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10 Technologies/Methods for Controlling JOIN OVER 2 MILLION+ MARINERS

NOx & SOx Emissions from Ships
By KaranC | In: Marine Technology | Last Updated on October 20, 2019     

It’s a known fact that whenever a machine is operated to perform some work, it is impossible to achieve POPULAR POSTS
100% work efficiency because of various reasons such as friction, heat dissipation etc.
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When it comes to ship’s engine, a massive mechanical structure with several moving parts, the work
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efficiency achieved out of it is 70-85% for suitable running condition.

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The combustion of gases inside the engine emits harmful smoke into the atmosphere which leads to loss Poisonous Gas Leak Kills Five
in the system and pollution of the marine environment. In Port Of Karachi, Several
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Annex VI of MARPOL deals with restricting the amount of harmful emissions from ships’ main propulsion
system and provides guidelines for substances such as Sox and NOx.

Several technologies have been introduced to reduce the level of harmful emissions in ship’s exhaust
system.

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We have enumerated 10 such different technologies and systems used onboard ships to comply with
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MARPOL for reducing marine pollution.
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Reducing NOx emission Forum

The presence of NOx in marine engine’s exhaust emission is due to high combustion temperature which
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reacts with nitrogen in the air supplied for combustion. Read more about it here.

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Following are the methods to reduce NOx emission from ship:
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1. Humid Air Method: In this method, water vapour is mixed in the combustion air before supplying it to
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the cylinder. Air from the T/C blower is passed through a cell that humidifies and chills the hot air taking
moisture from the cooling water until air saturation is achieved. Generally saline sea water is utilized in
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this method by heating it with jacket water and turbo charger heat, and the left over brine is disposed
back to the sea. This method can achieve reduction of NOx by 70-80%. Conference & Awards 2020

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2. Exhaust Gas Re circulation (EGR): As the name suggests, some amount of engine exhaust gases
are send back to the scavenge space to mix up with the air to be supplied to cylinder for combustion. This
reduces the oxygen content of the air and hence reduces formation of NOx.

3. Water Injection and Water emulsion: In this method, water is added to reduce the temperature of
combustion leading to low NOx emission. In water emulsion, fuel is blended with water and in water
injection a separate fresh water injector is mounted in the cylinder head which injects water. This method
has a drawback of increasing the specific fuel oil combustion with reduction in NOx by only 20-45%.

4. High Scavenge Pressure and Compression Ratio: With high scavenge pressure and compression
ratio, large amount of air can be introduced inside the cylinder to lower combustion temperature and NOx
emission.

5. Selective Catalytic Reduction: The SCR is the most efficient method to reduce NOx emissions from
ships (up to 90-95% of reduction). In this method, low sulphur fuel oil is used and exhaust temperature is
maintained above 300 deg C. The exhaust gas is mixed by water solution of urea and then it is passed
through catalytic reactor. The only disadvantage of SCR is its expansive installation and operating cost.

6. Two Stage Turbocharger: ABB’s latest two stage turbocharger can reduce the exhaust temperature in
the intercoolers and also the NOx content in the emitted exhaust.
7. Engine Component Modification: It is better to design an engine which has a property to reduce the
NOx formation during combustion process rather than investing on expensive secondary measures.
Integration of slide valve type fuel injector with almost zero sack volume eliminates any chance of fuel
dripping and after burning, leading to cylinder temperature and NOx formation.

New designs like Green Ultra long stroke engine from MAN (GME series) with reduced mean piston
speed gives more time for excess air and proper combustion to lessen NOx formation.

What is IMO 2020? #IMO2020 #Sulfur #sulfurcap #MARPOL

Reducing SOx Emission

SOx or sulphur oxides are formed during combustion process in the engine because of presence of
sulphur content in the fuel. Read More about it here.

Following are the methods and technologies used to reduce sulphur emission from marine engines.

8. Use of Low sulphur fuel oil: It is expensive but most commonly used method to comply with Annex
VI of MARPOL while entering emission controlled Area or ECA.

9. Exhaust Gas Scrubber Technology: The exhaust gas from the engine is passed through the
scrubber tower where a liquid is showered over it. Fresh water blended with caustic soda (NaOH) is used
as a scrubbing liquid which reduces the SOx to 95%. The scrubbing water is then sent to a water
treatment effluent emulsion breaking plant after which it can be discharged overboard.

10. Cylinder Lubrication: Good quality cylinder lubrication along with efficient control systems such as
Pulse or Alpha lubrication systems can neutralise the sulphur in the fuel and reduce SOx emissions from
the engine.

Do you know any more methods or technologies to reduce Sox and Nox emissions from marine diesel
engines? Let us know.

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Tags: air pollution from ships marine pollution MARPOL NOx ship pollution
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Comments

Thomas Houston says

OCTOBER 19, 2013 AT 2:10 AM

Please see http://www.advancedcleanup.com/index.php?article=19 for a new technology

operating in Long Beach harbors to reduce Nox and Sox emissions. Call me for more info tom
Houston 310 500 9043

BHASKAR NATHANI says

JULY 8, 2014 AT 4:08 PM

sir in the EGR method,will recirculation actually affect because we always supply 200percent
extra air

Godwin paul says

FEBRUARY 18, 2015 AT 3:40 AM

This is very great sir,

Sir, I have been working on different methods of emissions reduction on ships and I have been
asked to compare and get best. How do I know the best sir? Thanks and God bless you

Majid Karim says

AUGUST 10, 2015 AT 4:08 PM

It nice and informative sir, I want to know about Ammonia effect in reduction of NOx, because
some Industries are using this technique in Boilers and furnaces.
 Rathesan Ravendran says
NOVEMBER 1, 2016 AT 4:55 PM

Regarding the topic about reducing SOx Emission.

It is important to highlight that cylinder lubrication does not neutralise the sulphur in the fuel
and reduce SOx emissions from the engine.
The purpose of cylinder lubrication (besides reducing the abrasive wear) is to minimize the
corrosive wear from sulphuric acids formed during combustion of heavy fuel oil. The acids are
neutralised by the basic additives incorporated in the lubrication oils (the level of basicity is
known as TBN).

shahid syed says

JULY 28, 2019 AT 7:13 AM

when we are using mgo

we have to use less tbn cylinder oil

INOG says
JULY 31, 2019 AT 8:10 AM

Dear all,
I am in search for a topic related to the research on scrubber in ship. Can anyone suggest me
one topic. Because I am planning to do a project on this topic.

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