Palomba, Marco (2025) DECARBONIZING MARINE SECTOR THROUGH ADVANCED COMBUSTION STRATEGIES AND ALTERNATIVE FUELS: A CFD-BASED INVESTIGATION. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The thesis has investigated the role of advanced combustion strategies and alternative fuels as enabling technologies for the decarbonization of the marine sector. Through an integrated approach combining high-fidelity CFD modeling, experimental validation, and system-level analyses, the work has addressed the complex interaction between fuel properties, combustion behavior, engine performance, and emission formation in marine propulsion systems. The findings provide fundamental insights and practical directions for the development of cleaner, more efficient powertrains that align with the IMO’s decarbonization targets. In particular, this thesis has demonstrated that the use of alternative fuels in marine engines, even employing alternative combustion systems, is feasible. Across all investigated configurations, and with the adoption of suitable operating strategies, it was possible to achieve stable and efficient combustion of such fuels. Notably, a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions can be obtained compared to conventional fuels. The use of 3D numerical simulations proved to be a valuable preliminary tool, paving the way for more extensive experimental investigations on these alternative fuels. Furthermore, the study has shown that it is possible to integrate a complete marine power system by coupling the engine with a fuel cell, enabling on-board hydrogen production. In the following sections, the main conclusions corresponding to each results chapter are presented and discussed in greater detail.

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