Abstract
Increasing environmental demands, alongside the planned penetration of natural gas as marine fuel, have rendered dual-fuel engines as an attractive prime mover alternative. In this context, knowing the specific fuel consumption is essential to selecting the most efficient engine. The specific fuel consumption can be approached by simulation models with varying levels of complexity that are either implemented by basic programming languages or simulated by dedicated packages. This study aims to develop a simplified model to predict the specific fuel consumption of dual-fuel two-stroke marine engines driving fixed or controllable pitch propellers. The model relies on clear trends approachable by polynomials that were revealed by normalizing specific fuel consumption. This model requires only the value of specific fuel consumption at a nominal maximum continuous rating to predict the engine consumption at any specified rating, including at partial engine load. The outcome of the study shows that the maximum deviations regarding the two simulated engines did not exceed −3.6%. In summary, the proposed model is a fast and effective tool for optimizing the selection of dual-fuel, two-stroke Diesel engines regarding fuel consumption.
Highlights
The maritime industry has faced new realities that have been changing marine fuel investment choices over the last few decades
In order to investigate the accuracy of the approach proposed in this paper, two engines of intermediary nominal maximum continuous rating (NMCR) were simulated, and the results were compared with catalogue data [28]
The specified maximum continuous rating (SMCR) was placed on the center of engine layout diagrams (LC), such that the engine 9G80ME-C9.5-GI was examined for an SMCR of
Summary
The maritime industry has faced new realities that have been changing marine fuel investment choices over the last few decades. MEPC.176(58) [2] and confirmed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on October 2016 [3]. This change applies globally and will affect as many as 70,000 ships, which is a reason why experts do not agree completely with the IMO’s study that indicates the refineries will be capable of providing the required amount of low-sulphur marine fuel by 2020 [4]. Natural gas offers lower local pollution emissions compared to distillate fuels, and can significantly reduce local pollutants from vessel operations. Price differences between natural gas and low-sulphur fuel oil suggest that an economic advantage may favor the use of natural gas. Natural gas infrastructure has been growing, rendering ships fed by natural gas more plausible [1]
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