Alternative fuels

Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)

The lower carbon content of LNG compared to traditional ship fuels enables a 20% to 25% reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Using LNG as ship fuel will also reduce emissions of NOx and particulate matter (pm). It has the advantage of being less costly than diesel. LNG in it’s most practical way comes with the dual fuel option, running on both LNG as well as conventional fuel. Dual fuel engines offer all the benefits of a gas engine whilst maintaining the ability to be operated as a conventional diesel engine when required.

Gas to Liquids (GTL)

Gas to liquids (GTL) is a refinery process to convert gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons such diesel fuel. It is virtually sulphur-free and has significantly lower emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter then conventional petroleum products. GTL can use the same infrastructure and engines as diesel.

Read more

• LNG DF 95-5

• GTL Fuel

Emissions control technology

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)

The technology of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is applied by the injection of a urea solution (CO(NH2)2) or ammonia (NH3) in the exhaust gas at a temperature of 290 – 350 °C. A catalyst is placed in the exhaust gas channel, where the reducing agents react with the nitrogen oxides forming nitrogen and water.

Fuel-water emulsion (FWE)

The application of fuel-water emulsion technology reduces both particulate matter and NOx-emission. It can be regarded as a most promising technology for greening the inland waterway transport. After emulsifying water and fuel before injection, a ‘micro explosion’ reduces the fuel oil droplets into numerous smaller ones. These smaller droplets ignite and burn easier than the bigger droplets. Pm and soot creation zones are reduced, the thermal effectiveness improves and fuel consumption decreases. FWE also leads to a cooling down effect of the combustion chamber temperature. This results in a reduction of NOx emission.

Diesel particulate filters (DPF)

Diesel particulate filters (DPF) are devices that physically capture diesel particulates to prevent their release to the atmosphere. Diesel particulate filter materials have been developed that show impressive filtration efficiencies, in excess of 90%, as well as good mechanical and thermal durability.

Read more

• Catalyst (SCR) + Filter (DPF)

• Fuel Water Emulsion (FWE)

• Fuel Water Emulsion (FWE) + Catalyst (SCR)

• Catalyst (SCR)

Propeller optimisation

The efficiency of a ship propeller grows with its diameter. However, propellers of inland ships have a rather small diameter because of limited available water depth. As a consequence the efficiency of is rather low as these propellers have to produce a relatively large thrust. Nowadays, naked propellers are seldom applied to inland ships as the power absorption is limited about 300 kW/m2 propeller disc area.

Read more

• Catalyst (SCR) + Filter (DPF)

• Propeller Upgrade

Propeller outflow optimisation

The difference in velocity of the propeller slipstream (high velocity) and aft ship flow (low velocity) causes additional turbulence behind the ship. The energy needed to produce turbulence is at the expense of efficient ship propulsion.

Read more

• Catalyst (SCR) + Filter (DPF)

• Flow Extender