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Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne...
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Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne Applications

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 2774

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Theotokatos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Maritime Safety Research Centre (MSRC), Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
Interests: marine systems; safety; sustainability; digital; twins; autonomous ships
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Evangelos Boulougouris

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Maritime Safety Research Centre (MSRC), Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
Interests: naval architecture; ocean and marine engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Mr. Panagiotis Karvounis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Maritime Safety Research Centre (MSRC), Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0LZ, UK
Interests: decarbonization; marine engineering; combustion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will delve into the critical challenges of sustainability and safety in maritime transport as the industry shifts towards zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen, ammonia, and alcohol-based options. While these fuels hold substantial promise in reducing emissions and combating climate change, they also present unique safety and operational challenges that must be carefully managed in order to ensure a smooth and secure transition. This Special Issue will showcase leading research addressing technical, operational, and regulatory complexities related to zero-emission fuels. Possible topics include innovations in the fuel supply chain, alternative propulsion technologies, combustion processes, safe, and reliable operation practices, as well as energy, exergy, and technical analyses. By examining these aspects, this Special Issue will equip the maritime sector with essential knowledge, ensuring that zero-carbon fuels are implemented in ways that are not only environmentally sustainable but also safe, practical, and reliable. 

Prof. Dr. Gerasimos Theotokatos
Prof. Dr. Evangelos Boulougouris
Guest Editors

Mr. Panagiotis Karvounis
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • zero-carbon fuels
  • maritime decarbonization
  • alternative fuels
  • sustainable shipping
  • smart maritime systems
  • safe fuel technology
  • hydrogen fuel cells
  • hydrogen fuel
  • ammonia fuel
  • emission reduction
  • fuel safety standards
  • marine environmental sustainability
  • electrification
  • autonomous waterborne systems
  • marine fuel supply chains
  • fuel efficiency
  • fuel cell technology in marine applications

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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24 pages, 7039 KiB  
Article
Performance Study of Spark-Ignited Methanol–Hydrogen Engine by Using a Fractal Turbulent Combustion Model Coupled with Chemical Reaction Kinetics
by Yingting Zhang, Yu Ding, Xiaohui Ren and La Xiang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(5), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13050959 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 159
Abstract
Methanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel, provides an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when synthesized through carbon dioxide hydrogenation integrated with carbon capture technology. The incorporation of hydrogen into methanol-fueled engines enhances combustion efficiency, mitigating challenges such as pronounced cycle-to-cycle variations [...] Read more.
Methanol, a renewable and sustainable fuel, provides an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions when synthesized through carbon dioxide hydrogenation integrated with carbon capture technology. The incorporation of hydrogen into methanol-fueled engines enhances combustion efficiency, mitigating challenges such as pronounced cycle-to-cycle variations and cold-start difficulties. A simulation framework was developed using Python 3.13 and the Cantera 3.1.0 library to model the combustion system of a four-stroke spark-ignited (SI) methanol–hydrogen engine. This framework integrates a fractal turbulent combustion model with chemical reaction kinetics, complemented by early flame development and near-wall combustion models to address limitations during the initial and terminal combustion phases. The model was validated by using experimental data measured from a spark-ignited methanol engine. The effects of varying Hydrogen Energy Rates (HER) on engine power performance, combustion characteristics, and emissions (like formaldehyde and carbon monoxide) were subsequently analyzed under different operating loads, whilst the knock limit boundaries were established for different operational conditions. Findings demonstrate that increasing HER improves the engine power output and thermal efficiency, shortens the combustion duration, and reduces the formaldehyde and carbon monoxide emissions. Nevertheless, under high-load conditions, higher HER increases the knocking tendency, which constrains the maximum permissible HER decreasing from approximately 40% at 15% load to 20% at 100% load. The model has been developed into a Python library and will be open-sourced on Github. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne Applications)
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24 pages, 9001 KiB  
Article
A Numerical Simulation Study on Hydrogen-Enriched Gas Explosions on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Ships Based on OpenFOAM
by Yuechao Zhao, Zeya Miao, Yubo Li, Dihao Ai and Qifei Wang
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040667 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 310
Abstract
In the maritime industry, hydrogen fuel cell ships demonstrate significant potential for development due to their environmental friendliness and high efficiency. However, the risks of fire and explosion caused by hydrogen leakage pose severe challenges to their safety. To enhance the safety of [...] Read more.
In the maritime industry, hydrogen fuel cell ships demonstrate significant potential for development due to their environmental friendliness and high efficiency. However, the risks of fire and explosion caused by hydrogen leakage pose severe challenges to their safety. To enhance the safety of hydrogen fuel cell ships and mitigate the explosion hazards caused by leakage, this study employs the XiFoam solver in the OpenFOAM v9 to establish an explosion model for a full-scale hydrogen fuel cell compartment within a hydrogen fuel cell ship. The model simulates the transient explosion process following high-pressure hydrogen leakage under varying initial hydrogen concentrations and premixed fuel conditions. By analyzing the temporary evolution of temperature distribution, flame front propagation, and explosion pressure, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the safety implications of hydrogen leakage at different locations within the fuel cell. Specifically, increasing the hydrogen concentration from ΦH2 = 0.10 to ΦH2 = 0.18 and ΦH2 = 0.20 significantly elevates the overpressure peak and accelerates the flame speed from 250 m/s to 370 m/s, with local pressure gradients approaching the deflagration to detonation transition threshold. The simulation results contribute valuable insights into optimizing hydrogen fuel cell design, formulating effective fire safety strategies, and improving overall ship safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne Applications)
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25 pages, 2708 KiB  
Article
Parametric Investigation of Methanol Ratio and Diesel Injection Timing for a Marine Diesel–Methanol Dual-Fuel Engine
by George Papalambrou and Vasileios Karystinos
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(4), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13040648 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 318
Abstract
In the present work, the combustion process of a retrofitted high-speed marine Diesel Methanol Dual Fuel (DMDF) engine is numerically evaluated. This study examines the effects of two important operational parameters, the methanol energy substitution ratio (MESR) and diesel injection timing, with a [...] Read more.
In the present work, the combustion process of a retrofitted high-speed marine Diesel Methanol Dual Fuel (DMDF) engine is numerically evaluated. This study examines the effects of two important operational parameters, the methanol energy substitution ratio (MESR) and diesel injection timing, with a focus on engine performance and emissions. To perform the analysis, a CFD numerical combustion model was developed, and a mean value model, along with other data-driven models, were employed to estimate the intake cylinder conditions. The numerical models were calibrated and validated using experimental data measured at the DMDF experimental testbed at the Laboratory of Marine Engineering (LME). The models were utilized to conduct a parametric study considering various engine speeds and loads, diesel injection timings, and MESRs up to 75%. The impact of these parameters was quantified with respect to in-cylinder pressure, ignition timing, combustion efficiency, NOx, soot, and HC emissions. The results revealed that an increased methanol ratio leads to delayed ignition timing, shorter combustion duration, and reduced in-cylinder peak pressure and combustion efficiency. NOx and soot emissions are also reduced, whereas the concentrations of unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas increase significantly and mainly consist of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Although advancing injection timing in dual-fuel mode improves combustion efficiency, it increases the maximum in-cylinder pressure and NOx emissions. The other emissions are either reduced or maintained at the same levels. Moreover, the results suggest that there is a trade-off between NOx emissions and combustion performance, which must be taken into account when the operational parameters are adjusted for these engines. Finally, the maximum MESRs are estimated to ensure safe combustion within acceptable peak pressure limits and adequate combustion performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne Applications)
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20 pages, 9746 KiB  
Article
Computational Analysis of an Ammonia Combustion System for Future Two-Stroke Low-Speed Marine Engines
by Jose R. Serrano, Ricardo Novella, Héctor Climent, Francisco José Arnau, Alejandro Calvo and Lauge Thorsen
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13010039 - 30 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Ammonia, being 17.6% hydrogen by mass, is regarded as a hydrogen carrier and carbon-free fuel as long as its production methods rely on renewable energy sources. The production and combustion of green ammonia do not generate carbon dioxide, offering a promising avenue for [...] Read more.
Ammonia, being 17.6% hydrogen by mass, is regarded as a hydrogen carrier and carbon-free fuel as long as its production methods rely on renewable energy sources. The production and combustion of green ammonia do not generate carbon dioxide, offering a promising avenue for substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a well-to-wake perspective. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for the development and validation of a thermodynamic model for a two-stroke low-speed marine engine incorporating a hybrid ammonia-diesel diffusion combustion system. The simulation tools are rigorously validated using experimental data obtained during diesel operation. Subsequently, the study explores various aspects of the novel ammonia-diesel combustion system, addressing combustion and emissions characteristics. The investigation incorporates diverse simulation scenarios involving direct fuel injection through dedicated valves into the cylinder head of a six-cylinder, turbocharged compression-ignition engine. The engine features two diesel injection valves, employed to initiate the combustion process, and two ammonia injection valves. Simulation scenarios include variations in the injection timing of the pilot diesel injector and the relative orientation of diesel and ammonia sprays. Case C emerges as the preferred configuration, demonstrating superior metrics in terms of combustion stability, air-fuel mixing, and emissions profile compared to other cases. The results indicate a reduction of CO2 emissions of approximately 95% in mass compared to the baseline diesel operation. Furthermore, notable reductions in NOx emissions are observed, preliminarily attributed to the lower flame temperature of ammonia. Despite the appearance of N2O emissions as a result of ammonia oxidation, the overall potential reduction in GHG emissions, in CO2-equivalent terms, exceeds 85% at selected operating points. This work contributes valuable insights into the optimization of cleaner propulsion systems for maritime applications, facilitating the industry’s transition toward more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments in Zero-Carbon Fuels for Smart, Safe, and Reliable Waterborne Applications)
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