Sea change in shipping: natural gas to make engines more eco-friendly

“Ship operators will have extra displays to monitor on the operation screen. The only extra function that they can have to take care of would be to press gas when desired, ” says Michael Johnsen Kryger, a mechanical engineer along with MAN Diesel & Turbo.

The biggest challenge was to create components from new components that would still be safe as well as reliable, says Kryger: “The gas is under pressure of approximately 300 bars. And we possess a double wall system comprising an inner pipe and also an outer pipe. The exterior pipe is ventilated and that we are monitoring the circulation, and we are monitoring the actual gas so we are able to find out if there is any gas leaking in the system”.

It was important for see inside the engine throughout testing, as Johan Fredrik Hult, an optical professional with MANDiesel & Turbo explains: “We used excessive cameras together with an endoscope to actually look inside the inside of the engine. ”

“We’ve increased our understanding of exactly how natural gas, which comes in a higher pressure, is being ignited through the diesel pilot inside the motor. And this, of course , allows us to improve, for example , timing, geometrical plans of the different injectors to be able to ignite the gas because efficiently as possible. ”

More than 100 of these engines have been sold to ship owners refitting their fleets. Buyers suspect that, in a sector constantly posted to ever stricter environment regulation, their investment will certainly eventually pay off, says Philip Andersson, Head of Deliver Management at UECC: “You have to look at the long image. You have a vessel that is going to run between 25 and three decades.

“And then, in this eco-zone when you can’t burn higher sulphur fuel any more, therefore in that perspective we see this a win-win situation. ”

The researchers are now searching ahead. The technology with regard to 100 percent natural gas engines is available, they say, but the market must adapt.

“I think we have to see that supply systems along with bunkering systems (highly guarded natural gas refueling stations) can be found in large scale for LNG, ” says Lars R. Juliussen, Helios project coordinator.

“When that is the case and you have a secure supply and also a price framework that is safe and dependable, then people would like to proceed towards a situation that is a 100 percent gas, ” this individual adds.

With around 00% of the world’s commercial fleets powered by diesel, the marketplace potential of these engines can there be to be exploited, researchers deduce.

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