High-speed marine engine based on regeneratively produced methanol - MeOHmare
Since the beginning of 2023, WTZ Roßlau gGmbH has been working together with its project partners Rolls-Royce Power Systems and Woodward L’Orange GmbH on the new joint project “MeOHmare”. The aim of this project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), is to develop a concept for a high-speed combustion engine based on regeneratively produced methanol. The use of methanol, a new fuel for shipping, requires fundamental changes to the engine concept, such as the redesign of the combustion process and fuel system, turbocharging and engine control. Engine subsystems that are connected to the fuel must also be taken into account.
A methanol high-pressure pump is being developed at the WTZ Roßlau in conjunction with the project partners for the MeOHmare project. In addition, a test rig for testing injection components is being designed and constructed at the site. Methanol injection components will then be tested on this with the aim of product verification in continuous operation. The components are assessed by the WTZ and evaluated with regard to wear, cavitation and corrosion behavior. Further tasks include the development of safety concepts for injection pressures of up to 350 bar and the testing of suitable materials with regard to their resistance to methanol-seawater mixtures. These materials are stored in defined mixtures and also examined for the occurrence of material damage in combination with component stresses (stress and vibration corrosion cracking) under static and dynamic load.
