First Dual-Fuel 11G90ME-GI Runs On 100% LNG In Successful Shop Test

The first of six ME-GI engines bound for container ships successfully ran at 100% load on liquefied natural gas (LNG) during testing, MAN Energy Solutions reports.

HHI-EMD (Hyundai’s Engine Machinery Division), which handled the first shop test, said the engines are bound for a series of container ships for Singapore-based, Eastern Pacific Shipping.

The six units are MAN B&W 11G90ME-GI dual-fuel configurations operating on LNG with delivery dates scheduled between 2020-2022. Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) will construct each of the neo-Panamax boxships.

The shop test also marked the debut of MAN Energy Solutions’ new Pilot Booster Injection Valve (PBIV), which employs smaller or larger atomizing holes, depending on fuel mode, to inject fuel into engines. As such, in gas mode, the use of smaller holes significantly reduces pilot-oil consumption to just 1.5%, approximately half of what was previously required, the company said. Diesel mode employs the larger-sized holes.

The PBIV valves represent MAN Energy Solutions’ latest pilot-injection technology, which caters for dual-fuel running by optimising SPOC (Specific Pilot Oil Consumption).

“This shop test is notable for a number of reasons,” said Bjarne Foldager – Senior Vice President, Head of Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions. “Again, the ME-GI has shown what mature technology it is, running stably at 100% load in gas mode, while the introduction of our PBIV technology drastically cuts pilot-oil consumption by half compared to previous. The test also showed that the ME-GI capably handles load changes and maintains an impeccable cylinder condition. As such, the ME-GI has set the bar even higher for dual-fuel propulsion and is the de facto industry standard.”

MAN Energy Solutions reports that it has over 200 ME-GI units on its order books or already in service, with references in every major marine segment, while the ME-GI design has logged over 750,000 dual-fuel operating hours in establishing itself as well-proven technology.

“EPS is proud to be working alongside MAN by installing their ME-GI engines in our LNG dual-fuel ultra-large containerships,” said Capt. Anil Singh, Chief Operating Officer at Eastern Pacific Shipping. “Instead of taking a wait-and-see approach towards decarbonization and environmental protection, EPS decided to use LNG as a marine fuel and chose to install the two-stroke ME-GI engine in these newbuilds. When powered by LNG, the ME-GI will reduce these vessels’ carbon footprint by significantly lowering CO₂, NO_x, and SO_x emissions. The success of the shop test reinforces our decision, and we look forward to the addition of this environmentally-friendly tonnage to our diverse fleet.”

MAN Energy Solutions said that it has confirmed more than 250 sales within its entire portfolio of low-speed, dual-fuel engines – all running on LNG or other, clean fuels such as LPG and methanol. MAN Energy Solutions has also developed a ME-LGI (-Liquid Gas Injection) dual-fuel engine that expands the company’s dual-fuel portfolio, enabling the use of more sustainable fuels such as methanol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).