Development of an ignition system and assessment of engine performance and exhaust characteristics of a marine gas engine

Abstract

In recent years, marine engine manufacturers have become increasingly interested in gas engines as an alternative to diesel engines to address rising crude oil prices and environmental regulations. In this study, a 1.6 MW dedicated gas engine was developed based on a diesel engine with bore 220, stroke 300. The developed gas engine had a precombustion chamber and exhibited excellent performance; the brake mean effective pressure was 2.1 MPa at 1000 rpm and NOx emissions were 50 ppm under 15% O2. In particular, it demonstrated excellent fuel economy with a thermal efficiency of 45%, and its carbon dioxide emissions were ~75% of the conventional diesel engines, thus demonstrating greenhouse gas reduction. These results indicate that suitably developed gas engines can provide a low-cost and energy-efficient alternative to diesel engines.