WinGD has tested its new X‑DF‑A ammonia-fuelled engine design, with seemingly positive results.
The company’s Engine Research and Innovation Centre (ERIC) in Winterthur is running a 52-bore, single-cylinder version of the X-DF-A engine, with final validation scheduled for June 2025, when the first engines will be delivered.
According to WinGD, the single-cylinder testing will enable quick validation of the ammonia combustion system under engine settings, as well as emission and performance improvement.
A multi-cylinder engine test will be conducted in the next months at WinGD’s Global Research Centre in Shanghai to validate the full-scale engine, turbocharger arrangement, and control system before the engine goes into production.
READ: WinGD launches LPG ‘pre-fit’ alternative for ammonia operators
The company’s devoted ammonia development programme began in 2019, and by 2022, the research had progressed to trials utilising WinGD’s spray combustion chamber (SCC).
ERIC’s Future Fuels Laboratory used test rigs to thoroughly examine major engine components.
Sotiris Topaloglou, Head of Testing and Validation, WinGD, said: “In previous tests, we verified that SCC results were transferable one-to-one to the results on our test engines, which is why we invest so much time on these early testing phases. As a result, we are in a strong position to make rapid progress through validation of our ammonia technology.”
READ: WinGD secures ammonia-fuelled engine orders for Chinese gas carriers
Additionally, a multi-cylinder methanol engine was tested at 100 per cent load.
The latter test with methanol provided WinGD with an additional chance to validate the ammonia injection idea under extreme engine conditions and thermal stress, as well as make changes before testing with ammonia.
The X-DF-A platform is based on the diesel-cycle concept, which has been utilised for decades in WinGD’s diesel-powered engines.
The engine safety concept will also be validated on test engines. WinGD has obtained preliminary permissions for the idea from numerous class societies and has worked with fuel technology companies to establish a customised fuel system.
It is currently collaborating closely with shipyards and early customers to ensure safe design, installation, and operation.
In December 2024, WinGD received an order for 16 X-DF dual-fuel engines following a late-stage decision by a large shipowner.
