Mobility and Transport: Powering Maritime
As part of the “2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships,” the International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping to net-zero by around 2050. In addition, CO₂ emissions are to be significantly reduced by 2030 and 2040, while the use of low-emission fuels such as ammonia is expected to expand substantially. Through our research, we contribute to the development of sustainable and low-emission propulsion technologies for future maritime applications.
In particular, the transition from conventional fossil marine fuels to alternative energy carriers such as ammonia and methanol is expected to play a key role in the decarbonization of large marine engines. The projects “IBFlex” and “AmmoniaMot2” at the Chair of Sustainable Future Mobility support this development. The objective of these projects is to investigate novel combustion concepts and to analyze the ignition and combustion behavior of alternative fuels under engine-relevant conditions.
Ongoing Research: Transition from fundamental investigations to practical applications of ammonia dual-fuel combustion concepts (AmmoniaMot2)
| Contact | Melvin Grün |
| Funding | Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz |
The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector to net zero is to be achieved by 2050 according to the goals of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Achieving these goals makes the use of alternative carbon-free fuels attractive. Ammonia has been identified as one such fuel. The previous project AmmoniaMot completed extensive fundamental research into physical and chemical processes of piloted diffusion combustion through numerical and experimental means.
AmmoniaMot2 is intended to drive forward the development of a full demonstrator engine. The Assistant Professorship of Sustainable Future Mobility is going to carry out the advanced development of the 3D CFD simulation models. In addition to the combustion process mentioned above, the application of a piloted premixed combustion process will be investigated numerically.
Furthermore, the prediction of pollutant emissions during dual-fuel combustion will be improved. For this purpose, suitable reaction mechanisms will be generated and investigated to enable an efficient numerical simulation and reduce nitrogen-based pollutants through optimized combustion processes.
In addition to the Assistant Professorship of Sustainable Future Mobility, the following industrial partners and research institutions are involved in the project: MAN Energy Solutions SE, WTZ Roßlau gGmbH, Woodward L'Orange GmbH, Neptun Ship Design GmbH, the University of Rostock (LKV), GenSys GmbH and MNR GmbH.
Infrastructure Improvement: Schaffung einer injektions- und brennstoffflexiblen RCEM-Infrastruktur zur Erstellung hochwertiger, optischer Messdaten bei motorähnlichen Bedingungen (IBFlex) (copy 1)
| Contact | Maximilian Aubel Jannes Papenbrock |
| Funding | Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz |
The maritime industry faces major challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative fuels such as ammonia and methanol are considered promising solutions for more climate-friendly shipping. With the research project “IBFlex,” the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is developing a modern research infrastructure for investigating future combustion processes for large marine engines.
At the core of the project is the further development of an existing Rapid Compression Expansion Machine (RCEM) at the Chair of Sustainable Future Mobility (SFM). The goal is to experimentally investigate both homogeneous and diffusive combustion processes under realistic operating conditions.
To achieve this, the RCEM is being upgraded from a diffusive High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) system to a homogeneous combustion process similar to Port Fuel Injection (PFI). In addition, the optical diagnostics are being improved through new viewing windows and advanced measurement technology.
A particular focus is placed on investigating the combustion of ammonia and methanol, as well as the ignition of diesel or biodiesel pilot injections in alternative fuel-air mixtures. Existing measurement techniques such as OH* chemiluminescence, shadowgraph imaging, and Mie scattering are being expanded. New systems, including a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement setup and a methanol injector, are also being introduced.
The measurement data generated within the project will furthermore serve as the basis for simulations and AI-supported development tools for future marine engines. IBFlex builds upon the predecessor projects “AmmoniaMot” and “FlexDi” and supports the development of low-emission dual-fuel engines for the maritime industry.
Through this project, TUM contributes to the decarbonization of shipping while simultaneously strengthening research and technology development for sustainable maritime propulsion systems in Germany.