Alternative Fuels for Medium Speed Diesel Engines for

Alternative Fuels for Medium –Speed Diesel Engines for Marine Applications: Realistic Options by Steven G. Fritz, P. E. Department of Engine and Emissions Research Southwest Research Institute® 210 -522 -3645 sfritz@swri. org

Topics Covered Today * Medium Speed Diesel Engines » Primary experience base from North American railroad industry – – – EPA locomotive regulations in place starting 2000 New 2000 and newer Remanufactured – 1973 and newer » Engine commonality with Category 2 marine * Context & Perspective » Railroad/marine diesel fuel consumption » EPA marine engine & fuel regulations * Alternative Fuels: » Biodiesel » Renewable Diesel » Synthetic Diesel * Greenhouse gas emissions

“. . . Realistic Options” * For today, means that: » Near term -- 0 to 5 years out » Potential beyond demonstration * We will not focus on » Hydrogen » DME (Dimethyl Ether) » Propane (LPG) » Coal slurry fuels

Context * Railroad’s use a small fraction of diesel fuel production » In general, they will use what everyone else is using » It is what is in the pipeline * Same story for marine?

EPA Diesel Fuel Regulations * Nonroad diesel not regulated by EPA until June 2007. * EPA Nonroad diesel regulations » Including locomotive and marine diesel – nationwide » Effective June 1, 2007 – 500 ppm Sulfur maximum – Cetane > 40 – Aromatics < 35% volume * June 2012 » Locomotive and marine diesel will be ULSD, 15 ppm max Sulfur * The above sulfur limits do not apply to HFO used in Category 2 and 3 marine diesel engines.

CARB Diesel Fuel Regulations * Effective January 1, 2007 » Intrastate Locomotive & Harbor Craft marine * Must use CARB diesel » 15 ppm maximum Sulfur » 10% maximum aromatics » Minimum lubricity standard

Source: EPA Regulatory Support Document EPA 420 -R-08 -001 March 2008

Apply Technologies to Marine EMD Engines

What about Alternative Fuels? * OK, we’re getting there * But remember, » Marine engines now operating in a highly EPA regulated environment » Covering both engines and fuels » Most available resources directed at meeting upcoming Marine Tier 3 & Tier 4 regulations » You just can’t switch to an “alternative fuel” without factoring in EPA emissions compliance on regulated engines

Biodiesel * Limited experience with Biodiesel in locomotives * 2002 Sw. RI study for DOENREL » EMD 16 -645 E at 2, 000 HP http: //www. biodiesel. org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/20040401_gen 334. pdf

Biodiesel Issues * Issues for locomotive/marine engine remain » New engine warranty » EPA emissions compliance – Close to the limits on NOx for best fuel economy – Will NOx increase with biodiesel use above EPA limits? » Lower energy density (BTU/gallon) – Roughly 2% for a B 20 blend » Consistent fuel quality remains a major concern – 10% of B 100 was out of specification in 2007 » Required NOx inventory reporting – Need to adjust NOx up if biodiesel is used?

Renewable Diesel * Usually refers to hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO) or animal fats. * Identical to those used for ester-based biodiesel production * Treated with hydrogen in a refinery process » Removes oxygen » Resulting in a paraffin fuel similar to Fischer-Tropsch/GTL diesel. * An attractive method of vegetable oil feedstock utilization, producing hydrocarbon fuel with no stability, low temperature operability, or engine compatibility problems which have troubled biodiesel.

Renewable Diesel – In Production Today * Finnish oil company Neste. » Originally introduced NEx. BTL diesel as “ 2 nd generation biodiesel” » Now NEx. BTL “renewable diesel” » Neste Oil’s first NEx. BTL facility was commissioned in Finland at the Porvoo refinery in Summer of 2007 » A second facility is due to come on stream there in 2009. Each of the plants at Porvoo has a capacity of 170, 000 tons per annum (t/a). » In November 2007, Neste announced a 800, 000 t/a plant in Singapore » In June 2008, Neste announced 800, 000 t/a plant in Rotterdam * No commercial renewable diesel plants in North America. * Under April 2008 decisions of the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), refinery-made renewable diesel is eligible for the EPAct $1/gallon tax credit.

Synthetic Diesel Fuel * First and best known synthetic fuel technology is the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, which was developed in the 1920 s in Germany

Synthetic Diesel Fuel, cont. * GTL – Gas to Liquid » In commercial, large scale production today » Oryx GTL—was opened by Sasol Chevron in 2006/2007 in Qatar. » Syntroleum Corporation in Tulsa, OK – USAF project * CTL – Coal to Liquid » Sasol in South Africa - synthetic diesel projects via coal gasification and synthesis gas.

Synthetic Diesel Fuel characteristics * Generally compatible with existing engines » no need for engine modifications » Use neat or as a blend with conventional diesel fuel * Compatible with conventional diesel » comparable energy density (BTU/gallon) » can be mixed with petroleum diesel » can be transported as liquid in existing petroleum infrastructure * The fuels can be designed to have very good properties for both engine performance and emissions. * Can be used neat or as a valuable blending stock » » to improve the properties of petroleum fuels Very high Cetane (70+) Very low aromatic and polyaromatic content Sulfur content is essentially zero

Synthetic Diesel Fuel characteristics * However. . . » Poor lubricity – needs a lubricity additive » Poor cold flow properties * Production cost ? ? ? * GHG Considerations » GTL – ? » CTL – negative » Biomass derived – may have life cycle GHG benefit

Summary * Railroad/Marine diesel consumption a relatively small fraction of total diesel consumption * “Alternative Fuel” options are available today » Likely already in use as B 5 in D 975 -08 diesel fuel. » Synthetic Diesel (GTL & CTL) viable options -- $$$ * Do not forget EPA exhaust emission & fuel regulations » You can not just go and try anything in the tank. . .