Application of Iron Aluminides in the Combustion Chamber of Large Bore 2-Stroke Marine Engines

Moszner Moszner,Damani Damani,Suutala Suutala,Peng Peng,Jasnau Jasnau,Palm Palm

doi:10.3390/met9080847

Abstract

Iron aluminides possess a unique combination of properties such as attractive corrosion resistance in hot gas and wet chemical environments, a favorable strength to weight ratio, low costs of alloying elements, and they can be processed by conventional methods. For the current study, a promising iron aluminide (Fe-Al-Mo-Ti-B) was employed, which shows the potential to replace costly heat resistant steels or expensive Ni-based alloys for components in large bore two-stroke marine engines. The prechamber, an integral part of the combustion system of dual fuel two-stroke marine engines, which must withstand harsh conditions, was selected as the component. Prototypes made of the novel iron aluminide were manufactured via investment casting and hot isostatic pressing using powder of the intermetallic alloy. The high temperature oxidation behavior, the wet corrosion resistance in acid media, and the mechanical properties up to 700 °C were evaluated. A prototype of the prechamber was tested on a large bore two-stroke dual fuel test engine and post analysis of the tested component was performed. The results show that the employed iron aluminide alloy could be an economic alternative to the currently used Ni-based alloy.

Highlights

There exits an increasing demand in marine engines for new suitable materials facing the need for higher performance, new fuels or lower emissions, and a continuous pressure to reduce costs [1]
Iron aluminides possess a unique combination of properties such as attractive corrosion resistance in hot gas and wet chemical environments, a favorable strength to weight ratio, low costs of alloying elements, and they can be processed by conventional methods
The results show that the employed iron aluminide alloy could be an economic alternative to the currently used Ni-based alloy

Summary

Introduction

There exits an increasing demand in marine engines for new suitable materials facing the need for higher performance, new fuels or lower emissions, and a continuous pressure to reduce costs [1]. Besides reduced emissions, operating them with alternative fuels, e.g., a mix of natural gas and volatile organic compounds or biofuels obtained from lignin, are evaluated In this regard, X-dual fuel (X-DF) engines with liquid natural gas (LNG) as the main fuel and low pressure gas technology have been successfully introduced in 2013 for low-speed, large bore two-stroke engines [6]. X-dual fuel (X-DF) engines with liquid natural gas (LNG) as the main fuel and low pressure gas technology have been successfully introduced in 2013 for low-speed, large bore two-stroke engines [6] This marks a radical change in merchant shipping industry as heavy fuel oil was used as sole fuel for more than a century. The natural gas is admitted at low pressure in Metals 2019, 9, 847; doi:10.3390/met9080847 www.mdpi.com/journal/metals the combustion chamber and is ignited by injection a low volume of liquid fuel in the prechamber admitted at low pressure in the combustion chamber and is ignited by injection a low volume of

Methods

Results

Conclusion