Rolls-Royce has successfully tested a high-speed combustion engine that can be fuelled with green methanol in a carbon-neutral way. The engine manufacturers cooperated with the injection system specialists from Woodward L'Orange and the Technology and Research Centre WTZ Roßlau as part of the joint project meOHmare, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Engineering faces new challenges
Dr Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, described it as a "genuine world first". "To date, there is no other high-speed engine in this power class that runs purely on methanol." The liquid alcohol poses new engineering challenges, as it does not ignite like diesel and requires a different injection technology. The combustion process, turbocharging and engine control have been fundamentally redesigned. According to Rolls-Royce, the engine is running stably, now it's just a matter of fine-tuning.
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