When a consortium is developing the technology to operate a new type of engine with ammonia and freshly cracked hydrogen, it makes sense to sit down with all partners from time to time and discuss progress. This is why the participants in the CAMPFIRE implementation project CF08_2 ‘NH₃ marine engine’, which is a part of TransHyDE, met at ZBT - The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center in Duisburg, Germany for a regular meeting with a status update.

In this project, a consortium involving ZBT is currently developing an ammonia-based propulsion system for inland waterway vessels. This is based on a 350 kW gas engine that runs on ammonia and drives a generator. In order to improve ignition and convert the ammonia more efficiently in the engine, a so-called cracker is installed upstream of the system. This splits part of the ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen with a low energy input. The resulting gas mixture serves as pilot fuel for the engine. The cracker is set up and operated at the CAMPFIRE Open Innovation Lab.

In the supporting programme, ZBT project manager Fausto Tidona reported on the already completed Campfire project CF07 entitled ‘Development of an Ammonia Cracker System for Decarbonisation of Maritime Shipping’. The presentation was followed by a lively discussion about the project and important findings.

The meeting was rounded off with a tour of the hydrogen test field and the ZBT laboratories, with a particularly close look at the new NH₃ infrastructure and the new test stand set-ups.

ZBT's Energy Sources and Processes Department

The partners:

• KIT IFKM - Institut für Kolbenmaschinen (Institute for Piston Machines)
• Universität Rostock – Lehrstuhl für Kolbenmaschinen und Verbrennungsmotoren (Department of Piston Machinery and Internal Combustion Engines)
• Universität Rostock – Lehrstuhl für Technische Thermodynamik (Insitute of Technical Thermodynamics)
• FVTR
• 2G Energy
• WB Engineering
• INP - Leibniz-Institut für Plasmaforschung und Technologie (Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology)
• Liebherr
• ZBT

more about the CAMPFIRE project CF08_2

to the CAMPFIRE website

TransHyDE hydrogen lead project