The HERCULES-Beta research project proposal was recently approved by the European Commission. HERCULES-Beta represents a major international cooperative effort to maximise fuel efficiency combined with ultra-low emissions and to develop future generations of optimally efficient and clean marine diesel engines. As such, HERCULES-Beta aims to surpass the current limits set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to radically improve the environmental performance of waterborne transport.
The HERCULES-Beta project
HERCULES-Beta began on 1 September 2008 with a budget of EUR 25 million and it is planned to run for 36 months. The project consortium has 32 participants, including engine-component suppliers, equipment manufacturers, universities, research institutions and shipping companies from 10 European countries.
HERCULES-Beta is the second phase of the HERCULES programme, which was conceived in 2002 as a long-term strategic R&D plan. The project was initiated by Europe’s two major engine manufacturers, Wärtsilä Corporation and MAN Diesel. Diesel propulsion systems currently power 99% of the world fleet.
The project’s principal aim is to reduce marine diesel engine fuel consumption by 10% and to improve the efficiency of marine diesel propulsion systems to more than 60%, significantly reducing CO2 emissions as a result. A further aim of the project is to target ultra-low exhaust emissions by eliminating 70% of NOx and 50% of particulates from marine engines by 2020.
HERCULES-Beta comprises 54 subprojects and is funded by the European Commission’s Framework Program 7 (FP7, Theme Transport).
The original HERCULES project
In 2007, a group of more than 40 European companies, universities and research institutions, led by MAN Diesel and Wärtsilä Corporation, successfully completed a major, 43-month, cooperative research project under the name HERCULES (High Efficiency R&D on Combustion with Ultra-Low Emissions for Ships) with a budget of EUR 33 million, partly funded by the European Union (EUR 15 million) and the Swiss Federal Government (EUR 2.5 million).
The first phase of the HERCULES project concentrated on the development of tools (e.g., simulation software, measurement techniques, etc.) and the general investigation of potential avenues for reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Initially, the project established and operated prototypes. The results stemming from this indicate a great potential for significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions and reaching the project’s ambitious targets.
HERCULES-Beta will directly build on the findings of the first phase of the HERCULES project. The tools previously established will be employed to more closely investigate, understand and ultimately optimise the engines. Both analytical investigations as well as prototypes will be refined, based on first-phase results, with the intention of achieving the ultra-low emission and fuel consumption targets. Finally, by carrying out field-tests on the prototypes developed in the first phase, information on the important effect of real-life boundary conditions will be gathered and analysed.
Please visit the HERCULES website at www.hercules-b.com (to be functional in the end of April).
For more information, please contact:
Mr Nikolaos P. Kyrtatos
HERCULES Project Coordinator
Tel: +30 210 7721119
npk@uleme.com
Mr Klaus Heim
Vice President, Global R&D
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +41 5226 24462
Mr Niels Kjemtrup
Senior Manager
Process Development
MAN Diesel
Tel: +45 3385 1280
Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of close to 19,000 professionals manning 160 locations in 70 countries around the world. In 2008, Wärtsilä’s net sales were EUR 4.6 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki in Finland.
www.wartsila.com
