WinGD innovates in X-DF lubrication system

The Integrated Cylinder Lubricant Auto Transfer (iCAT) features a second lubricant oil line, to facilitate the change-over of the cylinder lubricant oil between high and low BN oils. Cylinder lubrication in X-DF engines operates on a once-through basis, in which a hydraulic pump supplies oil to the cylinder liner through slits and nozzles on the cylinder liner running surface.

By automatically selecting the appropriate lubricant for the gas or liquid fuel, the system reduces the risk of human error, which could lead to corrosion and in the worst case scuffing between the piston and piston liner if a gas-optimised lower BN lubricant were used with heavy fuel oil (HFO), for instance.

The new concept permits “almost immediate” change-over of lubricant oils, as the lubricant oil change-over occurs directly in front of the lubricant oil pump, eliminating the delay in waiting for lubricant oil to empty from other single-line systems.

According to Konrad Räss, WinGD director, research and development, the system is standard now on X-DF engines. It has been installed on some X-DF engines already and will be standard on the biggest Otto cycle engine, the X92DF engines, that are set to be delivered from April as well. It will subsequently be extended across WinGD’s X-DF portfolio.

Research into fine-tuning the properties of the lubricating oil for dual-fuel engines in continuing, as more data on the operational experience of managing dual-fuel engines becomes available, with the impact of fuel ratios in fuel-sharing mode on lubrication oil type a particular area of attention.