Worlds largest common-rail engine

The first Sulzer RT-flex96C low-speed marine engine has successfully completed its official shop test at HSD Engine in Korea. With an output of 45,760 kW, this is the largest engine to employ common-rail systems for fuel injection and valve actuation.

Developed by Wärtsilä Corporation, Sulzer RT-flex engines are the most advanced large marine engines available for ship propulsion today and a key virtue of common-rail systems has been that they can be modular with standardised hardware applicable to more than one engine bore size.

Built under licence from Wärtsilä by HSD, the engine tested is an eight-cylinder engine and is one of four ordered last year for four 3,700 TEU L-class container ships contracted at Odense Steel Shipyard, Denmark, by the Danish group A.P. M?ller-Maersk (three vessels) and Deutsche Afrika Line GmbH & Co (one vessel).

After being run-in, the engine was subjected to an intensive eight-day test programme to check, adjust and confirm the engine control system and all aspects of engine performance. Throughout the tests, the engine ran very satisfactorily. All the tests were completed without difficulties. Measured fuel consumptions were completely in accordance with expectations at both full load and right across the part-load range. The measured NOX emissions were below the limit set in Annex VI of the MARPOL 73/78 convention while smokeless operation was also confirmed.