News

1.Paper Award

Paper title: Fundamental Study of Ignition and Combustion Characteristics of Natural Gas Engines Using Pilot Fuel Injection, - Effects of Pilot Fuel Injection Strategies on Ignition and Combustion Characteristics of Methane-Air Mixture
Author: Yasuo IMAI, Masahide TAKAGI, and Satoshi KAWAUCHI　(Marine Environment & Engine System)
About the research：Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an urgent matter, and the use of natural gas that is low carbon fuel is one of the effective ways to achieve this goal. In gas-fueled marine engines with large cylinder bore, a pilot fuel ignition system is used, which utilizes self-ignition of a small amount of liquid fuel such as light oil or heavy oil injected into the cylinders. In this study, the effects of injection strategies (injection pressure, injection duration, and split injection) on the characteristics of methane (the main component of natural gas) / air premixture combustion were investigated. As a results, the effects and extent of influence of differences in pilot fuel mixture formation caused by injection pressure, injection duration, and split injection on visible ignition time, ignition position, and combustion duration were clarified.

2.Technical Award

Paper Title：Survey on Biofuels’ Sustainability Criteria, Life Cycle Assessment and Certifications
Authors：Tetsugo Fukuda (Marine Environment & Engine System), Toshiaki Hayashi (ex staff, Marine Environment & Engine System), Sumito Nishio, Chiori Takahashi and Akiko Masuda (Marine Environment & Engine System)
About the research: Biofuels have been promoted as a climate change solution for the transport sector. Biofuels blended with conventional fuels have also been tested in the marine sector to comply with the IMO GHG regulations. As most biofuels are currently produced from land-based crops, there is a concern that increased consumption of biofuels may require agricultural expansion at a global scale, leading to additional carbon emissions. This effect is called Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC). This survey report describes a series of sustainability criteria and GHG emissions of biofuels used in the transport sector by referring to the EU Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU (EU-RED II). High ILUC-risk feedstocks are determined and the share of biofuels produced from food and feed crops is intended to be limited and gradually reduced to zero. In contrast, low ILUC-risk biofuels are certified, and advanced biofuels produced from wasted biomass are recommended for future use.