Research on Methanol-fueled Marine Diesel Engine

Abstract

Nowadays concerns about methanol has increased from the viewpoints of environrnental protection and versatility of fuels at a global scale. Desire for saving of maintenance cost and lobour prevails as well as the environmental problems in the field of marine engines. From these rnotives we have carried out research and development of a methanol fueled marine diesel engine which is quite different from automobile en9ines in the size, main particulars, working condition and durability.Although we have made a great use of invaluable knowledge from automotive techno1ogy, sorne special studies w ere neccessary due to these differences. Ignition method is a typical one. Dual fuel injection system was tried for trouble-free ignition of methanol fuel. This system is thought to be the most favourable ignition method for marine diesel engines which have to withstand quick load change and accept no misfiring. Under the leadership of Ministry of Transportation and with the aid from The Japan Shipbuilding Industries Foundation and The Japan Marine Machinery Developrnent Association the work has proceeded from elementary studies of injection and tribo1ogy to the running test. In this article the effects of configurations as to fuel injection system on the engine perforrnance are described. Fundamental running test with a single cylindered 4-stroke test engine reveals that the marine deisel engine can afford to have such a good performance as an original diesel engine has, when suitable reconditioning of fuel injection-and governing systems being applied to.