MAN begins testing of full-scale two-stroke engine running on ammonia
04 December 2024
MAN Energy Solutions announced that the development of its ME-LGIA (Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) engine has entered a new phase with the commencement of testing of a full-scale, two-stroke engine running on ammonia at its RCC (Research Centre Copenhagen). (Earlier post.)
Having already completed more than 12 months of testing on a single cylinder running on ammonia, it’s a significant milestone to be able to step up to full-scale engine testing. We have been busy with the conversion process over the past few months, including ensuring that all safety provisions work according to our requirements. We are now ready for the next phase that will focus on, among other parameters, combustion and emissions, engine-tuning, atomizer testing and control-system verification. This is provisionally set to continue until mid-2025.
—Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke R&D, MAN Energy Solutions
MAN Energy Solutions is proud to be a pioneer within the new segment of ammonia engines but it is equally as important for us to show the world that we are moving forward cautiously in a reliable and safety-first way. Now is the time to develop the technology and we look forward to revealing our progress at the appropriate time.
—Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, MAN Energy Solutions
I am afraid that the ammonia engine is a wasted effort, because ammonia is so toxic that diesel trucks have to use safer aqueous urea solution instead of anhydrous ammonia, the latter is much simpler than urea solution but perhaps not used due to the toxicity of pure ammonia.
With anhydrous ammonia stored in pressurized tanks in diesel trucks, there will be no need for urea pump, injector and other devices to converted urea to ammonia, and device to prevent freezing of the urea solution in cold weather....
High-pressure pure ammonia can be directly released into the SCR device instead of all the above complication, but not implemented due to the high toxicity of pure ammonia.
Posted by: Roger Pham | 06 December 2024 at 10:57 AM