MAN ES to develop four-stroke ammonia dual-fuel engine

German engine-maker MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) has started a project to develop a four-stroke ammonia dual-fuel engine for ships.

MODEL: Concept design of a ammonia-fuelled container ship, Yara Eyde. Yara Clean Ammonia

Four-stroke engines can be used to propel passenger ships such as ferries and cruise liners.

This engine will reduce “greenhouse-gas emissions by 90-95% while complying with existing emission regulations” when using green ammonia as a fuel, Christian Kunkel, head of combustion development at MAN ES claims.

Green ammonia has a zero-emission potential, but ammonia as a fuel requires a pilot fuel, such as diesel, for ignition because its high auto-ignition temperature makes it difficult to burn readily or sustain combustion. Four-stroke ammonia engines may require as much as 30% pilot fuel.

This project is supported the German climate ministry and will continue till mid-2027.

MAN ES has already developed a two-stroke ammonia dual-fuel engine, which can be used on larger ships like container ships and tankers.

By Konica Bhatt

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