CORE LNGas HIVE

CORE LNGas hive contributes to the decarbonisation of the European corridors of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and is a step towards reduced emissions and the promotion of clean energy for transportation driven by the European Union.

The Iberian Peninsula has a geostrategic position in the world and possesses gas infrastructures and LNG logistics know-how to consolidate as a European benchmark leader in LNG and an international hub.

The initiative CORE LNGas hive has been selected for the development of the Trans-European Transport Networks (call 2014 Connect Europe Facility CEF) to receive financial support of €16.5 M from the European Commission. The total investment in the project will amount to €33 M.

LNG is an environmentally friendly fuel, given that it generates about 30% fewer emissions of CO2 than traditional fuels and their derivatives.

Moreover, it eliminates emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM); greatly reduces nitrogen oxides (NOx), which will make it possible to comply with increasingly tight environmental regulations, particularly improving the air quality of port environments.

It involves 25 studies, to be conducted by the partner companies for adaptation of infrastructure and logistics – commercial development in order to offer small-scale supply services and bunkering.

In addition, the project CORE LNGas hive offers the know-how to other European countries for the development of procedures and regulations and the establishment of training activities, promotes the international expansion of the LNG sector. And it integrates initiatives within a coherent and global project through the combination of public and private efforts.

IDIADA participates in the sub-activity EPM3 on the straddle carrier retrofit to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion, whose investment is 1,222 M€. The aim of the project is the adaptation of an existing straddle carrier from the terminal of the Port of Barcelona to operate on LNG, with the purpose of analysing its feasibility and benefits before a large-scale deployment. 

At the beginning of the project, an exhaustive study of the LNG engine conversion was performed. This study also comprised the necessary adaptations of the machine to allocate the newly transformed natural gas engines. In addition, CFD simulations and analyses for key components were carried out to optimize the natural gas engine performance. With the knowledge of the previous studies and simulations, the natural gas engine was re-designed and validated virtually using the original diesel engine as a starting point. As a result, the newly designed parts were manufactured and the existing components that required mechanical modifications were machined to meet the new specifications.

The converted engine was re-assembled with the new components and installed on IDIADA's dynamic engine test bench. During several weeks, the natural gas engine was thoroughly tested with the natural gas injection system and Electronic Control Unit (ECU). The large number of adjustable parameters of the ECU has been calibrated to optimize engine operation for both mechanical performance and emission reduction. Once the conversion phase is completed, the engine will be installed on the straddle carrier to monitor the behaviour of the machine fuelled with LNG. Moreover, field measurement of consumption and emissions during actual operation of the straddle carrier will be done.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement number 1026196.