Methanol as a Marine Fuel - Platts · PDF fileWorking together for a safer world Methanol as a...

Working together for a safer world

Methanol as a Marine Fuel CH3OH (MeOH)

Platts 5th Annual European Bunker Fuel Conference

Rotterdam 22 23 May 2014

Lloyd’s Register FOBAS

Overview

What is it and where is it used today, emissions and supply?

Its comparative properties to LNG and MGO,

Technical and Operational challenges

An overview of projects and growth

Similar emissions to LNG


What and Where is Methanol Used today?

Formaldahyde

• Pharmaceutical , Wood, Auto

Acetic Acid

• Fleece adhesive and paints

Dimethyl Terephthalate

• Recyclable plastic bottles

Methyl Chloride

• Silicons

Energy and MTO High Growth

potential markets

• Fuel Blending, Biodiesel

• DME and MTO (Methanol to Olefins) Basic alcohol compound CH3OH = Methyl

Alcohol – Wood Alcohol, carbonol

NOT to be mistaken with ethanol – found in beers, wines and spirits ! MeOH IS TOXIC.

Colourless, tasteless, flammable, liquid in ambient conditions, quite volatile, slight smell. corrosive


Availability and Supply Infrastructure

Data Source: Methanex – Global Leader in

MeOH production and marketing

The methanol industry spans the entire globe, with production Global availability – 90 plants combined production

Capacity over 90 million t/year - Demand 2013 > 65 million t/year expected to rise to 132 Milliont/yr by 2022

Growing demand in China 12% / yr Global 3%/ yrc.

Shale Oil in USA has raised production of MeOH - (plant set up 2yrs…….)

Easily transported to non LNG accessible sites in regular product tankers

Bunker barges could be similar to chemical carriers

World 3% growth

China 12% growth per annum

M85 – M100 – alternative to LPG –

auto industry – 5% of gasoline demand

– Flexible Fuel Vehicles FFV

in <10yrs 200 MeOH plants from coal


Methanol – CH3OH - production


Di-Methyl Ether (DME)

DME is mainly produced from methanol through a catalytic reaction (methanol

dehydration) (Low Octane) – an alternative to LPG

2CH3OH CH3OCH3 + H2O

(DME)

DME gas density is 1.97 kg/m3 compared to the density of air at approximately 1.2

kg/m3. The flash point of DME is -41°C.

Clean colourless gas easy to liquefy (cooling or slight pressure)

DME experience mainly in heavy duty vehicle experience –(High Cetane)

Dimethyl Ether (gas)


Methanol Properties – Benefits

Impact on Emissions

Contains NO sulphur

Reduction NOx

Reduction in PM’s

GHG on par with LNG

with Carbon Capture / bio V.G

Storage & Technical

no cryogenic risks and lower volume expansion into gas

Modify and use HFO/MGO tanks

Can be used on diesel engines

Rules developed

No purification plant

Commercial

Cheaper retrofit than LNG

World Production rising>100 Mt/yr

Current demand rising > 65Mt /yr

Supply transport easier to set up than LNG

Price by energy about = MGO

More transparent market pricing than LNG

Methanol/DME offers many of the environmental

benefits of LNG but without some of the drawbacks


Methanol Properties – Drawbacks

Handling

Toxic = health risks.

Odourless (slight smell)

Corrosive with some materials such as Zn ,Al…

Storage and Technical

No operational experience with bunkers only carriage

“New” technology/training

Needs Inert systems for tanks

Half energy value of MGO

low flash point 12 C - flammability

Invisible flame

No Lubricity

Low Cetane Number

Commercial

No Marine ISO specification

Supply infrastructure to develop (although this is not complex like LNG)

First ship / ferry possibly in service end of 2015

On the down side the chemical is toxic and

has a low flashpoint and the volume

required is approximately twice of MGO


Environment

Similar +VE reductions as LNG

GHG in exhaust gases but NO methane slip

No SOx , same or Lower NOx and very low PM’s

Formaldehyde emissions

Toxic but very low 15-20 ppm (below TA-luft limit)

Formic acid not detected in exhaust gases

Water pollution Bio degradable soluble in water - pollution issues minimal compared to oils

Green credentials energy source potential for the future including CCU (Carbon Capture and Use)!

Source ENSUS paper


Alternative fuels - key characteristics for road transport

Marine has yet to fully establish well to wake LCA

Biogas Gas NG Methanol FAME Renewable

Diesel MGO

Flash Point >60

SOLAS No No No yes yes Yes

ISO 8217:2012 No No No No No Yes

Energy

[MJ/kg]

45.1

(stripped of CO2) 45.1 19.9 36.8 44 43

Density

[kg/m3] gas gas 793 890 780 870

Combustion CO2

[kg CO2 /kg]

2.54 2.54 1.38 2.81 3.12 3.16

Net GHG

[g CO2eq /MJf]

(Low / High

value)

-157.1 / -37.7 7.2 / 21.8 -66.7 / 42.8 -7.1 / -50.1 -68.4 / 28.9 Not

established

Sulphur No after strip No No No No <0.10 mass%

Source: EUCAR/JRC/CONCAWE

Source MAN B&W


Supply Meeting Demand

Potential for

Marine Fuel

demand

For ECA

operations

Growth is

already

understood

>65 Mt/yr

today

Expected

132 Mt/yr

2022

Source: Chemical Market Associates


The Price Market (source Methanex)

May 2014

EU – Euro450 Mt

USA – USD 632/Mt

Asia – USD 590/Mt

Expected to drop

3Q -4Q 2014


Driver as a Marine fuel

Main drivers for alternative fuels

MeOH = zero sulphur attractive to ECA-SOx operation

Legislation Emissions,

Class, Statutory

Costs Operating,

Service, Investment

Availability Technology, Fuel


Alternative Technology Categorisation

(Revised Annex VI ~ Reg. 4 Equivalent Means )

Source: sea-cargo.no

SOx

Primary

Low sulphur fuel

LNG

Methanol

DME / OBATE

Bio fuels/Gases

Gases/Ethane/LPG/H2

Secondary (HFO+)

Wet scrubber

Dry scrubber

Non-thermal plasma

NOx

Primary

LNG

EGR

Common rail

Variable inlet closing

Fuel emulsification., air humidification, direct water

injection

.others?..

Secondary

SCR


Lloyd’s Register Projects past and current

METHAPU –2009

Methanol/ DME –

OBATE (On Board Alcohol To Ether)

Methanol – Retrofit 2015

Other joint initiatives in hand

•)


1 - METHAPU Project - Methanol as a Marine Fuel - 2009

Methanol Auxiliary Power Unit (METHAPU) project sponsored by EC under research framework programme FP6 with following aims…

Evaluation of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology onboard a cargo vessel engaged in international trade

Evaluation of methanol as a fuel onboard a cargo vessel engaged in international trade

Development of a technical justification for the use of methanol as a fuel onboard a cargo vessel engaged in international trade First bunkering of methanol

Use of MeOH on

board ship

successfully

and safely

demonstrated


Nordic Investment Bank, Energimyndighet, Danish Maritime Fund, Nordic Energy

Research

• In a full scale pilot project, test the alternative non-oil-based fuels methanol and

DME(OBATE) in order to contribute to finding the best environmental and economical

alternative for a sustainable and successful maritime transport industry.

• Direct injection under pressure as liquid

3 Methanol/DME (SPIRETH)


Storage Flexible solution

Methanol can be stored in inerted integral tanks surrounded by cofferdams above water line; single skin below water line

Methanol can be stored in double bottom tanks. Single skin is acceptable

Double walled fuel piping

Coated and inerted bunker tanks

(Methanol is fully miscible in water)


2 - Stena Germanica – Trials 2015

EU Funded full scale conversion

In a full scale project to convert

4 Off main engines to methanol

diesel operation (DF)

• Q4 2015 – Full conversion 2 ME’s

• Q4 2016 – Full conversion 4 ME’s


Diesel engine concept for DME (OBATE)* Traditional HFO or DO is replaced with OBATE-DME in a diesel engine. Since OBATE-DME

is a gas at atmospheric pressure you need to pressurize the fuel supply and return system.

The challenge is the major modifications of the fuel injection system to handle fuel

characteristics such as low viscosity, low heat value, low cetane number and high

compressibility.

Duel Fuel concept for Methanol

In this concept you replace the gas valve on a DF-engine, or complete the engine, with a

methanol injector. You ignite the compressed premixed methanol-air mixture with a small

pilot fuel diesel spray when the piston is close to TDC. Performance corresponding to the DF

concept.

Methanol-diesel concept Methanol is injected at high pressure close to TDC and ignited with pilot diesel. By using the

diesel principle engine knocking problems may be avoided, which might be faced using

methanol in a Dual Fuel engine. Area for adaption is the fuel injection system for the

methanol.

* Onboard conversion of Methanol to DME/MeOH/water mix

Use of Methanol in Internal Combustion Engines

Source Wartsila


- NOX acceptable ( Low Tier II values)

- CO acceptable ( < 1 g/kWh)

- THC acceptable ( < 1 g/kWh) and no “methane slip”

- Very low PM

- Formaldehyde emissions low 15-20 ppm (below TA-luft limit)

- Efficiency with methanol comparable to diesel

- No Formic acid detected in exhaust gases

Test Results Methanol-Diesel concept


MAN Engines ( 2- stroke option)

MAN B&W ME-LGI main engine

running on methanol

9 Methanex Carriers on order to

run on methanol ME-LGI


Primary hazards associated with the use of methanol onboard ships

• Fire and explosion – highly flammable (flash point 12. Deg.C)

• Exposure - inhalation and contact with skin to be avoided

• Invisible flame – difficult to extinguish

Safety and Regulations


Safety and Regulations

IMO

• IBC Code - International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships

Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) Carriage of Methanol.

• IGC Code - International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) LNG and Low Flash Point Fuels

• New international code of safety for ships using gases or other low-flash point fuels (IGF Code) being drafted.

CLASS – (Lloyd’s Register )

• Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of

Ships for the Carriage of Liquid Chemicals in Bulk

• Rules and Regulations for the Construction and Classification of

Ships for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk


Safety and Regulations SOLAS

Methanol may be permitted as a fuel onboard cargo ships

SOLAS II-2, Part B, Regulation 4.2.1 states…

• 4.2.1.1 except as otherwise permitted by this paragraph, no oil fuel

with a flashpoint of less than 60°C shall be used;

• 4.2.1.4 in cargo ships the use of fuel having a lower flashpoint than otherwise

specified in paragraph 2.1, for example crude oil, may be permitted provided that

such fuel is not stored in any machinery space and subject to the approval by the

Administration of the complete installation.

Running title <set on slide master>

Assessment of Risk Based Design

To facilitate innovation and change risk based design will become increasingly important

Prescriptive rules are slow to develop, deal with well understood hazards, favour existing technology

approach provides the foundational basis and detail for developing ‘Prescriptive’ rules


Methanol – Reflections

Use of methanol in marine industry is in its infancy

Global demand is being met by ease of developing capacity –

Long term environmental benefits and pricing benefits attractive .

Success of methanol as a future marine fuel depends on price and technological development to apply it to marine

Alternatives such as scrubbers/LNG competes with methanol and are currently in more advance stage of development for marine.

If the price is right and the technology is proven - MeOH has the potential for being one of the top fuel options.

Recognising that no one

solution will fit all ships;

Lloyd’s Register aims to

support the industry by

facilitating without

promoting the use of

alternative fuels through the

provision of timely and

appropriate Rules,

Regulations, Guidance and

Advice’

Lloyd’s Register and variants of it are trading names of Lloyd’s Register Group Limited, its subsidiaries and affiliates.

Copyright © Lloyd’s Register EMEA. 2014. A member of the Lloyd’s Register group.

Working together for a safer world

Timothy Wilson

Principal Specialist

FOBAS

Lloyd’s Register

Mountbatten House

Grosvenor Square

Southampton, SO15 2JU

T +44 (0)2380 249641

E [email protected]

w www.lr.org/marine

Thank You

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.lr.org/marine

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