Innovative NH3 gas turbine LNGC design awarded AiP

The innovative LNG carrier design will be capable of operating on ammonia and natural gas separately, or use a mixture of ammonia and natural simultaneously as fuel.

When operating on ammonia gas, the vessel would not emit any carbon dioxide emissions, which would make it the first carbon emission free LNG carrier. 

The Hanwha LNGC design also incorporates a sCO2 power system. Efficiency improvements are reported as a result of using sCO2 as a working fluid in the turbine.

The design, which is smaller than a diesel engine, also incorporates Hanwha Power Systems’ exhaust gas waste heat recovery system (sCO2 Power System). Hanwha Ocean also says the system meets the nitrogen oxide (NOx) requirement without selective catalytic reduction (SCR) regardless of fuel and has significantly reduced methane slip.

The Motorship notes Hanwha is currently engaged in a joint development project with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) as part of a contract with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop sCO₂ gas turbines. The use of recompression closed Brayton cycle technology holds open the possibility of delivering thermodynamic cycle efficiency of above 50% at commercial scale.  

“With a global focus on decarbonization, this vessel design represents a big step forward in the shipping industry’s ambitions for zero-carbon cargo transport. ABS is proud to be able to support it and use our deep decarbonization expertise to advance a more sustainable industry,” said Panos Koutsourakis, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability.