A new dual-fuel combustion system developed jointly by the U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Caterpillar Inc. may simplify the use of methanol fuel in vessels operating on inland waterways and coastal routes.
According to sea-news.az the new technology addresses methanol ignition challenges by using a small amount of diesel fuel for ignition. This allows compression-ignition diesel engines to operate across a wide range of conditions using a methanol–diesel blend.
Project lead and ORNL researcher Derek Splitter stated that the system enables the share of methanol in fuel consumption to exceed 75%, without reducing engine power.
Experts note that while the technology requires certain engine modifications, it does not necessitate a full engine replacement and allows vessels to operate in both diesel and dual-fuel methanol modes.
