Hyundai Heavy Industries announces breakthrough in developing carbon-neutral ammonia dual-fuel engine
South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has achieved a major milestone in green shipbuilding by developing the world’s first zero-carbon dual-fuel (DF) ammonia engine.
The shipyard said the innovative engine, which uses high-pressure ammonia direct injection technology, represents a breakthrough in marine propulsion technology.
The company announced this week that its Engine Technology Center in Ulsan has completed model-based class approval testing of the “HiMSEN Ammonia Dual-Fuel Engine” (Model: H22CDF-LA).
Schematic diagram of the HiMSEN Ammonia Dual-Fuel Engine (Model H22CDF-LA) developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries
The testing was conducted under the supervision of representatives of seven international classification societies, including ABS (US), DNV (Norway) and LR (UK).
With the completion of detailed inspections and compliance reviews, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said it is ready to start selling the HiMSEN Ammonia Engine.
This versatile engine is designed for various applications, including ammonia tankers, ship power generation, propulsion systems, and onshore power generation markets.
The innovative “high-pressure direct injection method” is a major technological leap from the previous “low-pressure premixed combustion method”. The new method compresses the air in the engine’s combustion chamber before injecting high-pressure ammonia, improving fuel production and efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has adopted advanced technologies such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and integrated scrubbers to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and significantly reduce ammonia concentrations to address environmental issues.
An official from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries said, “The development of this ammonia engine is very important because it will be an opportunity for us to lead the market while providing a wider range of environmentally friendly dual-fuel engines.” The company aims to use this advanced technology to secure a leading position in the green ship market in the future.
