WinGD conducts full-load testing of ammonia dual-fuel engine with 5% pilot

Swiss marine power company Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) has tested its ammonia-capable marine engine at 100% load capacity for the first time, with 5% pilot fuel.

CONCEPT: Fleet of alternative fuel-capable gas carriers. EXMAR

Full-load testing involves running an engine at its maximum rated power output to assess its performance, fuel efficiency, emissions and durability under peak operating conditions.

“Operation on ammonia achieved the same thermal efficiency as for diesel fuel, with pilot oil consumption at the targeted 5% of overall fuel consumption at full load,” WinGD said.

Since ammonia has a high auto-ignition temperature, dual-fuel ammonia engines will require a pilot fuel, such as diesel, to ignite and sustain combustion. Theoretically, a higher proportion of pilot fuel can undermine ammonia’s zero-emission potential when using green hydrogen-based green ammonia, due to the GHG emissions from the diesel.

In WinGD’s case, successful tests using only 5% pilot fuel suggest that a ship could potentially operate on 95% green ammonia, significantly reducing emissions compared to conventional fuels.

The lab test also recorded stray ammonia emissions below 10 parts per million (ppm) and nitrous oxide emissions below 3 ppm, the company confirmed.

”Crucially, the low emissions were achieved without the use of exhaust gas after-treatment, allowing WinGD to confirm that no ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) will be needed to operate the engine with ammonia fuel,” it added.

Ammonia engines currently under development also feature a technology called selective catalytic reduction, which helps reduce NOx emissions by injecting a reducing agent, typically ammonia or urea, that reacts to form nitrogen and water.

“NOx emissions for ammonia operation were well below those generated during diesel use,” it added.

The company plans to roll out these engines commercially by June this year. It has already secured 30 orders across the bulk carrier, container ship, tanker and LPG/ammonia carrier segments.

“The first engines will be built for four LPG/ammonia carriers owned by Exmar LPG and ten bulk carriers operated by CMB.Tech,” the company noted.

By Konica Bhatt

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