Sub Project 1 - Fuels

Objective:

Meeting IMO Tier III emissions restrictions with focus on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), Marin Gas Oil (MGO) and Natural Gas in form of LNG. The purpose of the sub-project is to perform a full economic, technical and environmental analysis of the different alternative fuels and abatements technologies, as well as an assessment of technology trends and future legislation development.

Background and motivation

Requirement of 0.1% sulphur in the SECA's were put into force 1st of January 2015 and requirement of stricter limits on NOx emission for new built ships will come (1st of January 2016 in USA and Canada and later in European waters)

The known emission limits can be met by alternative fuels like LNG, low sulphur fuel oil with SCR or by HFO applying scrubbing technology and means to reduce NOx. There is a focus of Green House Gas (GHG) emission from ships even though there are no limits for the shipping industry. To make an objective comparison between different fuels and machinery systems, energy consumption analysis form well to propeller should be included.

This study will perform a full economic and environmental due diligence of the different alterative solutions. The study will be supported with data and experience form ships in operation

Tasks and activities

1. Perform energy analysis for the different fuels (from well to propeller)
2. Perform cost and energy analysis for abatement technologies
3. Feedback for ships in operation in different market segments: a) Short sea b) Deep sea
4. A case study on a ship operating in SECA area on HFO with scrubbing system for shulphur reduction and combined with EGR to meet NOx Tier III will be performed (Clipper Harald)
5. Comparison between ships with different technology level for stating the validity of the case results
6. A case study on a ship in short sea operation on Gas Only and Dual Fuel with LNG as the main fuel. A complete measurement program of exhaust emissions and fuel efficiency will be performed (With Marine, Irland)

WP – involvement

WP 1 Feasibility studies
WP 3 Power Systems and Fuel: Power system simulation modelling
WP 4 Ship system integration, validation and monitoring: Integration of simulation models and validation of virtual prototypes against full-scale data
WP5 Environment and economic due dilligence

Expected impacts

Reduced harmful emissions:
• SOx, NOx, PM
• Reduced GHG
Competitiveness of Norwegian maritime cluster:
• Scrubber + EGR

Participants and resources

Research:

MARINTEK, NTNU

Industry partners :

• Solvang,
• Wärtsilä Moss,
• Bergen Engines
• Wallenius Wilhemsen,
• Grieg Star,
• KG Jebsen,
• DNVGL,

Schedule:

2015-2018

Achievements

2016:

- Report: Clipper Harald HFO operation with scrubber - Wash water analysis at berth
- Two reports on full-scale exhaust gas measurement

2017:

Scrubbing / EGR

Continuing work on scrubbing in combination with EGR (exhaust Gas Recirculation) on the test Ship, Clipper Harald :

•    Test running to verify IMO Tier III emission level is postponed due to delayed upgrading of EGR fan capacity and improved filtration of soot and particulates in the EGR flow.

•    Preparing publication on wash water quality emitted to the sea after water cleaning system, based on test samples an analysis from Clipper Harald, report "Clipper Harald HFO operation with Scrubber".

LNG as fuel for ships

•    A measurement campaign on emissions from gas and dual fuel engines with special focus on methane slip has been performed. This is cofounding project with the NOx Fond and Norwegian Environmental Agency. State of the art gas engine technology for marine application, and the test results are presented in the report "Methane slip from gas engines"

•   Webinar June 2017.

2018:

Methane slip

Analyses of measured data of methane slip form ships and laboratory tests.

Scrubber and EGR

Measurement on board "Clipper Harald" was performed comprising exhaust gas emissions, smoke number and cylinder pressure on each cylinder. Exhaust emissions documented NOx level at Tier III level. Based on cylinder pressure analyses (Rate of Heat Release) an indication of increase of fuel consumption in the range of 2-2,5% when operating at Tier III level. Smoke number was recorder before and after the scrubber show that the scrubber removes soot and particulates when operating with EGR to the same level as without EGR. (see report by Thonstad and Valberg, 2018 Måling av eksosutslipp ombord på Clipper Harald 2018).

Particulate Matter level using scrubber investigated in laboratory testing at Wärtsilä Moss