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Upcoming MAN ExpertTalks

  • Managing methane slip in four-stroke engines

    Dual fuel engines

    Managing methane slip in four-stroke engines

    MAN ExpertTalk
    , 15:30 16:15
    (W. Europe Standard Time)

    We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming MAN ExpertTalk on “Managing methane slip in four-stroke engines”, hosted by MAN marine experts on November 6. In this session, we will explore the environmental impact of methane emissions from LNG use in marine four-stroke applications. You will gain insights into the latest technological advancements to mitigate methane slip and the future role of LNG as a sustainable marine fuel, considering regulatory frameworks and sustainability goals. The live webinar will last 45 minutes and include a Q&A session with our experts.

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  • Energy & Storage

    From source to solution: Methanol’s missing link in energy transition

    MAN ExpertTalk
    , 09:30 10:30
    (W. Europe Standard Time)

    E-methanol is produced using renewable energy. This often comes from offshore wind turbines, which are installed by specialized vessels, which are powered by MAN methanol engines. These are just some of the links in the methanol value chain, but they show how MAN Energy Solutions can bring together suppliers and consumers of methanol. We also provide links through CCS, hydrogen electrolysis, and methanol synthesis.

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    MAN Primeserv

    Pielstick Retrofit Solutions (morning session)

    MAN ExpertTalk
    , 09:30 10:15
    (W. Europe Standard Time)

    Sign up for our exclusive MAN ExpertTalk to explore the latest Pielstick retrofit solutions. Learn how to improve your engines efficiency, reliability, and emissions while preparing for future upgrades like alternative fuel compatibility. Secure your spot now to modernize yourengines for tomorrow's challenges and extend their operational life. 

    This MAN ExpertTalk is hosted by Eric Huet and Nicolas Gruau

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Latest news

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Methanol Retrofit Solutions to be Developed for Medium-Speed Marine Engines

Research association comprising MAN Energy Solutions, WTZ Roßlau gGmbH and TU Darmstadt start ‘CliNeR-ECo’ project

MAN Energy Solutions has announced that it will begin developing retrofit solutions for medium-speed marine engines as part of a research association including WTZ Roßlau gGmbh and TU-Darmstadt. The three-year research project, ‘CliNeR-ECo’, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) with initial work having already commenced at the beginning of 2023.

CliNeR-ECo aims to develop concepts for diverse, medium-speed, marine engines that will enable the retrofitting of entire ship fleets at reasonable economic and technical costs. The project is focusing on the climate-neutral fuel, methanol, which is produced from green hydrogen with the intention being that results should quickly spawn other developmental projects for series production. In this respect, MAN Energy Solutions is currently planning a first retrofit project based on an MAN 48/60 engine; the first retrofit of a fully functional test engine is scheduled to reach the testbed in 2024.

With these maritime retrofit technologies, ship owners will be offered solutions that enable their existing fleets to comply with future emission targets for greenhouse gases. These will be introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the EU in increasingly stringent stages from 2025 onwards in order to ultimately realise climate-neutral maritime shipping.

Dr Alexander Knafl, Head of R&D Four-Stroke Engines at MAN Energy Solutions in Augsburg, said: “MAN Energy Solutions is pursuing this project in close alignment with its own strategy for developing sustainable technologies and welcomes the opportunity to work with external research partners. For us, the path to the decarbonisation of the maritime economy begins with the switch to climate-neutral fuels. In this context, methanol is an excellent candidate as it is climate-neutral when produced from green hydrogen.”

Christian Kunkel, Head of Combustion Development, R&D Four-Stroke Engines at MAN Energy Solutions, added: “Electrification of the maritime industry is only possible in niche segments but not in so-called ‘long-distance shipping’. Energy sources such as carbon-neutral methanol and ammonia will therefore play a prominent role in the maritime sector in the future. Methanol is an ideal fuel for converting engines on existing ships and methanol tanks can usually be integrated into existing ship designs without too much trouble, while engine conversion costs can be kept within reasonable limits. Thus, with climate-neutral methanol production, the climate effect of the maritime industry can be improved very quickly while dispensing with the need for newbuilding construction. This is a crucial point as ship lifespans can last several decades in some cases and newbuildings demand a lot of resources.”

Dr Christian Reiser, CEO of WTZ Roßlau gGmbH, said: “Together with our partners, we are pleased to launch this ambitious project for CO2 reduction in shipping. The development of a retrofit-capable, methanol-combustion process presents us with exciting challenges, which we will solve together in this strong alliance.”

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Hasse, Head of the Department of Simulation of Reactive Thermo-Fluid Systems at TU Darmstadt, commented, “Carbon-neutral and carbon-free fuels play a prominent role in our current research with methanol as a fuel for retrofitting marine engines playing a special role. The investigation of mixtures is, scientifically, highly exciting and directly related to the technical solution we will eventually develop. Ultimately, we will gain new insights into the dynamics of flow, injection and their interaction with the combustion chamber walls by combining high-resolution simulations and optical measurement techniques. This transfer of basic research into practical application is a strength of engineering research.”

Project partner roles

 

WTZ Roßlau gGmbH is a specialist in the field of energy conversion and will use a medium-speed test engine to develop combustion-process strategies for the retrofit concepts. This will be done in close cooperation with MAN Energy Solutions and will also form the basis for defining requirements for exhaust-gas aftertreatment.

The Technical University of Darmstadt will use a flow bench to work out the fundamentals of methanol mixtures in engines at its ‘Reactive Flows and Measurement Technology’ and ‘Simulation of Reactive Thermo-Fluid Systems’ departments. Together with MAN Energy Solutions, it will also develop the CFD simulation models required for adapting the technology to different engine sizes.

MAN Energy Solutions will transfer the retrofit concepts developed to large-volume four-stroke engines and prepare commercial development and production.

Documents

  • MAN_ES_PR_Cliner-ECo_ENG
    PDF, 165 KB English

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Contact

Jan Hoppe

Head of Group Communication & Marketing

Group Communications & MarketingMAN Energy Solutions SEStadtbachstr. 186153 AugsburgGermany

t +49 821 322 3126

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