FRUITFUL - fossil free combustion with future fuels

Abstract

Renewable ammonia offers a technically and economically promising path to CO₂‑free combus-tion in applications that cannot be electrified. WinGD, a leading supplier of two‑stroke marine engines, launched its first X‑DF‑A engine in 2025. Stable combustion operation relies on fossil (diesel) pilot fuel assisted ignition due to ammonia's challenging auto-ignition characteristics. This project explores fossil‑free ammonia combustion through novel ignition concepts. An opti-cally accessible engine test facility will study underlying mechanisms under relevant operating conditions. Promising concepts will be further examined at the engine-scaled "spray combustion chamber", leading to recommendations regarding applicability in two‑stroke marine IC engines.