The VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Tampere University of Technology and the University of Turku have joined forces in an international project to try to make the measurement of black carbon emissions from shipping more reliable.
The ‘Shipping Emissions in the Arctic’ project aims to develop a method that measures black carbon accurately in order to control emissions. Initial tests performed at VTT’s engine laboratory in Espoo, using a 1.6-megawatt diesel engine which corresponds to a typical auxiliary ship engine, showed that engine loads and fuel types have a major impact on black carbon emissions.
The test matrix was extensive enough to make the results internationally applicable. Four marine fuels were tested, consisting of 0.1%, 0.5% and 2.5% sulphur for three and an oxygen containing bio-component accounted for 30% of the fourth fuel.
Following the tests the results will be validated in a real ship equipped with the latest emissions cleaning technology such as an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) that reduces sulphur oxides (SOx) emissions.
The project also explores the business potential of emission measurements. The engine measurement tests leveraged the results of another measurement technology research project – HyperGlobal; a multicopter equipped with sensors was used to measure sulphur dioxide levels in the vicinity of an exhaust pipe during the tests.
VTT’s Shipping Emissions in the Arctic project is part of the Tekes ‘Arctic Seas’ programme. Running between January 2015 and December 2016 the project has a budget of EUR 700,000. VTT’s partners in the project include the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Tampere University of Technology, the University of Turku, Wärtsilä Finland Oy, Pegasor Oy, Gasmet Technologies Oy, VG-Shipping Oy, Port of HaminaKotka Ltd, Oiltanking Finland Oy, Kine Robot Solutions Oy and VTT’s spin-off Spectral Engines Oy. AVL List GmbH from Austria also assisted with the measurements. The multicopter project was coordinated by Aeromon Oy as part of the HyperGlobal project, which belongs to the Arctic Seas programme.
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