Wärtsilä launches Intelligent Combustion Moni...
Wärtsilä Corporation, Trade and Technical press release, 29 October 2010
Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading solution provider, has introduced its
Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system for two-stroke diesel engines. The
system provides ship operators and owners with significant benefits by providing
information that enables operators to optimize vessel engine performance, and to
be aware of the condition of components in the combustion chamber.
By operating at optimal firing pressures, fuel cost savings of up to two per
cent compared to deteriorated parameters can be achieved. Furthermore, the
condition information ensures that maintenance is carried out at the right time,
thereby avoiding off-hire costs and improving the engine's reliability and
overall performance.
The Wärtsilä Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system provides a means for
measuring the pressures in each cylinder during the entire combustion process,
continuously, in parallel, and under all load conditions. By monitoring the
exact position of the crankshaft, and in combination with advanced mathematical
modelling of the engine, it provides highly accurate, real-time data for
diagnostic analysis.
Conventional cylinder pressure measurement systems, such as portable pressure
indicators, or on-line systems that measure the combustion pressure cylinder by
cylinder in a scanning sequence, are influenced by movements of the fuel rack,
rpm variations, and sea conditions.
Accurate information regardless of conditions
The Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system has the ability and real time
capacity to collect the combustion pressures and angle values for each cylinder,
in parallel and simultaneously, stroke by stroke. The crankshaft deflection is
calculated on a continuous basis, thus ensuring that the information given is
accurate regardless of engine load conditions. The monitored data covers,
amongst other things, the thermal overload of individual cylinders (MIP); the
mechanical overload of individual cylinders (Pmax); the optimal fuel efficiency;
power readings (MIP and IPOW); the condition of the cylinders (Pmax + diagram
shape); load dependent monitoring of the combustion parameters (MIP, Pmax,
aPmax, Pcomp, Ptdc, Pign, aPign, etc.) and comparisons between cylinders; the
tracking of gas leaks due to worn liners or broken piston rings (Pcomp); the
tracking of exhaust valve components (Pcomp); and the tracking of the fuel
equipment (Pmax + diagram shape).
Co-operation agreement with ABB
The Wärtsilä Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system integrates the well-known
ABB Cylmate system, for which ABB and Wärtsilä have signed a co-operation and
distribution agreement earlier this year. Under this agreement, Wärtsilä takes
responsibility for global sales, installation, and lifetime service of the
system for all two-stroke engines, both for upgrades to engines in operation and
as an option for new-buildings.
The synergies of this co-operation between two world-renowned technology
providers offer numerous customer benefits. Wärtsilä's global sales and services
network provides worldwide customer support; the system can be supplied on a
turnkey basis with installation and commissioning handled by a single entity;
and the engine designer's specialist services and support capacity is further
enhanced. Further development of the system's technology will be carried out
jointly, utilizing the combined know-how of the system developer and the engine
designer.
The latest in a series of solutions
The launch of the Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system marks a milestone in
a series of Wärtsilä solutions aimed at two-stroke engines. The aim is to
optimize both the reliability and maintenance intervals of these engines, and is
in line with the company's efforts to provide solutions that lower overall
operating costs. The Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system extends the
Wärtsilä family of condition monitoring devices, and can be integrated with the
company's performance and condition monitoring solution. This automatically
transmits data to Wärtsilä's server for further evaluation by engine experts,
and provides structured reporting to the technical managers with value-adding
expert recommendations.
This family will be further extended in early 2011 with the introduction of an
Intelligent Combustion Control system for Wärtsilä's electronically controlled
two-stroke RT-flex engines. This system utilizes the measured data in the
engine's control system, and automatically adjusts the compression and firing
pressures within the engine's performance and NOx regulation limits. The result
is well-balanced engine performance, and optimized fuel efficiency. The
solutions will also be available as a combined system for RT-flex engines.
"This is an important product introduction that offers significant benefits to
two-stroke engine operators, both in the area of cost savings and in extending
the lifecycle of the equipment. Furthermore, by ensuring that the engine is
working according to its certificate and optimal performance curves, CO2
emissions are reduced, which is an increasingly important consideration today.
The Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system strengthens Wärtsilä's position as
a total solutions provider," says Peter Hug, Product Manager for Wärtsilä two-
stroke engine service solutions.
Media contact:
Ms Marit Holmlund-Sund
Senior Manager, PR and Marketing Communications
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 709 1439
Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425
e-mail:marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com
Internet:www.wartsila.com
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
ABB in brief
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and
industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental
impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs
about 117,000 people. Â www.abb.com
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Source: Wärtsilä Oyj Abp via Thomson Reuters ONE