MITSUI conducts hydrogen combustion tests on MAN ES engine

Japanese shipbuilding firm MITSUI E&S in collaboration with MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) carried out hydrogen combustion tests on a marine engine at its Tamano facility in Japan.

PHOTO: MITSUI conducting hydrogen combustion tests on a MAN ES' engine. MITSUI E&S

The tests were conducted on a MAN ES’ 50-bore two-stroke LNG engine, which was modified to operate on hydrogen. Hydrogen was injected into the engine using Mitsui's hydrogen gas supply system, developed last year.

The engine was able to perform adequately at various loads and operating conditions. The tests demonstrated successful hydrogen combustion even at maximum load (power output), MAN ES said.

MITSUI claims that a 95% greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction was achieved during testing. It is unclear whether the GHG reduction claim is compared to conventional marine fuels and on a well-to-wake basis. The Japanese firm says the remaining 5% of emissions were emitted from the pilot fuel used during testing.

Fossil marine fuels such as diesel or MGO are used as pilot fuels for better ignition and combustion in ammonia engines that are being developed by various engine manufacturers.  

The two companies have not confirmed whether green hydrogen was used during the tests.

By Nithin Chandran

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