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Tests completed on world’s first four-stroke ammonia engine
A consortium of Japanese companies have successfully tested the world’s first four-stroke ammonia-fuelled marine engine for coastal vessels and tugboats
IHI Power Systems, NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard Co, Japan Engine Corp and ClassNK are involved in developing and testing these engines, of which the first is destined to be installed on a converted tug in 2024.
In April 2023, these companies completed a land-based test for the stable combustion of fuel ammonia having an 80% co-firing ratio.
This was an element of a demonstration project, initiated in October 2021, for the commercialisation of vessels equipped with a domestically produced ammonia-fuelled engine.
This was all part of the Green Innovation Fund Project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
IHI Power Systems did operational tests at its Ota plant in the Gunma Prefecture on a 280 mm bore, four-stroke, ammonia-fuelled marine engine.
Project participants say they see ammonia as a viable alternative fuel with zero greenhouse gas emissions, but understand it is a difficult substance to handle due to its toxicity.
This latest test increased the mixing ratio of fuel ammonia within the engine to 80% and were conducted on exhaust gas aftertreatment devices and fuel supply systems.
The stable integrated operation of these systems was successfully achieved for the first time in April and May.
The tests confirmed that emissions of di-nitrogen monoxide (N2O), which has a greenhouse effect about 300 times greater than CO2, and unburnt ammonia were virtually zero.
There was no ammonia leakage from all demonstration equipment during operation and after shutdown.
Prior to the test, a demonstration equipment inspection and technical review meeting were held on 11 April at the Ota plant by NYK, IHI Power Systems, Nihon Shipyard, Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha, ClassNK and Keihin Dock Co, which is responsible for the conversion of the ammonia-fuelled A-Tug.
Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha, which will be responsible for the operation and management of the A-Tug, also participated in the inspection of the demonstration equipment to confirm the technologies involved in its construction and operation.
Development, manufacture and shop trials of the Niigata four-stroke, ammonia-fuelled engines will follow and IHI Power Systems anticipates they will be installed on A-Tug in June 2024.
In parallel, project partners are finalising hull and topsides design, engineering for converting an existing tug into A-Tug and work towards overcoming regulatory clearances and writing operational manuals.
Based on this research and development for domestic vessels, efforts will be made to develop a 250 mm bore engine for the auxiliary engine of an oceangoing vessel.
This auxiliary engine will be installed on an ammonia-fuelled ammonia gas carrier, scheduled for delivery in October 2026, under joint development by NYK, Nihon Shipyard, Japan Engine, IHI Power Systems, and ClassNK.
TUGTECHNOLOGY ’23 was held 22-23 May in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The two-day conference, exhibition and awards alternates on a bi-annual basis with the International Tug & Salvage Conference, Exhibition & Awards as the industry’s must-attend event - in odd rather than even years
Riviera Maritime Media’s Maritime Decarbonisation Conference, Europe will be held 26-27 September 2023 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Use this link for further information and to register your interest
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