and awareness, NOAA intends to install

Energy Use Monitors on the bridge and in the engine room of the vessel. By displaying instantaneous and trends of both fuel and energy usage, the vessel’s Navigation Officers will be able to adjust the vessel’s operations to maximize energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Similar energy monitors used by both the United States Coast Guard and the

Canadian Coast Guard have proven beneficial.

Presently fuel usage is only available on some of the engine room operation monitors. Energy usage trending functions, while available on some vessels, are difficult to use and not readily available.

Overall requirements

The following provides preliminary requirements at our current understanding as well as suggestions for meeting our requirements. Respondents are encouraged to propose alternative options for meeting the requirements of the RFI that are equally or more effective and/or potentially more cost efficient.

The system must be as field repairable as possible with robust customer service support.

NOAA/OMAO will entertain systems that reside entirely aboard the ship as well as those that communicate ashore. However, any system communicating ashore must adhere to NOAA IT security protocols. Communication ashore is not a priority.

Data Requirements

● Diesel electric ships are a high priority. For Vessels with Diesel Electric Drives, the system shall display:

○ Total fuel consumption (GPH). Requires totalizing the fuel usage of each generator. Vessels have up to four generators.

○ Total online Amperage and kW plus Available Amperage and kW based on the number of generators on the bus, user defined limits, and power factor.

■ Available Amperage is defined as the maximum amperage able to be produced by the on-line generators multiplied by a user selectable percentage. For example, when operating one 1360 kW generator with an

75% limit, the Available Amperage will be 1226.9 amps.

■ Available kW is defined as the generator rated kW multiplied by the user selectable maximum percentage and multiplied by the ratio of the instantaneous system power factor and the rated power factor of 80%. For example, when operating a single 1360 kW generator at 70% power factor with a 75% limit, the available kW is 892.5 kW.

○ Shaft RPM

○ Vessel Speed

● For vessels with diesel propulsion and separate electric systems, the system shall display:

○ Total fuel consumption of the propulsion diesel engine. Vessels have up to two propulsion engines.

○ Shaft RPM of each propulsion shaft.

○ Percentage load of each propulsion engine.

○ Total fuel consumption of electric generator diesel engines. Vessels may have up to four ship service diesel generators (SSDG).

○ Total kW, kVA, and Amperage load.

Data Integration

● The system will gather data from existing data points available in the Machinery Control

System (MCS), engine control system, or other control points where possible.

● Data including Date, Time, and Vessel Speed may be taken from the MCS or other means including the GPS on the vessel.

● For FSV vessels with Caterpillar diesel engine generator sets that are 3500 series or newer (i.e. 3508, 3512, and C32), electrical and fuel inputs may be taken from the existing “CAT Data Link (CDL)” as provided by Caterpillar. The CDL provides

SCADA, MODBUS, TCP/IP, and other protocols. Additionally, the Woodward EasyGen system or the MCS may be able to provide electrical outputs.

● For vessels without instantaneous fuel usage available from fuel meters (i.e. ships without fuel data available: most direct drive ships and all TAGOs with CAT D398s):

○ An estimated fuel usage may be calculated based on engine loads and fuel use algorithms.

○ The system shall be configured to be modular, meaning having the ability to add or remove ports to allow connection to fuel meters or other sensors should they become available in the future.

○ Notwithstanding the above, vendors are welcome to propose the addition of fuel monitoring equipment to be installed with the system.

● Electrical inputs may also be obtained from transducers, EasyGen (Woodward) outputs, or from the MCS.

● Vessel speed can be obtained from the MCS if available, or the vessel’s GPS system.

● Responses to this RFI should assume that the data is available in either analog or digital form. Installation of new monitoring points is not a required part of this RFI but can be considered.

● NOAA will consider input from vendors who can provide a solution that is integrated into or embedded within the ship’s MCS as well as solutions that are independent of the

MCS, taking only key data from within those systems.

● The system shall calculate and record vessel speed but will not record GPS latitude and longitude points.

Screen Concept

● A conceptual drawing of the screen is shown in Figure 1. The conceptual drawing is only an example. Other concepts are welcome providing that they contain the required information.

● The system may display via a separate small screen on or near the main control console on the bridge or a screen in the existing MCS system if it does not take away from current

MCS screen functions.

● The screen shall display the following:

○ Date and Time in the formats dd-mmm-yyyy and 2400

○ A power dial similar to an analog speedometer which displays:

■ For Diesel Electric Vessels, Total generator output (amps) as a percentage of amps available and user defined maximum percentage; or

■ For Diesel driven vessels, Total HP as a percentage of HP available

■ Dial shall be color coded as green for values from 0-75%, amber from

75% to 85%, and red from 85%-100%

○ Numeric display of Amperage Load, kW Load, Fuel Consumption (GPH), and

Shaft RPM, and the number of generators synchronized together.

○ Trending Graphs - Each data stream should be presented in a method that shows change over time (i.e. a ‘time series’ graph or other option proposed by vendors).

■ Graphs will show user selectable trend lines. Users will be able to select up to three trend lines from the recorded data (amps, kW, Vessel Speed, Main Engine HP, shaft RPM.

■ Users will be able to manually choose the time interval displayed from a drop-down menu. Choices will include intervals ranging from 4 hours to

48 hours.

■ Graphs will automatically scale on the Y-axis

■ Graphs will show an amber line at 75% maximum value and a red horizontal line at 85% maximum value.

■ The trend lines in the graphic shall change color as it meets or exceeds a threshold.

■ Trending graphics may have a “zoom in/out” feature to allow greater detail in either the “x” or “y” axis if a touch screen monitor is considered.

● The screen shall automatically switch to a Night Mode interface with automatic dimming and color changes user adjustable in a “Settings” menu.

Manual Data Input Abilities

● Maximum load allowed on each generator, selectable in 5% increments from 50% to

100%.

● The system shall be able to record user specified operational modes (i.e. transit / trawling

/ DP / surveying)

● Night mode color and dimming options

● Trending graphs selection

● Time interval options for trending graphs

Data Reporting Capabilities

In order to review and analyze the energy usage of each vessel, the system shall have the ability to provide users with raw historical data, default trending reports, and user defined reports. With these abilities, users can then look at simple default trending reports, create specific reports as needed, or using the raw data, develop other detailed analysis as required. To that end:

● The system shall have the ability to record and maintain the data for a minimum of a 365-day period.

● Raw data shall be able to be output into a CSV file. Users shall be able to select output parameters including but not limited to start/stop dates, time interval length in minutes, output file name, and output variables.

● The system shall have the ability to produce default canned reports in a PDF format.

● The system shall be able to produce user specified reports in a PDF formal.

Responses

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Information contained herein is subject to change. In accordance with FAR

15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by EAD to form a binding contract.

Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Respondents will not be notified of the result of the review. Any information that a vendor considers proprietary should be clearly marked as such.

Failure to submit a response to this RFI in no way precludes a vendor from participating in any competitive solicitation that EAD may issue in the future. Information received will be considered solely to make an informed decision regarding a potential procurement.

The Government reserves the right to consider a small business set-aside business based on responses hereto. All responses shall be submitted to Jessica Loftus via email no later than 2:00

PM Eastern on November 6, 2024. For any response, please reference REQUIREMENTS-24-

0048 in the subject line.

All questions, inquires, and request for additional technical details must be directed to the Point of Contact identified below.

Point of Contact:

Name: Jessica Loftus, Contract Specialist

Email: Jessica.Loftus@noaa.gov

Responders are requested to include, but not be limited in their response, the following:

● Company Name

● Unique Entity ID No.

● Socioeconomic Size (Small Business Size)

● Company Point of Contact with contact information

● A description of existing solutions (make/model) or the capability to develop solutions for an Energy Use Monitor including.

● Each solution should include a brief qualitative assessment of the current availability of existing solutions or the level of effort required to develop a system, and the level of effort to implement the system.

● Provide conceptual drawings of the system’s monitor, if available;

● A description of the data collection process meaning how the system will access existing and/or new data points on the vessel (Wi-Fi, MODBUS, SCADA, etc.)

● A description of what equipment would be required, if any, including fuel usage meters if applicable, NOAA be required to obtain;

● A description of or sample default reports that the system will be able to output;

Figure 1 - Conceptual System Screen

Table 1. Individual Ship Systems, Comments, and Design:

Ship Type1

Main Engine or

Gen Sets

SSDG Notes Comments from Ship

Bigelow DE (2) CAT 3512

1360 kW & (2)

3508 910 kW.

Has system showing load. Uses as power management. Bridge real estate is at a premium.

Dyson DE (2) CAT 3512

1360 kW & (2)

3508 910 kW.

Not included in RFI -

New plant anticipated in 2025

Maintain engines at 60% or less.

Lasker DE (2) CAT 3512

1360 kW & (2)

C32 910 kW.

Pisces DE (2) CAT 3512

1360 kW & (2)

3508 910 kW.

MCS contains all necessary data

Bridge has display.. Wants PMS

Shimada DE (2) CAT 3512

1360 kW & (2)

3508 910 kW.

MCS contains all necessary data

Gunter DE (4) CAT D398

600 kW ea

Okeanos Explorer DE (4) CAT D398

Sette DE (4) CAT D398

Jefferson Diesel EMD 2250 HP Detroit (3) 350 kW each

Nancy Foster Diesel Cummins 1400

HP

Cummins (3) = 500 kW each

1 DE = Diesel Electric. Diesel = Diesel Geared Drive

Ship Type1

Main Engine or

Gen Sets

SSDG Notes Comments from Ship

Fairweather Diesel (2) GM 1500

HP

(2) = Detroit 321 kW & (1)

Volvo 340 kW

Hassler Diesel (2) CAT C32

1300 HP

(4) CAT C9 250 kW New gen sets to be installed 2025.

Oregon II Diesel (2) CAT 3512

900 HP ea

(2) CAT 3408 235 kW ea Old technology. No bridge instrumentation for monitoring fuel or gen sets on bridge.

Rainer Diesel (2) EMD 1300

HP ea

(2) Detroit 415 kW ea Has EasyGens per Mike Riley. Can automatically start/stop/Parallel

Ron Brown DE N/A Not included in RFI Blue Drive system & screens being installed