METHANOL IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - AN ALTERATIVE 2014 MMSA METHANOL TECHNOLOGY AND POLICY CONGRESS3-4 DECEMBER 2014, FRANKFURT

Lennart Haraldson, Fuel Flexibility SP 4-stroke / R&D

Historic development of Methanol as motor fuel

Alcohols were actually tried in engines in early days by both Otto as well as Diesel............

The development of the market for methanol as a motor fuel worldwide started with the shortage of motor fuels during the First World War.

Likewise, the use of methanol has received attention primarily during periods when shortage of conventional fuels have been on the agenda.

Two such periods besides First World War were the second War and first oilcrisis during the 70´s.

The current only major market for methanol as motor fuel is China

Methanol …………..

Methanol as fuel compared to LFO

Fuel Methanol Diesel

Density (kg/l) 0.79 0,85

Boiling point (°C) 65 150-370

Flash point (°C) 11 min. 60

Auto ignition (°C) 464 240

Viscosity cSt at 20°C ~ 0,6 ~ 13,5

Octane RON/MON 109/89 -

Cetane No. 3 45-55

LHV (MJ/kg) 20 42

LHV (MJ/l) 16 36

Flammability Limits, Vol% 7-36 1-6

Flame Speed (cm/s) 52 37

Heat of Evaporation (kJ/kg) 1178 233

Stoichiometric Air-Fuel Ratio 6,4 14,7

Adiabatic flame temp. (°C) 1910 2100

MeOH

Top 3 Safety Aspects•”invisible flame”• Corrosive• Toxic

Performance Aspect• LHV less than half of LFO• Heat of Evaporation

Possible Methanol Concepts for Engines

Surface Ignition

Fumigation

Mixing Concept (Emulsion)

Ignition Improvers

Pilot fuel assisted Diesel CombustionPremixed Combustion with Spark Plugor Pilot Fuel Ignition

Conclusions from using methanol in the diesel process

Sources: SAE 902160 paper, EPA-460/3-023 August 1981

Engine output and efficiency equal to the diesel engineSignificant reduced NOx and PM compared to diesel Life time of major components will be similar or better than the diesel engine No change in oil change intervals are expected

Caterpillar - Glow Plug Volvo - Diesel Pilot ignition

Wärtsilä Methanol-Diesel Test Engine in Trieste

Wärtsilä Methanol-Diesel retrofit solution

Methanol is combusted according to the diesel process. The methanol is injected close to TDC and ignited by a small amount of diesel pilot fuel.

The methanol injection pressure is limited to below 650 bar.

Wärtsilä Methanol-Diesel retrofit solution

Tests on Methanol – Recent testing of Wärtsilä Sulzer Z40S-MD

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

Filte

r Sm

oke

Num

ber M

eas

1 [F

SN]

BMEP [bar]

ZA40_reference

Z40_reference 2003_HFO_CSZ40_reference 2014_LFO_CS

Z40_load swing_450bar pinjZ40_load swing_600bar pinj

0.00

2.00

4.00

6.00

8.00

10.00

12.00

14.00

0.00 5.00 10.00 15.00 20.00 25.00 30.00

NO

x M

arin

e Sp

ecifi

c ISO

817

8 C

orr

[g/k

Wh]

BMEP [bar]

ZA40S_reference

Z40_reference 2014_LFO_CSZ40_reference 2003_HFO_CSZ40_load swing_450bar pinjZ40_load swing_600bar pinj

Repeated tests on Sulzer Z40S-MD show same trends as the pre-tests on Wärtilä Vasa 32:

Reduced NOx / PMReduced exhaust temperature Same (or better) efficiency

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

t5 Te

mp

b Tu

rbin

e [°C

]

BMEP [bar]

ZA40S_reference

Z40_reference 2003_HFO_CS_normZ40_reference 2014_LFO_CS_normZ40_load swing_450bar pinj_norm

Z40_load swing_600bar pinj_norm

Stena Germanica – Conversion Scope

Transfer pump roomPump room

Engines converted for methanol combustion

Stena Germanica going to shipyard Feb 2015First ever medium speed engine operating on methanol – 20.03.2015

Double walledfuel pipes Ballast tank converted

to methanol fuel tank

Possible Future Fuel for Shipping

Methanol Potential, sum-up

Regulations Cost

Availability

CapexOpex

EmissionsFlag State

Class compliance

FuelTechnology

13/ Thank you.

Lennart Haraldson+46 705 793739lennart.haraldson@wartsila.comwww.wartsila.com