LR greenlights SDARI’s ammonia vessel concept

Design of an 8,200-TEU capacity ammonia-capable container ship has received approval in principle from Lloyd's Register.

PHOTO: MAN Energy Solutions' ammonia-capable engine. MAN ES

China-based Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI), shipping major Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) jointly developed the container ship design.

The vessel will feature a “type C tank ammonia containment system, with the ammonia tank fitted with a dome inside its tank connection space,” LR said.

"Type C tanks are insulated cylindrical, bi-lobe or tri-lobe shaped tanks that can be fully or partially pressurized, depending on the liquefied gas to be stored," according to classification society Bureau Veritas.

It will also be equipped with MAN ES ammonia dual-fuel engine. MAN ES ammonia engine is expected to be launched commercially this year.

Powering ships with ammonia

Ammonia needs a pilot fuel like diesel to ignite because its high auto-ignition temperature makes it difficult to burn readily or sustain combustion.

Initial combustion tests were conducted with 10-15% pilot fuel, MAN ES stated on its website. The company intends to reduce the pilot fuel content to 5% in the future.

Ammonia combustion can also emit stray ammonia emissions, known as ammonia slip. Since ammonia is hazardous and toxic in nature, the engine will feature an additional safety measure called the ammonia catch system.

“The ammonia catch system and the addition of absorbers make sure that no ammonia will be vented to the atmosphere above 5 ppm [parts per million] at our Research Centre Copenhagen,” MAN ES said.

The engine will also be equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

By Konica Bhatt

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online