- Using ammonia as a fuel can contribute to reducing both the shipping’s and energy sectors’ greenhouse gas emissions.
- First tests yielded promising results and will continue to optimise combustion parameters.
- Ammonia is a carbon-free fuel to fulfil IMO’s vision of reducing GHG emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050.
- Wärtsilä is developing ammonia storage and supply systems as part of the EU project ShipFC.
- Investigating several future fuels, with a view to providing complete flexibility across engines and the fuel chain.
Wärtsilä launches first combustion trials with ammonia, says a press release published on their website.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The technology group Wärtsilä has initiated combustion trials using ammonia. The research will help the company to prepare for the use of ammonia as a fuel.
Using ammonia as a fuel can contribute to reducing both the shipping’s and energy sectors’ greenhouse gas emissions.
The testing process
- Ammonia was injected into a combustion research unit to better understand its properties.
- Based on initial results, the tests will be continued on both dual-fuel and spark-ignited gas engines.
- These will be followed by field tests in collaboration with ship owners from 2022, and potentially also with energy customers in the future.
Promising test results
Kaj Portin, General Manager, Fuel & Operational Flexibility, Wärtsilä Marine said the first tests yielded promising results and they will continue to optimise combustion parameters.
Portin added that this was an important step in making sure that Wärtsilä can provide the engine and fuel systems that ship owners need, whichever fuel they choose in future.
Ammonia’s GHG footprint eliminated
To fulfil the International Maritime Organization’s vision of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050, ammonia is a promising, carbon-free fuel.
The energy sector is already developing optimal paths for 100% renewable energy systems. Although ammonia is derived mainly from fossil sources today, in the future ammonia’s greenhouse gas footprint can be nearly eliminated if it is produced using electricity from renewable sources.
Wärtsilä’s steps and investigations for ammonia fuel solution
Ammonia fuel solution
The tests are just the latest step as Wärtsilä aims to develop a complete ammonia fuel solution comprising engines, fuel supply and storage.
The company is working with ship owners, shipbuilders, classification societies and fuel suppliers to learn more about system and safety requirements, as well as fuel composition, emissions and efficiency.
Ammonia storage and supply systems
Wärtsilä is developing ammonia storage and supply systems as part of the EU project ShipFC to install ammonia fuel cells on Eidesvik Offshore’s supply vessel Viking Energy by 2023.
The company has also gained significant experience with ammonia from designing cargo handling systems for liquid petroleum gas carriers, many of which are used to transport ammonia.
Properties of Ammonia
Ammonia has a number of properties that require further investigation.
- It ignites and burns poorly compared to other fuels and is toxic and corrosive, making safe handling and storage important.
- Burning ammonia could also lead to higher NOx emissions unless controlled either by aftertreatment or by optimising the combustion process.
- A regulatory framework and class rules will need to be developed for its use as a marine fuel.
Investigating future fuels
Wärtsilä is investigating several future fuels, including synthetic methane, ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, with a view to providing complete flexibility across engines and the fuel chain.
Internal combustion engines
Internal combustion engines can be adapted to burn any fuel. Dual-fuel or spark-ignited engines are already capable of burning liquified natural gas – from fossil, biomass or synthetic sources – while diesel engines can run on liquid biofuels, biodiesel or e-diesel.
Converting engines to other fuels
Wärtsilä has extensive experience in converting engines to other fuels, including
- diesel to dual-fuel, as well as
- engines capable of burning methanol and volatile organic compounds from crude oil cargoes.
Limited exchange of components
The modularity of modern engines means that conversions can be made with a very limited exchange of components.
Wärtsilä’s investment in modular engines and in storage and supply systems will enable shipping’s transition from current fossil fuels to bio- and synthetic fuels.
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Source: Wärtsilä
