Retrofit of a Marine Engine to Dual-Fuel Methane–Diesel: Experimental Analysis of Performance and Exhaust Emission with Continuous and Phased Methane Injection Systems

Luca Marchitto, Luigi De Simio, Sabato Iannaccone (), Vincenzo Pennino and Nunzio Altieri
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Luca Marchitto: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Luigi De Simio: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Sabato Iannaccone: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Vincenzo Pennino: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Nunzio Altieri: Institute of Science and Technology for Sustainable Energy and Mobility (STEMS-CNR), Italian National Research Council, 80125 Napoli, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-23

Abstract: Shipping is a highly energy-intensive sector, and fleet decarbonization initiatives can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the short-to-medium term, internal combustion engines will continue to be used for propulsion or as electricity generators onboard ships. Natural gas is an effective solution which can be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the marine sector. Considered to be a transitional fuel, it can provide a potential reduction in CO 2 emissions of around 20–30%, compared with conventional marine fuels. This work investigated the influence of diesel-injection strategies on the performance and emissions of a single-cylinder prototype compression-ignition engine for marine applications, retrofitted to run as a Low-Pressure Dual-Fuel Engine using natural gas. Two different injection systems were used: a mass flow controller enabling continuous-mode gas feeding, and a Solenoid-Operated Gas Admission Valve for marine applications, the latter allowing phased natural-gas injection. Experimental tests were focused on partial-load conditions, which are critical for dual-fuel engines, with a natural gas/diesel mass ratio of 4:1. Phased injection resulted in reductions in fuel consumption, compared to continuous mode, of up to 11%. Further experiments demonstrated reductions in fuel consumption of up to 20.7% (in equivalent diesel); on the other hand, the unburned hydrocarbon emissions which resulted were an order of magnitude larger than the reference values for full diesel, reducing the benefits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction in Global Warming Potential of only 3% compared to full diesel.

Keywords: marine engine; natural gas; dual fuel; GHG emissions; low-carbon shipping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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