On the 29th, Hanwha Engine, a specialized manufacturing corporation for ship engines, announced that it has successfully produced a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers using its X-DF (dual fuel) technology.

The appearance of the event held on the 29th at the Hanwha Engine headquarters in Changwon to commemorate the world's first production of the VCR applied X-DF engine. /Courtesy of Hanwha Engine

The production of the VCR applied X-DF engine is a world first, utilizing the VCR technology developed by engine technology company WinGD after over a decade of technical validation for LNG carrier engines. To commemorate this achievement, Hanwha Engine also held a commemorative event at its headquarters in Changwon on the same day.

The commemorative event was attended by Yu Moon-ki, CEO of Hanwha Engine, along with Jang Hae-ki, Vice President of Samsung Heavy Industries, representatives from WinGD, shipowners, and other key figures from the shipbuilding and maritime industries.

The VCR technology is a next-generation eco-friendly technology that maximizes fuel efficiency by adjusting the engine's compression ratio in real-time according to operating conditions, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

In particular, it can reduce the methane slip phenomenon, where LNG fuel is not fully burned and escapes into the atmosphere, by 30% to 50% compared to existing methods.

CEO Yu Moon-ki noted that 'the production of the VCR applied engine for LNG carriers is a milestone that goes beyond simple technological implementation and accelerates the eco-friendly transition of the shipbuilding industry,' adding, 'In the future, we will grow as a corporation that practically contributes to the marine environment based on eco-friendly technology.'

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