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

Deliver 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 MAN Diesel and Turbo explains: “We utilized high-speed cameras together with a good endoscope to actually look within the interior of the engine. ”

“We’ve increased our knowledge of how natural gas, which is available in a high pressure, is being captivated by the diesel pilot in the engine. And this, of course , permits us to optimize, for example , timing, geometrical arrangements of the different injectors in order to ignite the fuel as efficiently as possible. ”

Over 100 of these motors have already been sold to ship proprietors refitting their fleets. Purchasers are convinced that, in a sector continuously submitted to ever stricter environmental regulation, their investment decision will eventually pay off, states Peter Andersson, Head associated with Ship Management at UECC: “You have to look at the lengthy picture. You have a vessel that will operate between 25 along with 30 years.

“And then, within this eco-zone when you can’t burn off high sulphur fuel anymore, so in that perspective we come across it as a win-win scenario. ”

The researchers are actually looking ahead. The technologies for 100 percent natural gas machines exists, they say, but the marketplace needs to adapt.

“I believe we need to see that supply techniques and bunkering systems (highly protected natural gas refueling stations) are available in large scale for LNG, ” says Lars Ur. Juliussen, Helios project planner.

“When that is the case in addition to a safe supply and also a cost structure that is safe in addition to reliable, then people want to go towards a situation this is a hundred percent gas, ” he adds.

With about 99% of the world’s industrial fleets powered by diesel powered, the market potential of these applications is there to be exploited, experts conclude.
 www.yuchaiie.com