Study investigating the safety of ammonia as fuel on ships

Date

Published
10.07.2024
Updated
28.11.2024
Biofuels_cover_V0.3.pngTask 1 of this study presents an extensive analysis of ammonia properties and characteristics and how these are applicable as marine fuel. The main hazard of ammonia in comparison to other conventional and alternatives fuels is toxicity (can start being an occupational hazard from low concentrations (20 ppm for 8 hours exposure - 50 ppm for 15 min exposure) and become a threat for life when in higher concentrations (300 ppm for 30 min exposure - Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health)), and corrosivity. This study provides an analysis of the toxicity and exposure limits of ammonia comparing several regulatory frameworks. Aside from toxicity, the general behaviour of ammonia was investigated, how this reacts with air and water and how that affects other materials with its corrosive nature and through the stress corrosion cracking.

This report includes a review of the current onshore and offshore regulatory framework related to the use and transport of ammonia and acknowledges that there is still work to do to address properly the safety hazards of ammonia as fuel.
Biofuels_cover_V0.3.pngTask 2 includes the identification of critical equipment and failure modes and a qualitative evaluation of the reliability of ammonia systems. In depth fault tree analysis was conducted through interviews with Subject Matter Experts (SME) in naval architecture, ammonia fuel, engine makers and bunkering equipment vendors. Several reliability models were constructed based on information from LPG application modified to consider ammonia fuel applications..