South Korean duo’s emission reduction system for ammonia-fuelled vessels gets ABS nod

Classification society ABS has granted approval to an ammonia reductant supply system - jointly developed by South Korea-based HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) - for use in ammonia-powered ships.

PHOTO: Company representatives at a deal signing ceremony at Gastech 2023. ABS

The ammonia reductant supply system will carry out selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in ammonia-fuelled vessels. SCR is a process to control emissions, which converts nitrogen oxide (NOx) into diatomic nitrogen and water with the aid of a catalyst.

The system will utilise the ammonia onboard as the SCR reductant to remove NOx from emissions instead of urea that is used in conventional diesel propulsion systems. Reductant is defined as a reducing agent which is capable of bringing about the reduction of another substance.

The approval also includes a plan to “safely treat toxic ammonia gas generated during operation, including a configuration that can use ammonia Boil-Off Gas (BOG) and purge gas generated from an ammonia fuel supply system as an SCR reductant,” ABS says.

In its liquid form, ammonia is stored at -33ºC under atmospheric pressure. Due to heat entering the tanks during storage, a portion of the ammonia continuously evaporates, generating BOG. Meanwhile, purge gas is a gas used to maintain forward flow and positive pressure in a safety flare system.

“Considering the recent tightening of environmental regulations, ammonia is expected to become a mainstream alternative fuel in the future. Accordingly, the development of ammonia-related technology will be actively developed,” HD HHI’s chief technology officer Seung-Ho Jeon says.

Ship registry Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) was also part of the approval in principle (AiP) presentation, which took place at the Gastech 2023 conference in Singapore last week.

By Tuhin Roy

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