World Premier of MAN gas engine
MARITIME INDUSTRY: MAN Diesel & Turbo has presented its new ME-GI gas engine to a 300-strong invited audience of customers, licensees and journalists, at its Diesel Research Centre in Copenhagen
“The unveiling of the ME-GI engine is MAN Diesel & Turbo’s response to current market conditions and the large audience in Copenhagen is proof of the great interest in this propulsion solution,” said MAN Diesel & Turbo’s Søren H. Jensen, Vice President and Head of Research & Development, Marine Low-Speed.
The ME-GI engine is a gas-injection, dual-fuel, low-speed diesel engine that, when acting as main propulsion in LNG carriers or any other type of merchant marine vessel, can burn gas or fuel-oil at any ratio, depending on the energy source available on board and dictated by relative cost and owner preference
Depending on relative price and availability, as well as environmental considerations, the ME-GI engine gives shipowners and operators the option of using either gas or HFO.
MAN Diesel & Turbo sees significant opportunities arising for gas-fuelled tonnage as fuel prices rise and modern exhaust-emission limits tighten. Indeed, previous research indicates that the ME-GI engine, when combined with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and waste-heat recovery (WHR) technologies, delivers significant reductions in CO2, NOx and SO x emissions fulfilling Tier-II and Tier-III regulations
MAN Diesel & Turbo predicts a broad, potential market for its ME-GI engine, extending from LNG and LPG carriers to other oceangoing vessel segments such as containerships as well as ships plying a fixed trade.
Technical details
MAN B&W ME-GI (Gas Injection) two-stroke engines possess economical and operational benefits compared to other, low-speed engine plants, irrespective of ship size. Based on the successful, electronically controlled ME heavy-fuel-burning diesel engines, the ME-GI design accommodates natural gas and liquid fuels.
Dual-fuel operation requires the injection of both pilot fuel-oil and gas fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber via different types of valves arranged in the cylinder head. The ME-GI engine head is fitted with two valves for gas injection and two for pilot fuel. The pilot-oil valve is a standard ME fuel-oil valve.
MAN B&W ME-C and ME-GI engines are broadly similar and share the same efficiency, output and dimensions. In comparison, the ME-GI engine’s key components are its modified exhaust receiver, modified cylinder cover with gas-injection valves and gas-control block, an expanding top gallery platform, high-pressure fuel-supply pipes, and mounted gas-control units.
Source: MAN Diesel & Turbo / maritimedanmark.dk
