Wärtsilä and ABB Turbo Systems jointly develo...

Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade & Technical Press release, 20 April 2010

Wärtsilä and ABB Turbo Systems are co-operating in a joint development programme
for a new and groundbreaking application of two-stage turbocharging on large
diesel engines. Advanced engine technology, together with two-stage
turbocharging, offers significant advantages in fuel consumption and engine
emissions.

The application of two-stage turbocharging technology on Wärtsilä diesel engines
has been developed through close co-operation between Wärtsilä and ABB Turbo
Systems. In this programme, Wärtsilä is focusing on developing advanced engine
technology, which with the turbocharger, is able to reach the highest possible
performance and become a cost-effective commercial solution for its customers.
ABB Turbo Systems is delivering the turbocharging technology with defined
performance in terms of airflow, pressure ratios and efficiency.

"ABB Turbo Systems is one of Wärtsilä's main development partners, and has
played an important role in Wärtsilä's product development for more than three
decades. Our customers benefit from the productive and successful R&D activities
of our two companies, both of whom are leaders in their fields," says Mikael
Troberg, Director of Wärtsilä Testing & Performance.

Benefits of reduced emissions and fuel consumption

In the new engine design, two turbochargers are arranged in series to generate
increased air pressure, airflow and a superior turbocharging effect. This
results in an efficiency rating of up to 76 per cent, which is extremely high.
The increased air pressure, combined with the advanced engine technology,
improves the engine output and power density by up to 10 per cent. At the same
time, both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced.

Further emissions reduction can be achieved with additional engine systems or by
the use of exhaust gas after-treatment. A precise combination of fuel
consumption levels and reductions in CO2 and NOx emissions can be selected
through detailed systems configuration. Intelligent engine control allows
optimum operation of the advanced engine design over the whole load range, and a
significant reduction in NOx emissions can be reached. At high altitudes,
2-stage turbocharging technology guarantees the engine's operational performance
by compensating for the reduced air density.

The significant reductions in fuel consumption and emissions are the result of
extensive joint testing of the 2-stage turbocharging system on the Wärtsilä
engine. The tests have taken place at Wärtsilä's test facility in Vaasa,
Finland, and the targets for the development programme have been successfully
met. Wärtsilä and ABB Turbo Systems are planning to initiate a major pilot
project with a customer in the near future.

Lower lifecycle costs

Another driving factor in this development work has been to significantly lower
lifecycle costs, and this target has been met. So too has the goal of lowering
NOx emissions. The market potential for this technology in power plants is
believed to be big. Similarly, the advanced technology for combustion control
developed by Wärtsilä will be beneficial to the shipping market, when the market
requirements are in place. Here, in addition to costs, the compactness and cost
effective design are considered to be of importance. Calculations indicate that
in certain power plant applications, the investment in advanced 2-stage engine
technology could be regained in less than two years of operation.

"The conceptual design for the new power plant engine began three years ago,"
says Mikael Troberg. "Testing of the concept, and verification of the
technology, has been successfully carried out using four-stroke Wärtsilä 20 and
Wärtsilä 32 engines. We see this technology as being a key for the next
generation of Wärtsilä emissions-friendly engines. The technology has been
developed for the four-stroke portfolio, in both marine and power plant
applications. The next logical step is the two-stroke engine family for large
vessels, typically as single engine installations."

Cutting emissions - high on everyone's agenda

Emissions control plays an increasingly important role today, and in particular
reducing CO2 and NOx levels is high on the agenda. Today, the market is
demanding environmentally sound solutions with competitive lifetime costs. This
need continues to pave the way for the introduction of new technologies
developed by Wärtsilä and ABB.

Links to pictures can be found at the end of this release
Caption 1: Illustration of the 2-stage turbocharger on a Wärtsilä 32 engine.
Caption 2: The 2-stage turbocharging technology being tested on a 20-cylinder
Wärtsilä 32 engine in the laboratory in Vaasa, Finland.

Media contact:

Mr Mikael Troberg
Director of the Wärtsilä Testing & Performance
Wärtsilä Corporation
Tel: +39 33 58112489
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

Mrs Gabriela Bättig
General Manager Market Communication
ABB Turbo Systems Ltd
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in complete lifecycle power solutions for the marine
and energy markets. By emphasising technological innovation and total
efficiency, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the
vessels and power plants of its customers.

In 2009, Wärtsilä's net sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion with more than 18,000
employees. The company has operations in 160 locations in 70 countries around
the world. Wärtsilä is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.
www.wartsila.com <

http://www.wartsila.com/>

ABB Turbocharging in brief

ABB Turbocharging is the world leader in turbocharging diesel and gas engines in
the 500 kW plus power range. Some 190'000 ABB turbochargers are in operation
worldwide, on ships, in power plants, on locomotives and in large off-highway
vehicles.

With more than 110 service stations in 55 countries across the globe, the
company guarantees fast, high quality service whenever and wherever it is
needed.
Production, R&D and sales and marketing are based at headquarters in Baden,
Switzerland, where the spare parts center is also
located.www.abb.com/turbocharging



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    2-stage turbocharging technology : 

http://hugin.info/131481/R/1405524/359287.JPG
    2-stage turbocharger on a Wärtsilä 32 engine: 

http://hugin.info/131481/R/1405524/359286.JPG