Combustion Systems News

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has acquired an approval in principle (AiP) from the Japanese classification society ClassNK for its ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS).The AiP has been issued for the AFSS developed for the X-DF-A, a large, low-speed two-stroke ammonia-fueled engine under development by WinGD, a Swiss designer and licensor of large marine engines.In June 2023 Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and WinGD concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake joint technical studies on an AFSS…

A group of academic and industrial partners were awarded a $6.7 million grant by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to accelerate understanding, technologies and policies relating to the use of ammonia as a sustainable fuel. The project begins in June 2022 and will run for 5 years.Entitled Decarbonized Clean Marine: Green Ammonia Thermal Propulsion (MariNH3), the project brings together academics from Nottingham, Birmingham, Brighton, Cardiff and STFC…

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

(This is excerpted from Maritime Reporter & Engineering News' January 2020 "The Path to Zero" column.)Are the world’s ships’ engines ready for IMO compliant very low sulfur fuel? That’s a wide open question as ship owners step to the end of the preparatory gang-plank on January 1, 2020 when 0.5% very low sulfur distillate fuels (VLSF) have to replace residual heavy fuel oil (HFO) containing 3.5% sulfur.You might think that given the length of time to prepare – since 2008 – shipping experts and engineers would have a clearer picture about new fuels and marine engines and operability.

WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel) has invested in fuel research with the development of a flexible injection system. In a whitepaper released today, ‘Flexible Injector to Advance Alternative Fuels Research’, the engine designers describe how the concept will play a crucial role in its investigations into low-carbon liquid fuels and engine injection concepts to harness them.The system was developed as part of HERCULES 2, a collaborative European engine research project which concluded in 2018.

Sandia National Laboratories reportedly has new insights about how to understand and ultimately control the chemistry of ignition behavior and pollutant formations. “Our findings will allow the design of new fuels and improved combustion strategies,” said Nils Hansen, Sandia researcher and lead author of the research. “Making combustion cleaner and more efficient will have a huge impact, reducing energy use around the globe.”The work, which focuses on the chemical science of low-pressure flame measurements…

As Alfa Laval Aalborg boiler solutions celebrate 100 years in the marine industry, Alfa Laval is delivering multi-fuel Aalborg boiler solutions and helping customers prepare existing boiler systems for tomorrow’s fuel scenarios.A century ago, when the first marine boiler left the Aalborg Shipyard in Aalborg, Denmark, there were no regulations governing fuel content or vessel emissions.Much has changed in this regard since 1919, and the industry now faces further sharp demands from the 2020 global sulphur cap. However, the expertise gained through 100 years of boiler work is giving Alfa Laval customers the confidence to meet them.“It’s not tradition that matters…

Heat transfer, separation and fluid handling technology specialist, Alfa Laval, has expanded its Test & Training Center in Aalborg, Denmark with a new gas testing facility. At the same time it continues developing new technologies in the areas of ballast water treatment, sulfur oxide emission control, touchscreen boiler control, fuel efficiency automation for inert-gas systems and methanol booster systems. Alfa Laval, a global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on the key technologies of heat transfer…

The Alfa Laval Automatic Fuel Efficiency Module (AFEM) is a new modification for reducing the fuel consumption of Alfa Laval Smit Combustion inert gas systems. It does so by ensuring the inert gas that keeps cargo safe during offloading is only generated in the exact amounts required. In a two-year pilot project, the AFEM allowed Italian shipping company Navigazione Montanari S.p.A. to achieve an average fuel savings of 30 percent. Based in Fano on the Adriatic Sea, Navigazione Montanari owns and manages a fleet of 21 tankers.

As of 1 June 2015 the port of Antwerp will grant a discount to seagoing ships that use alternative technology to reduce emissions of particulates. The new discount comes on top of the existing ESI discount, which means that in some cases ships can benefit from a 30% reduction in the port dues that have to be paid whenever they call at Antwerp. With this additional environmental discount Antwerp Port Authority seeks to encourage investments in green technologies for more sustainable shipping, by supporting and rewarding these technology pioneers. The discount is being introduced for a period of three years and will be gradually reduced. Despite all efforts so far, shipping still makes a significant contribution towards local pollution, mainly in the form of SOx, NOx and particulates.

The third staging of the CIMAC CASCADES seminar for younger engineers and students took place at the ETH Swiss Institute of Technology in Zürich, Switzerland on June 8, 2012. Organized by the CIMAC National Member Association (NMA) in Switzerland, the Division Combustion Engines of the Swiss Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Industries (Swissmem), the event was considered a considerable success by all attendees. In what may become the standard framework for a CASCADES event, the seminar itself was preceded on 7th June 2012 by a visit to a member company’s facility.

Two leading European shipyard supervision and specialist ship repair groups have joined forces to provide a specialist ship repair service in China. Cardiff-based Graig Shipping Plc and Barry-based Harris Pye Marine Ltd. have launched Graig Harris Pye (China) Ltd, which will meet all ship repair and conversion needs of shipowners from its modern Shanghai office. of Graig. "Very competitive steelwork prices, and a flexible, skilled workforce are attractive to owners. specialist pipework and steelwork projects, boilers and economisers, and can provide supervision and skilled technicians for all aspects of marine repair in China. John Coffin has been appointed general manager of Graig Harris Pye. team of shipyard supervisors based in Shanghai. China.

Caterpillar Inc. has launched its new 3034 DIT, 3034 DINA, 3054 DIT and 3054B DINA marine propulsion engines. The 3034, 3054 and 3054B engines are designed to offer outstanding reliability and durability in a very compact package size. Expanding upon the Cat 3000 line of engines introduced in 2000, these versatile, powerful engines can be applied in single or twin-engine workboat, fish boat, passenger ferry, patrol craft, sailboat or pleasure craft applications. Caterpillar initially offered the 3056 propulsion engine as the first in a new line of compact, fuel-efficient marine propulsion engines based on an environmentally friendly, in-line six-cylinder, four-stroke cycle diesel design.