This research compares the air pollution (CO, CO₂, HC, NO_x, smoke), energy (brake-specific fuel consumption, thermal efficiency) and noise indicators of a compression ignition engine fueled by first-generation biodiesel (rapeseed methyl ester (RME)) and second-generation biodiesel (hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO)), or conventional (fossil) diesel fuel blends. The concentration of first- and second-generation biodiesel in two-component blends with diesel fuel was up to 15% and 30% (RME15, RME30, HVO15, and HVO30); for comparison, the three-component blend of diesel fuel, HVO and RME (RME15–HVO15) was considered. The fuels’ physical and chemical properties were tested in a specialized laboratory, and the engine load conditions were ensured by the engine brake stand. Referring to ship power plants with constant-speed engines, detailed research was carried out in one speed mode (n = 2000 rpm). Studies have shown that two-component fuel blends with HVO are superior to conventional diesel fuel and two-component blends with RME in almost all cases. The HVO in fuel blends reduced fuel consumption up to 1.8%, while the thermal efficiency was close to that of fossil diesel fuel. In addition, a reduction in pollutants was observed: CO by ~12.5–25.0%; HC by ~5.0–12.0%; NO_x by ~6.5%; smokiness by ~11–18% (two-component blend) and up to ~29% (three-component blend). The CO₂ and noise characteristics were close to those of fossil diesel fuel; however, the trend of reduced smoke emission was clearly seen. A fundamental obstacle to the wide use of HVO can be seen, however, which is the price, which is 25–90% (depending on the EU country) higher than the price of conventional (fossil) diesel fuel.

Ships operating on fossil fuel release pollutant emissions into the atmosphere. Released pollutants have a negative effect on the environment and human health, especially in port cities. For this reason, it is very important to properly evaluate these emissions so they can be managed. The current and most common methodologies for shipping pollution evaluation are used for whole port areas or larger terminals over a long period of time and are not analyzed in terms of detailed activity, which may lead to underestimations in certain areas. This study aims to evaluate emissions from ships in port by combining ships’ technical, AIS and EMEP data that allow us to evaluate emissions in port, not as a singular area source but enables individual ship emissions evaluation at any given point in time. To achieve this emission calculation, an algorithm was compiled by using EMEP/EEA Tier 3 methodology. The developed method presents a way to evaluate emissions in a detailed manner not only for groups of ships but also for individual ships if that is required. This method also lets us analyze shipping emissions’ intensity throughout all port territory and identify the most excessive pollution sources. However, the method adds additional work for researchers because of the huge data arrays required for complex calculations.

Increasing the use of renewable energy sources is essential to reduce the use of fossil fuels in internal combustion engines and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An experimental and numerical simulation study of the combustion process of a compression ignition engine was carried out by replacing fossil diesel with a dual fuel produced from renewable energy sources. In conventional dual-fuel applications, fossil diesel is used to initiate the combustion of natural gas or petroleum gas. In the present study, fossil diesel was replaced with advanced biodiesel – hydrotreated vegetable oil, and natural gas was replaced with biogas. In the experimental study, a gas mixture of 60% natural gas (by volume) and 40% carbon dioxide (by volume) was used to replicate the biogas while maintaining a 40%, 60%, and 80% gas energy share in the fuel. It was observed that using fossil diesel and biogas in the dual-fuel engine significantly slowed down the combustion process, which normally resulted in poorer energy performance. One way to compensate for the lack of energy (due to the presence of carbon dioxide) in the cylinder is to use a gas such as hydrogen, which has a high energy content. To analyze the effect of hydrogen on the dual-fuel combustion process, hydrogen gas was added to the replicated biogas at 10%, 20%, and 30% of the natural gas volume, maintaining the biogas at a (natural gas + hydrogen)-to-carbon dioxide volume ratio of 60%/40% and the expected gas energy share. The combustion process analysis, which was conducted using the AVL BOOST software (Austria), determined the heat release rate, temperature, and cylinder pressure rise in the dual-fuel operation with different renewable fuels and compared the results with those of fossil diesel. It was found that when the engine was operated at medium load and with the flammability of the biogas approaching the limit, the addition of hydrogen significantly improved the combustion characteristics of the dual-fuel engine.

The decarbonisation of maritime transport in connection with the European Union and International Maritime Organisation directives is mainly associated with renewable and low-carbon fuel use. For optimisation of energy indicators of ship power plants in operation on renewable and low-carbon fuel, it is rational to use numerical research methods. The purpose of this research is to devise methodological solutions for determining the heat release characteristics, m and φ_z parameters of Wiebe model that can be applied to mathematical models of diesel engines under operating conditions. Innovative solutions are proposed, which in contrast with the methods used in practice, are not related to experimental registration of combustion cycle parameters. These registration techniques were replaced by the proposed exhaust gas temperature or exhaust manifold surface temperature registration method. The acceptable accuracy of results validates the methodological solutions for solving practical tasks: according to the Wiebe model, the error of determining m and φ_z compared with experimental data does not exceed 3–4%. The proposed method was implemented by simulating the energy indicators of two diesel engines, car engine 1Z 1.9 TDI (P_e = 66 kW; n = 4000 RPM) and multipurpose 8V396TC4 (P_e = 380–600 kW; n = 1850 RPM), in a single-zone model. The variation in experimental data when the engines operated on both diesel and rapeseed methyl ester (a biodiesel fuel), was approximately 1%. The authors anticipate further development of completed solutions with their direct application to ship power plants in real operating conditions.

The article consists of analysis of existing and planned air pollution from ships control and prevention tools such Marpol 73/78 Annex VI, Energy Efficiency Design Index, Energy efficiency operational indicator, Ship energy efficiency management plan, Regulation on the Monitoring Reporting and Verification of shipping emissions, Carbon tax, Maritime emission trading scheme. Norms of these control and prevention tools are difficult to ensue using traditional marine fuels. Pollution rates getting tighter and alternatives have to be used, and some of them have long been known and are not widely used due to objective reasons. Such alternative is natural gas, and its use in ship power plants could reduce concentrations of nitrogen, sulphur, carbon compounds and other pollutants in engine exhaust gas up to acceptable level. The part of maritime sector choosing gas or dual-fuel engines due to tighter pollution rates, and the supply of these engines analyzed in last part of article.

This article examines an integrated approach to data acquisition and transmission within an intelligent thermal conditioning system for engines and vehicles that operates using thermal energy storage and the digital twin concept. The system is characterized by its use of multiple primary energy sources to power internal subsystems and maintain optimal engine and vehicle temperature conditions. Building on a formalized conceptual model of the intelligent thermal conditioning system, the study identifies key technological features required for implementing complex operational processes, as well as the stages necessary for applying the proposed approach during the design and modernization phases throughout the system’s life cycle. A core block diagram of the system’s digital twin is presented, developed using mathematical models that describe support and monitoring processes under real operating conditions. Additionally, an architectural framework for organizing data collection and transmission is proposed, highlighting the integration of digital twin technologies into the thermal conditioning workflow. The article also introduces methods for adaptive data formation, transfer, and processing, supported by a specialized onboard software-diagnostic complex that enables structured information management. The practical implementation of the proposed solutions has the potential to enhance the energy efficiency of thermal conditioning processes and improve the reliability of vehicles employing thermal energy storage technologies.