ALTERNATIVE MARINE FUELS FOR SUSTAINABLE AND COST-EFFICIENT SHIPPING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31413/10.31413/nat.v14i1.20319Palavras-chave:
dual-fuel engine, IMO regulations, methanol, natural gas, ship emission reductionResumo
Combustíveis marítimos alternativos para um transporte marítimo sustentável e economicamente eficiente
RESUMO: Com a projeção de que a população mundial alcance quase 10 bilhões de pessoas em 2050, a demanda por produtos de origem animal deverá aumentar significativamente. Uma fonte de emissões menos reconhecida nessa cadeia de suprimentos é o transporte marítimo de animais vivos, que movimenta milhões de animais em todo o mundo e emite grandes quantidades de CO₂ e de outros poluentes. Este estudo concentra-se na redução do impacto ambiental dos navios por meio de combustíveis mais limpos, rotas mais eficientes e sistemas de energia a bordo aprimorados. As emissões dos navios representam um desafio global significativo devido ao seu impacto prejudicial ao meio ambiente, especialmente na contribuição para o aquecimento global atmosférico. Para lidar com isso, a Organização Marítima Internacional (OMI) priorizou a proteção ambiental, visando reduzir as emissões de gases de escape em pelo menos 50% até 2050. Uma das principais estratégias propostas pela OMI é a adoção de combustíveis marítimos alternativos, como gás natural e metanol, em substituição aos combustíveis fósseis tradicionais. Este artigo apresenta uma análise comparativa da conversão de motores a diesel convencionais em motores bicombustíveis, que funcionam com metanol ou gás natural. O estudo concentra-se nos aspectos econômicos dos sistemas bicombustíveis a gás natural e metanol. De acordo com as conclusões, o uso de gás natural resulta em uma economia de custos de US$ 275,546/ton para NOx, US$ 11.358,610/ton para SOx, US$ 29,0853/ton para CO2 e US$ 8.518,962/ton para CO. Em comparação, o metanol oferece reduções de custos de US$ 362,687/ton para NOx, US$ 14.638,436/ton para SOx, US$ 12,736/ton para CO2 e US$ 6.127,717/ton para CO. O estudo destaca as vantagens ambientais e econômicas do uso de gás natural e metanol como alternativas mais limpas no setor marítimo. Os resultados indicam que a adoção desses combustíveis poderia reduzir significativamente as emissões de navios e apoiar metas globais de sustentabilidade mais abrangentes.
Palavras-chave: motor bicombustível; regulamentações da IMO; metanol; gás natural; redução das emissões de navios.
ABSTRACT: With the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the demand for animal products is expected to rise significantly. A less recognized source of emissions in this supply chain is livestock maritime transport, which moves millions of animals worldwide and emits large amounts of CO₂ and other pollutants. This study focuses on reducing the environmental impact of ships through cleaner fuels, efficient routing, and improved onboard power systems. Ship emissions pose a significant global challenge due to their detrimental impact on the environment, especially in terms of contributing to atmospheric global warming. To address this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has prioritized environmental protection, aiming to cut exhaust emissions by at least 50% by the year 2050. One of the key strategies proposed by the IMO is the adoption of alternative marine fuels, such as natural gas and methanol, in place of traditional fossil fuels. This paper presents a comparative analysis of converting conventional diesel engines into dual-fuel engines that run on either methanol or natural gas. The study focuses on the economic aspects of both the natural gas and methanol dual-fuel systems. According to the findings, the use of natural gas results in cost savings of $275.546/ton for NOx, $11,358.610/ton for SOx, $29.0853/ton for CO2, and $8,518.962/ton for CO. In comparison, methanol offers cost reductions of $362.687/ton for NOx, $14,638.436/ton for SOx, $12.736/ton for CO2, and $6,127.717/ton for CO. The study underscores the environmental and economic advantages of using natural gas and methanol as cleaner alternatives in the maritime sector. The results indicate that adopting these fuels could significantly lower emissions from ships and support broader global sustainability goals.
Keywords: dual-fuel engine; IMO regulations; methanol; natural gas; ship emission reduction.
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