Final achievements of the HyMethShip project at the system level:
• Significant CO2 emissions reduction - at laboratory scale, an 85% reduction in CO2 emissions was achieved under optimal conditions, while a 75% reduction was demonstrated on the small-scale prototype plant.
• Significant NOx emissions reduction and elimination of SOx and PM - the pollutant emissions measured in the exhaust gas of the full-scale demonstrator engine are well below the IMO Tier III limit for NOx emissions, close to the detection limit for SOx emissions and without significant contents of particulate matter, methane or CO emissions.
• A system efficiency of 49% was achieved on the single-cylinder research engine in high-load operation.
• Propulsion system layout for case study vessel (RoPax ferry), incorporating all relevant HyMethShip system components.
• Confirmation of inherently safe design via risk-based analysis - a Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP) did not identify any risks associated with the integration and operation of the HyMethShip systems that could not be mitigated or managed.
• Verification of environmental and economic viability - life cycle and life cost assessment proved the HyMethShip system to be less costly than other alternative propulsion systems using carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, including fuel cell-based propulsion systems.
Main achievements related to the development, manufacturing and commissioning of the system components:
• Membrane reactor design and manufacturing of 20 units for the large-scale demonstrator.
• Improved production processes for the ceramic membranes that meet the quality and quantity requirements for large-scale demonstration.
• Engine combustion system with spark ignition and newly developed engine control that operates with hydrogen produced by the membrane reactor.
• Development of a hydrogen direct injection system for hydrogen pressures up to 30 bar.
• Design, assembly and commissioning of the onshore large-scale HyMethShip system demonstrator.
Summary of the exploitation and dissemination of project results:
• HyMethShip concept and project results were presented in total at more than 75 conferences and workshops and have been published in a number of scientific journal articles.
• 2 patents for a new membrane reactor design were granted
• 6 prototypes were built for system components and demonstration, including the engine cylinder head and combustion chamber, hydrogen port and direct injection systems, membrane reactor housing, and small-scale reformer prototype.
• 3 consortium partners have introduced innovations new to the market including H2 direct injection system and improved engine control
• 3 consortium partners have introduced innovations new to the company including improved membrane manufacturing and quality control processes and a new large-scale system test bench
• HyMethShip is a registered European Union Trade Mark
