On March 28th, Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research institute (SMDERI) of CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation) successfully delivered the first domestically developed methanol-fueled marine medium-speed engine of high substitution rate in China, and newly signed contracts for 8 sets of methanol fuel medium-speed engines.
The methanol fuel medium-speed engine delivered this time was fully independently developed by SMDERI, with a cylinder diameter of 210 mm, a rated speed of 1000 rpm, and a rated power of 1000 kW.
This type of engine adopts the methanol direct injection technology route, breaking through key technologies such as methanol’s efficient and clean combustion and emission control, methanol-diesel dual direct injection integrated injector design, and component corrosion resistance. It is matched with SMDERI’s independently developed highly compact dual-fuel injection system and flexible fuel intelligent control system, and has the characteristics of being green, efficient, safe and reliable.
With power indicators comparable to those of traditional diesel, the methanol substitution rate exceeds 90%, and can reach up to 95%. A single methanol-fueled medium-speed engine can reduce carbon emissions by more than 5,000 tons per year (using green methanol), and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 60% and sulfur oxide emissions by up to 99%. The engine passed the type test of Classification Society in October 2024 and obtained the first type approval certificate of high substitution rate methanol-fueled marine medium-speed engine in China.
In recent years, SMDERI has continuously increased its investment in scientific research and industry chain collaboration on green marine power. The successful development of high substitution rate methanol fuel engine meets the urgent demand for high-end methanol fuel engine in China’s inland and offshore ship propulsion and power generation of ocean-going ships. Equipped with self-developed methanol pressure building module, methanol valve unit, methanol supply system and methanol after-treatment system, SMDERI can provide customers with integrated and complete solutions.
In 2024, SMDERI has been awarded several supply contracts for methanol-fueled engines for many sets of ships, and the products will be applied to many types of ships, such as Sichuan River standard vessels, river and sea direct ships, and ocean-going chemical tankers, etc. By then, SMDERI has realized the comprehensive application of multiple green power technologies such as pure electricity, LNG and methanol in the inland waterway field.
In addition, the CS27DF-A ammonia-fueled engine developed simultaneously by SMDERI has passed the type approval of the China Classification Society, with a maximum ammonia fuel substitution rate of 85%. In the field of hydrogen fuel engines, SMDERI has embarked on a pre-study and formulated a technical route.