G-volution and SBL-Rail present dual fuel evolution concepts for Class 37, Class 59 and Class 66 locomotives. Dual fuel engines use compression ignition and burn two fuels simultaneously. This work shows how diesel fuel can be replaced by renewable net-zero carbon emissions fuels. The original diesel tanks were replaced with smaller ones and cylinders for biomethane or biopropane or hydrogen were installed. Compared to the original two-stroke EMD engine, the new four-stroke dual-fuel engine has a 10% reduction in fuel consumption. If a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) is installed, the engine will spend less time responding to the increase in back pressure when the DPF fills. Route simulations were completed using OTMRs provided by these locomotive operators in combination with dual fuel engines.
The Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine is the company's latest multi-fuel engine that can run on LNG, reducing air pollution, while also providing a viable basis for future decarbonization through biological or synthetic methane. According to the technology company, the engine was developed with a focus on economy, environmental performance and fuel flexibility, ushering in a new era of medium-speed marine engines. In April 2021, the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard received the first order of this engine type from Royal Caribbean Cruises. The engines will be installed on the company's newest Oasis-class ship, Ocean Utopia. The vessel is currently under construction and will feature six Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engines with gas valve units and NOx reducers.
MAERSK's first feeder container ship running on green methanol will be launched next year, followed by 12 16.000 TEU ships in 2024 and 2025. There is a lot of discussion about the chicken-and-egg problem. We decided to solve this problem by ordering our first boat and another twelve new boats. This will boost development on the production side, said Berit Hinneman, head of business development for decarbonization at MAERSK. Kaj Portin, general manager of sustainable fuels and decarbonization at Wärtsilä Finland, presented their work on methanol. Two tankers have been transporting methanol with good results. The HyMethShip and FASTWATER projects aim to demonstrate the feasibility of retrofit and new build ships to operate on hydropower. Edman Tsang of the University of Oxford presented work in progress in methanol synthesis. This would allow the use of longer-range tank batteries, but at the same time have many benefits in fuel handling and distribution.
BEH2YDRO is a joint venture between Anglo Belgian Corp. and CMB.TECH. The 100% hydrogen engine range has been developed for heavy duty applications with a power range from 1 MW to 2.6 MW. As main drives or in combination with alternators, they are a reliable and 100% environmentally friendly energy source for ships, drilling rigs or other marine applications. The BEH2YDRO 100% hydrogen engine uses proven technology designed to ensure long-term efficient operation. The big cost is mainly in the gas pipe to bring the hydrogen to the engine in a safe and controllable way. We believe this cost will drop sharply over the next few years as consumption increases.
ROV maker Saab Seaeye said Monday that it will showcase its new, extremely powerful and intelligent electric manipulator at the Marine Technology Conference in Houston, May 2-5, 2022. The micron precision of the eM1-7 comes from the fact that each of its seven joints have extremely precise force and position feedback combined with their own distributed microprocessors.
Ulstein has unveiled a vessel concept it claims can make the vision of zero-emission cruise operations a reality. The 149m 3R design will feature a thorium molten salt reactor (MSR) to generate large quantities of clean, safe electricity. This enables the vessel to operate as a power bank/charging station for new battery-powered cruise ships.