Swedish trio to develop methanol dual-fuel conversion kits for diesel engines

Maritime layout and engine developer ScandiNAOS AB, Chalmers University of Technologies and the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) have introduced a venture to produce dual-fuel kits for the conversion of new and existing diesel engines to methanol operation.

As knowledgeable, the undertaking will see ScandiNAOS develop and put into practice a twin-gasoline package in a pilot boat owned and operated by the SMA.

The package will be generic and able for retrofit to a significant range of current diesel engines of distinct models. It will focus on engines up to 1000 kW and will accelerate the transition to very low-emission gas and sustainable functions for marine and industrial purposes.

The adoption of twin-gas kits will allow the conversion of much more ships and boats extra swiftly, considering the fact that a conversion package can be price-competently used to existing engines although retaining the gas versatility to operate on both methanol, MGO or HVO, in accordance to the companions.

The challenge has a 24-month period and a spending budget of SEK 8,6 million ($827,000) with 50{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303} funding by the Swedish software for Strategic Car Analysis and Innovation, (FFI). Methanol producer Proman AG and the Methanol Institute are delivering sector funding.

“We are pleased to assistance this important initiative, which will allow the use of methanol as a cleaner substitute fuel for a broad array of vessel classes. This task signifies that methanol could be made use of to affordably lower air air pollution and greenhouse fuel emissions throughout ports and inland waterways in the in close proximity to-term,” Peter Schild, Running Director Sustainability, Proman, stated.

The pilot boat is predicted to be all set for industry trials in Q3 2023, a process which will go on for 9 to 12 months for the duration of which the twin-fuel package will be tuned and optimised based on operational expertise and from the results of the investigate and laboratory tests carried out by Chalmers College.

The SMA already operates a methanol-driven pilot boat geared up with a one fuel compression ignited methanol motor which done profitable trials in December 2021, a conversion supported by the FASTWATER consortium plan.

The SMA has a target to clear away fossil fuels from its fleet by 2045.

Methanol as a gas for combustion engines offers a number of alternatives for engine optimisation. 

The key positive aspects of methanol contain its density, which doesn’t have an affect on the load capability of ships, the reality that it is comparatively secure to bunker, and that it has an beautiful rate. It is considered that methanol can lessen sulfur oxides by 99{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303}, nitrogen oxides by 80{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303}, and carbon emissions by 25{ca2182fc8fed51dc37b95061ee48b5056cde1176732b225548c54a0c0156d303} compared to the conventional gasoline.

Ordering of close to 40 methanol-powred ships about the earlier 12 months in contrast to just a handful in the year in advance of displays rather a dramatic alter in this space,