MOL develops marine diesel particulate filter

Tests show that the device removed more than 80% of particulate matter (PM) from diesel emissions. In the test, a DPF was installed on the main engine of a MOL Group-operated coastal ferry, the Sunflower Kogane. This test marked the first successful use of a self-regenerating DPF on a large vessel using marine heavy fuel oil. The Sunflower Kogane (9,710 gt, main engine: 9,267kW) is operated by The Diamond Ferry Co., a MOL Group company.

The DPF includes filters made of silicon carbide ceramic fibres, which remove PM from the exhaust. An internal heating system automatically burns off accumulated PM in the filter to eliminate clogging. This eliminates the necessity for cleaning by crew members and allows the filter to be used continuously.

Installation of the new DPF will potentially reduce soot emissions from vessels on ocean cargo routes as well as those entering and leaving ports and operating their engines while at berth, thus helping curtail possible effects of exhaust emissions.