Claiming a 95% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs), the 50 cm-bore engine was tested up to 100% load on hydrogen fuel in a converted cylinder
In the test, Japanese shipbuilding and engineering company Mitsui E&S converted one of the MAN B&W ME-GI engines to operate on hydrogen gas supplied from a hydrogen gas supply system that Mitsui developed in 2023.
Mitsui claimed the test was a world-first for the maritime industry.
“This is the world’s first successful hydrogen combustion test on a large, marine two-stroke engine. In achieving operation along with providing the hydrogen gas-supply system, we are now one step closer to developing a zero-emissions ship that uses hydrogen as fuel,” the company said.
The test results showed stable operation at various loads and operating conditions, including successful hydrogen combustion at up to 100% load. Mitsui also confirmed greenhouse gas emissions reductions of up to 95%, with the remaining 5% of emissions originating from the pilot fuel employed during testing.
Testing conditions
The testing initiative was supported by a subsidy from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
One of the four cylinders of the test engine 4S50ME-T (output 7 MW, rated speed 117 rpm, MEP = 2.10 MPa) was converted to hydrogen operation, based on the LNG-fired ME-GI engine design. High-pressure hydrogen gas was supplied from the hydrogen gas supply system made up of a liquid hydrogen tank with a hydrogen gas compressor that Mitsui finalised in October 2023.
"The coupling operation was successfully conducted with this test engine at 100% load without any problems such as hydrogen leakage," according to Mitsui.
"In this 100% engine load operation using hydrogen fuel, which ignites easily and requires proper combustion control, the company succeeded in covering the equivalent of 95% of the heat value with hydrogen fuel, and the cylinder pressure curve was equivalent to that of the other three cylinders operated with conventional fuel," Mitsui said.
The company also confirmed the hydrogen gas supply facility is capable of the stable supply of high-pressure hydrogen required from the engine.
Mitsui is a licensee of German technology group MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) and said it worked with MAN ES on the project.
Mitsui said it is "aiming for the early launch of hydrogen-related businesses in [the] maritime industry". The company said it "will acquire technologies and know-how related to the storage, supply and utilisation of hydrogen", to facilitate the development of hydrogen fuel propulsion system technologies and hydrogen supply infrastructure-related technologies.
MAN ES called the test results variously "food for thought", "a noteworthy progression" and "a very interesting project".
"This is an encouraging milestone for hydrogen as a fuel. We will now take some time to evaluate the results and ensure we are ready to take action if and when the market for hydrogen matures,” MAN ES head of sales Thomas Hansen said.
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