Power and sales up

There have been a number of additions to the auxiliary engines market of late and, for some manufacturers, increased sales.

Volvo Penta says that, despite declining markets, it has managed to increase sales, particularly in the commercial marine market where it saw an increase of 14%.

“We have been operating in a declining market for some time, but despite this we have succeeded in increasing our sales by attracting new customers in all our business segments,” says Staffan Jufors, Volvo Penta?s president.

The most recent engine to be introduced by the company is the D12 Heavy Duty ? a 12-litre unit that the company says is the first of a new generation of engines for heavy commercial operations.

The D12 features total electronic control that provides more efficient combustion with improved performance, lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, increased reliability and a longer operating life for the engine, says Volvo. Such performance means the engine is suited to marine auxiliary functions and as a complete generator unit.

The D12 is an in-line, six-cylinder marine diesel, with unit injectors (operating at up to 1,800 bar), five-hole injection nozzles, an electronic diesel control (EDC) system and an extremely sturdy basic design, including a seven-bearing crankshaft. This has resulted in an engine with high output and powerful torque, says Volvo.

“The electronics system used in the engine is one very important reason for the engine?s high operating safety and reliability,” says Anders Hård, the D12 project leader. “The EDC system continuously monitors and controls the engine, enabling it to always operate under optimal conditions.”

The system also includes a number of safeguard functions that dramatically reduce the risk of engine damage. Another function is that the fresh-water cooled charged-air cooler has been connected with the engine?s cooling system to avoid unnecessary cooling of the charge air, enabling reduced exhaust emissions when idling.

The D12 fulfils all existing emission stipulations governing commercial operation and also the upcoming European and US standards. The D12 is manufactured at Volvo?s engine plant in Skövde and adapted for marine applications at the Volvo Penta plant in Gothenburg.

Earlier this year Caterpillar launched a new commercial version of its 3126B marine propulsion engine ? the Cat 3126B. The engine has been designed for commercial applications requiring heavy, medium and intermittent duty engine performance in vessels such as small freighters, tugboats, fishing boats, ferries, offshore supply vessels, customs, pilot and patrol craft.

The 7.2 litre, in-line six-cylinder unit offers power ratings of 186kW, 205kW and 235kW at 2, 400 rev/min.

The engine is equipped with Caterpillar?s electronic control and fuel systems technology and the Electronic Control Module (ECM) has been updated with a faster, more powerful processor for improved performance. Caterpillar says the software control logic is written to match power and torque to the required application, while at the same time meeting IMO NOx regulations.

The engine features Caterpillar?s patented HEUI fuel system, which uses hydraulically actuated, electronically controlled unit injectors, which says the company allows complete, adjustment-free electronic control of fuel injection pressure, timing and duration. This provides greater flexibility for programmed electronic control strategies that determine engine performance and emissions control characteristics.

Better combustion airflow has been achieved from a new turbocharger and three-valve cross flow cylinder head design coupled with an articulated two-piece piston. Caterpillar says that this increases power output while at the same time reducing emissions, without increasing the loads, stresses and wear on engine components.

Perkins Sabre has launched its 700GM ? based on the naturally aspirated three-litre, four-cylinder direct injection diesel engine ? the M65 propulsion engine for small craft.

The engine is built to Lloyd?s Quality Assurance scheme and Bureau Veritas Mode 1 approval.

The company claims a generator output of 33.8kW at 1,500 rev/min and 39.6kW at 1,800 rev/min, and continuous outputs of 30.6kW and 35.8kW for the 1,500 rev/min and 1,800 rev/min variants respectively. This equates to a maximum typical generator output of 33.8 kVa at 1,500 rev/min and 39.4 kVa at 1,800 rev/min, and continuous outputs of 30.6 kVa and 35.8 kVa, which makes it only suitable for small ships or for use as an emergency generator for vital equipment on larger vessels.

A microprocessor-based, digital control electronic governor controls the rated speed to either 1,500 rev/min or 1,800 rev/min, allowing standard builds to operate at either 50Hz or 60Hz.

The engine also has what Perkins Sabre describes as “single side servicing” ? a characteristic of all its engines. The company also claims an extended service interval of 500-hours or 12-months before an oil change.

A high capacity heat exchanger and a gear-driven seawater pump keeps temperatures down. The engine has been designed for operation in ambient temperatures up to 52oC, seawater temperatures of up to 39oC, and is fitted with a fuelled starting aid for temperatures as low as -15oC.

Optional equipment includes 12V marine insulated electrics, water-injected or dry exhaust outlets, heat exchanger and keel cooling, fuel filters and pre-filters, a tool kit and calorifier connections.

While Bergen launched its B32:40 onto the market in the spring of 2001 the limelight at the time was stolen by the launch of its C25:33 engine. The B32:40 has seen 40 engines either on order or delivered since then mainly to the offshore sector and fishing markets. A spokesperson for Rolls-Royce Marine Engines- Bergen says: “Our experience with the engines are quite good so far – the first vessel to use the Bergen B32:40 engine from Rolls-Royce is Far Saltire from Farstad Shipping.” Four Bergen B32:40L6P engines are installed on resilient mountings and each delivers 3000kW at 750 rev/min.

Yanmar has developed a new generation of diesel engines ? the EY26 series. The engines are intended to achieve high efficiency, low fuel consumption and high performance while operating in harmony with the environment.

The company has developed what it describes as a unique combustion system called ASSIGN. At the same time the manufacturer used a model to carry out a full simulation of the complete air intake/exhaust system with the aim of increasing the intake/ exhaust works. This was accompanied by an attempt to develop a turbocharging system that could simultaneously achieve low fuel consumption and loading ease.

Mechanical loss reduction was also successfully pursued, says the Japanese engine maker.

Ease of outfitting and maintenance was a key factor with modularisation and functional integration resulting in 40 fewer components. This can be seen in the lub oil cooler, which has been modularised with its bypass pipe and temperature control valve built into the case. The intercooler case also functions as the turbocharger base.

An inserted-type intercooler contributes to cleaning ease and a three-piece connecting rod ensures rigidity and allows for easier maintenance.

Piping points are reduced by the use of a mixing type freshwater cooling system and pipework connections are concentrated on the front side for ease of connection.

L32/40 good for 20,000 hour TBO

MAN B&W says its L32/40 Holeby gensets are suitable for 20,000 hour intervals between overhauls of cylinder covers and pistons. It basis its assertion on the accumulated operating experience of one such engine installed on the 6,000 TEU AP M?ller container ship Regina Maersk. The engine ? one of four identical gensets on the ship ? has run on the same HFO as the main engine and has been subject to critical inspections at 10,000 hours, 14,000 hours and 18,000 hours. Each inspection led to a subsequent extension of the time between overhaul. MAN B&W initially recommended a time between overhaul of 12,000 hours when the ship entered service in January 1996. It says that with a major overhaul costing about 10% of the engine price, the extension of the time between overhauls is “essential for obtaining low running cost”.

Himsen type approval

Hyundai Heavy Industries? Himsen engine has recently undergone a six-day type approval test, with the classification societies ABS, BV, DNV, GL, KR, LR, NK and RINA all in attendance. Hyundai says the engine achieved high scores on engine output, vibration, noise and emission volume of waste gas.

The company now expects a considerable increase in turnover, through both domestic and international market expansion, as a result of the engine gaining type approval following the test. To date it has sold about 70 engines.