HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has confirmed that its four-stroke HiMSEN dual-fuel engine can run stably on “ethanol fuel,” widening its fuel-flexibility range for eco-friendly applications.
The verification was carried out through combustion and operational characteristic testing, applying ethanol to the methanol dual-fuel engine platform (H32DF-LM). According to the company, stable operation was confirmed across all load points.
The programme focused on startability, combustion stability, power output stability, and exhaust-gas characteristics under differences in fuel properties. During the work, the existing methanol-engine hardware configuration was maintained as much as possible.
Ethanol, like methanol, can be handled as a liquid under atmospheric conditions and can be produced from bio-based sources, making it a carbon-reduction potential alternative fuel. The firm also points to growing interest from shipowners and the shipbuilding industry, citing ethanol as an option that can respond to regional methanol supply conditions and price volatility.
Following the ethanol application test, the company said it has further reinforced technological competitiveness in fuel flexibility. It plans additional durability tests that align with classification society requirements and commercial operating conditions, and it views the results as a meaningful step toward expanding customer choices in the eco-friendly fuel market.
