Project Name
Methanol as fuel for marine diesel engines
Responsible:
Professor Jesper Schramm
Senior Researcher Rasmus Faurskov Cordtz
Research Assistant Thomas Berg Thomsen
Project Partner(s)
Technological Institute
Alfa Laval
Nordic Green
MAN Energy Solutions
Project Period
September 2019 - June 2021
Research Funding
EUDP
Project description
Methanol is a fuel of the future due to relative energy dense (compared to hydrogen), already existing infrastructure and it can be made as an electro fuel from excess power and extracting CO2 from the atmosphere. Application of methanol is an option for the marine sector. Since most of these engines are operated on diesel fuels, it is an advantage to apply methanol according to the CI principle, thereby facilitating the possibility to operate on diesel as well.
We are examining how well methanol with an ignition improver can be applied in a diesel engine as a green fuel for maritime usage. This is done with combustion analysis and exhaust gas measurements. Methanol is mixed with an ignition improver to increase the cetane number and thereby, greatening the ignition properties. To achieve better combustion, intake air heating is required together with an intake pressure charging system.
The project is the first approach to application of methanol in dual fuel operation. The experiences from this project is used for later methanol application in a similar 200 kW engine at Technological Institute in Denmark, and a larger 2 MW engine with Alfa Laval in Aalborg.
Methanol engine test setup