Recently, FARIZON completed the diesel methanol dual
Fuel upgrade of 20 30 liter
engines for Italian customer Giammario Meloni. This project, without changing the basic architecture of the
engine, adds a methanol supply and electronic control system to enable the original
Diesel Engine to flexibly blend diesel and methanol, opening up a feasible path for low-carbon transformation of existing large displacement power.
1、 Project origin: Green transformation demand for existing Diesel Engines
In the fields of shipping, power generation, and engineering power, a large number of existing diesel engines are still in service, and the cost of directly replacing them with new engines is high. Customer Giammario Meloni hopes to introduce cleaner and more cost-effective methanol fuel while retaining the original 30 liter engine body structure. Compared to pure methanol models, the advantage of dual fuel retrofitting is that it does not have to start from scratch: it retains the mature and reliable compression ignition system of diesel engines, and can flexibly adjust the methanol blending ratio according to fuel supply and operating conditions, balancing the economic efficiency and flexibility of retrofitting.
2、 Technical route: Inlet injection of alcohol+direct injection of diesel in the cylinder
Methanol has a low cetane number and poor self ignition, making it difficult to ignite separately. Therefore, the classic idea of "diesel ignition" is adopted for dual fuel: a methanol nozzle is installed in the intake manifold, and the injected methanol forms a mixture with air into the cylinder. Then, diesel is directly injected into the cylinder to ignite the overall mixture. The entire process is uniformly scheduled by the electronic control unit (ECU) - during the start-up and warm-up stages, diesel is used for operation, and when the engine reaches operating temperature, it switches to dual fuel mode. The injection timing and amount of methanol are precisely controlled by the electronic control system, achieving flexible blending ratios of diesel and methanol.
3、 Renovation project: System integration of fuel, control, and safety
The dual fuel transformation is a systematic project, far beyond just adding a nozzle. The project team conducted an overall design around alcohol supply, injection, control, and safety protection: a new independent methanol storage and supply pipeline system was added, and materials and seals resistant to methanol corrosion were selected; Match the methanol injection valve with the electronic control module and calibrate it in conjunction with the original ECU; In response to the toxic, volatile, and highly corrosive characteristics of methanol, leakage monitoring, ventilation, and safety protection measures are set up to ensure the safe operation of the modified machine. For large displacement models like 30 liters, pipeline layout, injection consistency, and thermal management all need to be checked item by item.
4、 Calibration verification: Balancing power, economy, and reliability
After the renovation was completed, the team conducted systematic bench calibration and verification. Repeatedly adjusting the methanol substitution rate and fuel injection strategy around different load and speed conditions, optimizing the combustion process and fuel consumption while ensuring stable power output; Simultaneously monitor cylinder pressure, exhaust temperature, and emission performance to confirm combustion stability and cycle consistency in dual fuel mode. Through phased verification, ensure smooth switching of the engine between diesel mode and dual fuel mode, balancing power, economy, and reliability.
5、 The value of dual fuel: without changing the architecture, flexible substitution
For customers, the core value brought by the dual fuel transformation is "flexibility". In scenarios where methanol supply is sufficient and prices are appropriate, the proportion of methanol co firing can be increased to reduce fuel costs; When methanol supply is limited or operating conditions are special, diesel operation can still be resumed without affecting attendance. Meanwhile, the low sulfur and low-carbon characteristics of methanol help to reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, providing a practical and feasible technological option to meet increasingly stringent emission requirements.
6、 Industrial significance: providing a low-carbon upgrade path for existing power
The 30 liter engine modification completed for Giammario Meloni this time is a practice of FARIZON's methanol power technology moving from a "new engine" to a "stock modification". Based on the technological accumulation in alcohol hydrogen powertrain, FARIZON is extending the application of methanol from road transportation to diverse scenarios such as ships, Generator sets, and engineering machinery. The dual fuel transformation mode provides a controllable and feasible green upgrade path for a large number of existing diesel engines worldwide, and also offers new solutions for emission reduction targets in the shipping and energy sectors.
Conclusion
The upgrade of these 20 30 liter engines from diesel to methanol dual fuel is not only a landing of technology integration, but also a microcosm of FARIZON serving global customers and promoting the popularization of green power. In the future, with the improvement of methanol fuel supply system and the continuous maturity of dual fuel technology, low-carbon transformation of existing power is expected to take root in more markets.
