Ammonia-fueled engines on the horizon

WinGD: single-cylinder testing of ammonia-fueled engine now underway

At its Engine Research and Innovation Centre (ERIC) in Switzerland, engine developer WinGD is now testing the 52-bore single-cylinder version of its X-DF-A ammonia-fueled engine, ahead of the first engine deliveries scheduled for June this year.

The single-cylinder testing will allow ammonia combustion system validation, performance and emissions optimisation under engine conditions. The company has reported that key parameters have been “in line with expectations” during early tests.

Prior to single-cylinder tests, dedicated test rigs were used for combustion and critical systems validation, and for multiple safety approvals. The functional, mechanical behaviour and reliability of the ammonia fuel injectors of the X-DF-A engines were also validated. The injectors were also tested on a multi-cylinder methanol engine at 100% load to verify the ammonia injection under harsh conditions and thermal stress.

In the coming months, WinGD will run multi-cylinder tests at its Shanghai-based Global Research Centre, focusing on full-scale engine validation, turbocharger configuration and control system testing ahead of commercial production.

WinGD’s X-DF-A platform is based on the diesel-cycle concept innovated to run on ammonia with minimal and controlled emissions, and with extra safety measures to account for ammonia’s fuel characteristics. The company has about 30 orders already locked in from various segments including bulk carriers, containerships, tankers and LPG/ammonia carriers. First in line to be built are four Exmar LPG LPG/ammonia carrier engines and ten CMB.Tech-operated bulk carriers.

The single-cylinder X-DF-A concept is running well, with combustion efficiency, emissions and pilot consumption within our range of expectations. This milestone is a testament to our uniquely rigorous approach to innovation and the fantastic work of our development team and partners.

Sebastian Hensel, WinGD R&D Vice President, in his organisation’s official press release, 24 January 2025

In previous tests, we verified that SCC results were transferable one-to-one to the results on our test engines, which is why we invest so much time on these early testing phases. As a result, we are in a strong position to make rapid progress through validation of our ammonia technology.

Sotiris Topaloglou, WinGD Head of Testing and Validation, in his organisation’s official press release, 24 January 2025

Maximum engine load testing for MAN ES ammonia dual fuel engine

Click to learn more. The under-testing ME-LGIA ammonia-fueled engine has run at 100% engine load for the first time with key results working according to plan. Source: MAN Energy Solutions.

MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) has also announced that its Man Energy Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia (ME-LGIA) engine, which is undergoing tests at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC) facility, has, for the first time, run at 100% engine load.

The company has reported that all supply and safety systems, as well as its proprietary selective catalytic reduction (SCR) which was operational at all test loads for exhaust gas treatment, worked according to plan. The next phase of the tests will focus on performance and emission optimisation, injection and SCR systems, and control strategies.

At our annual conference in New Orleans in November last year, MAN ES reported that their two-stroke ammonia-fueled engines may be ready for commercial deployment as early as towards the end of this year. This followed over 12 months of testing which showed stable combustion and virtually zero nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions.

We began full-scale testing in November 2024 and have since proceeded in a cautious and safety-first way. We have now operated the engine on ammonia from 25–100% load, marking yet another important step forward in the maritime energy transition. As such, we have now validated the ammonia fuel-injection system over the full load-curve with diesel-pilot amounts recorded according to our targets. Furthermore, the positive emission and performance characteristics from previous, single-cylinder tests have now also been validated in full-scale engine operation.

Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke R&D, MAN Energy Solutions, in his organisation’s official press release, 30 January 2025

Commercial prototype testing for MITSUI-MAN ES ammonia dual fuel engine

Click to learn more. The MITSUI-MAN large bore, low speed commercial scale ammonia dual fuel engine is currently undergoing operational tests at Mitsui’s Tamano factory in Japan. Source: MITSUI E&S.

MITSUI E&S has commenced the test operation of a large-bore, low-speed, two-stroke commercial ammonia dual fuel engine (the MITSUI-MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5LGIA-HPSCR) at its Tamano Factory in Japan. The prototype tests will build on MAN ES’ single-cylinder and full-engine ammonia-fueled tests at its Copenhagen-based two-stroke research centre.

The engine, developed by MAN ES, contains 7 cylinders and has a continuous power output of 17430 kW, operating at 105 revolutions per minute. The MITSUI press release cites the test as the “world’s first” for a large-bow low-speed ammonia engine at this scale.

Along with the engine tests, MITSUI is developing the peripheral equipment thanks to support from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under its “Integrated project for development and social implementation of ammonia-fueled ships”. The test run will focus on assessing the performance and safety of the ammonia supply system and the under-development peripheral systems.