Finnish technology group Wärtsilä Oyj has announced the conversion of one engine on three LNG carriers operated by Chevron Transport Corporation from dual-fuel (DF) to spark gas (SG) operation. This conversion aims to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the vessels by reducing methane slip, uncombusted methane that can escape into the atmosphere from LNG fuel.
After successfully converting the first three vessels, the project plans three additional vessel conversions later this year and next year, bringing the total to six.
This project is a technical collaboration within the marine sector focused on addressing methane emissions from LNG-fueled vessels.
Wärtsilä’s 50DF-to-spark gas conversion project will modify the engines in service to operate as spark gas, using spark ignition versus diesel pilot fuel to initiate combustion.
Advancing lower-emission shipping will require both technology innovation and industry collaboration. Through projects like this, we can gain valuable operational insights, evaluate solutions and contribute to the collective experience needed to help move the industry forward while continuing to provide safe and reliable transport of energy, said Barbara Pickering, President of Chevron Shipping.
More optimised combustion
The Spark Gas Conversion for the Wärtsilä 50DF engine minimises methane emissions by introducing an electrically controlled pre-combustion chamber valve.
This enables a more optimised combustion process, thereby reducing the engine methane slip and improving efficiency.
The estimated result is that, on an IMO weighted (E2-cycle) average, the conversion reduces methane emissions to 1.1 percent of fuel use.
The solution is available to vessels in the industry with existing Wärtsilä 50DF engines for diesel-electric propulsion, the majority of which are LNG carriers.
This achievement highlights the importance of technology development and cross-industry collaboration in advancing lower-emissions solutions for shipping. By working collaboratively across the marine sector, initiatives such as this project contribute to broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, commented Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & EVP at Wärtsilä Corporation.
With three decades of experience in LNG technology, Wärtsilä is providing strong performance – both with the dual-fuel flexibility provided by the DF engine, as well as with the single-fuel spark gas engine.
