Project BIMA received funding from the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), through the Sino-Malta Fund 2021 (Science and Technology Cooperation).
Together with the academic institutions of HEU and UM, this project also includes two industrial partners, namely Gozo Channel Ltd. and Henan Diesel Engines. The research is on the application of Dual Fuel (diesel and Liquified Natural Gas LNG) in marine engines and looks into the combustion stability and combustion improvement during transients.
While in Malta, Professor Ding and Dr Xiang met with the Pro-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer at UM, Prof. Ing. Simon G. Fabri, delivering a presentation about HEU together with information regarding the progress of the project BIMA. The UM researchers from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of System and Control Engineering provided further information regarding the aims of the project while touring the Thermodynamics Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering, where novel dual fuelling technologies are being developed and tested.
The Chinese delegation also met with Ing. Etienne Agius from Gozo Channel Ltd. who provided a tour of the MV Malita which is the vessel used for data acquisition in this project. Prof. Ding and Dr Xiang accompanied by Prof. Mario Farrugia and Mr Anthony Saliba also visited MCST in Kalkara and were given a tour of Esplora.
