Diesel Gas Engine Prototypes to be Built in Asia

HHI-EMD & Mitsui intend to build prototype MAN gas engine ME-GI

The partnership is to carry out full-scale demonstrations of the ME-GI principle based on the temporary conversion of existing production engines to ME-GI units. Accordingly, Hyundai intends to convert an 8S70ME-GI unit later this year, while Mitsui will convert a 6S70ME-GI unit mid-2013.

The ME-GI engine is a gas-injection, dual-fuel, low-speed diesel engine that, when acting as main propulsion in LNG carriers or any other type of merchant marine vessel, can burn gas or fuel-oil at any ratio, depending on the energy source available on board and dictated by relative cost and owner preference. Indeed, Mitsui reports adopting twin ME-GI engines as prime movers aboard its concept LNG carrier ‘Double Eco MAX’ in July 2011, a move that intends to realise a 30% reduction in fuel costs and CO2 emissions.

MAN Diesel & Turbo believes need for the demonstrations stems from customer requests to employ the ME-GI engine in new projects and states that production capability for the ME-GI is already available. Similarly, the company also reports that test beds and ancillary gas-supply systems will also be available in time for ME-GI delivery.

The ME-GI engine represents the culmination of many years’ work that began in the 1990s with the company’s prototype MC-GI dual-fuel engine. The first two-stroke GI engine, a 12K80MC-GI-S, entered service at a power plant in Chiba, near Tokyo, Japan in 1994.