Completion of Methanol-fuelled ME-LGI Engine - Process until Shop Testing of the World’s First Model

Abstract

In maritime transportation, one of the ways to comply with regulations on sulfur content requirements is to use sulfur-free gas or low flashpoint fuels. For this reason, the ME-GI that uses LNG as the main fuel was developed, and then its commercial success led to the development of the ME-LGI that can use methanol as well. The core technology of the ME-LGI, developed by MAN Diesel & Turbo, is a booster injection valve which allows methanol to be compressed inside the valve. Another key element for the ME-LGI was how to develop an overall safety concept of the engine, and in this regard, elaborate joint work has been done by the ship owner of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Minaminippon Shipbuilding, the engine manufacturer of Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding and the coordinator of Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK). After going through this process, the ME-LGI has been produced, tested at a workshop and installed on ships.