CFD modelling of combustion in a large four-stroke dual-fuel methanol engine has clarified how operational parameters can be used to prevent knocking whilst still achieving IMO Tier III NOx emissions requirements.

Operational experience for how to control NOx emissions when burning a high proportion of methanol fuel in four-stroke dual-fuel methanol engines is currently limited. To address this knowledge gap, researchers from the University of Strathclyde have modelled the combustion of fuel containing up to 90% methanol (10% diesel fuel) to identify how combustion efficiency can be optimised without leading to excessive NOx emissions.