The German shipping company AG Ems has refitted its ferry »Ostfriesland«. The new machine configuration of the vessel is[ds_preview] based on dual-fuel engines, using diesel, gas and electricity with 360° rotating pods. The two main generators, made by the Finnish company Wärtsilä, are supported by two auxiliary engines from Mitsubishi, which are used for navigating within harbours.
The new fuel also requires new safety assessments of the combustion engine. This includes looking at various unlikely malfunctions and implementing suitable precautions. If, for instance, the ignition fails and therefore creates an unburned mixture of gas and air in the exhaust, this may cause uncontrolled combustion and thus an increase in pressure when ignition takes place the next time. Such a reaction would develop at the speed of an explosion and put a substantial strain on the pipe components within a very short period of time.
Thanks to flameless venting, the »Q-Rohr« from German manufacturer Rembe ensures that the reaction is vented directly at the exhaust the company stated. Both the flame and the pressure are absorbed by the stainless steel mesh filter of the »Q-Rohr«, providing optimum protection for the pipe components and the environment.
According to Rembe the safety of passengers and staff is a top priority for the shipping company, and so it decided to focus on this aspect, in particular, when converting the engines. The same protection system is used for dual-fuel engines, regardless of whether it is a small ferry or a massive container ship.
