J-ENG testing ammonia co-firing in two-strokes

Japan Engine Corp. (J-ENG) said it is undertaking the world’s first “zero-emission fuel” ammonia co-firing operation and testing of hydrogen fuel injection device for large low-speed two-stroke engines.

The ammonia-fueled test engine is installed at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Research and Innovation Center (Nagasaki). This time the test engine is newly equipped with the “Stratified injection system” of J-ENG’s unique technology.

J-ENG will operate the test engine with ammonia fuel under various conditions over the next year.

A hydrogen test bed at J-ENG’s headquarters. (Image: J-ENG)

A new facility to supply ammonia fuel to the test engine has also been installed adjacent to the building where the test engine is, and the knowledge and experience gained from the operation of this facility will be fed back to the development of ammonia fuel supply facilities on board for ships, the company said.

In parallel, J-ENG will develop, design, and manufacture a full-scaled ammonia-fueled engine for demonstration, which is scheduled to be completed in September 2025 after about six months of actual shop operation for verification.

As for the hydrogen-fueled engine, the hydrogen fuel injection device, one of its key technologies, has been installed at J-ENG’s head office plant in Akashi city and its operation tests have begun. J-ENG will use this equipment for more than one year to verify the design details of the injection system for hydrogen and accumulate basic data.

After that process, J-ENG will proceed with the development, design and manufacturing of a full-scaled hydrogen-fueled engine for demonstration, which is scheduled to be completed in March 2027 after about one year of actual shop operation for verification in 2026.

J-ENG will thoroughly verify the performance, quality and safety through the use of the ammonia-fueled test engine and the hydrogen fuel injection device, and will strive to develop next-generation engines which meet the needs of a good balance between economic and environmental performance.

By bringing these next-generation engines to market at an early stage and promoting their widespread use, we will contribute to the development of the Japanese shipping and shipbuilding industries. And at the same time, J-ENG will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the shipping industry and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050.