Over 90% of global trade relies on shipping, primarily powered by internal combustion engines, making marine propulsion a key economic sector, albeit a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. The IMO, therefore, enforces a gradual reduction of these emissions until 2040 to become fully sustainable by 2050. Due to the high power and energy density requirements of large ships, electrification is impractical for this purpose, creating a demand for sustainable engine solutions using alternative fuels. This approach also helps retain the significance of today’s expertise of SMEs that comprise the majority within the market sector and typically offer few or single specialized components or services.
Alternative fuels like hydrogen and methanol cannot be introduced as drop-in solutions in compression-ignition engines used in marine propulsion, necessitating innovative ignition systems such as pre-chamber ignition. To achieve the highest efficiencies at the lowest emission levels, the subprocesses of the pre-chamber combustion, including the flame initiation in the chamber, the flame propagation and heat transfer in the transfer ports, and the thermal and chemical ignition of the lean background fuel gas by the flame jets, must be fundamentally investigated and understood.
Currently, these processes are insufficiently explored, and there is a need for research work. This project, therefore, focuses on the optical and numerical investigation of flows and species within pre-chamber systems and their impact on main chamber ignition. The investigated gaseous fuels will be natural gas with hydrogen admixtures and pure hydrogen.
A modular design for transparent pre-chamber systems with realistic geometries will be developed. In parallel, detailed CFD simulations with high resolution will be carried out to establish a comprehensive understanding of the pre-chamber combustion and the underlying physics. Special focus will be on the flame regimes involved and the heat transfer in the transfer ports. The findings from these investigations will be used develop and validate a predictive CFD model that is applicable to the development process, benefiting SMEs that often do not have the resources for extensive experimental research. The project will also help retain the significance of today’s expertise of SMEs that comprise the majority within the market sector and typically offer few or single specialized components or services.
Carried out by FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and TU Wien, the project capitalizes on FAU's expertise in optical measurement technology and test rig development, along with TUW's proficiency in numerical simulations of conventional and innovative engine processes. The well-established cooperation between the institutions enables the synergy of experimental and numerical research. An attempt has been made to adapt the project’s description to the Collective Research template. The project content focuses on the research activities in Austria, but the remaining work is described to allow a reasonable review. All tasks are already described, though only the first project year could be properly scheduled.
