Switzerland: Wärtsilä Develops Mid-Size, Low-Speed Engines

Wärtsilä, the marine industry’s leading ship power system integrator, strengthens its offering in the mid-size, low-speed engine sector by adding new 62- and 72-bore low-speed engines to its portfolio. Development work on the new engines is carried out at Wärtsilä’s Low-Speed Competence Centre in Winterthur, Switzerland. The first 62-bore engine will be available for delivery in September 2013 and the first 72-bore engine will be available approximately one year later.

Both engines employ well-proven Wärtsilä low-speed technology, and incorporate electronically-controlled fuel supply and control. The 62-bore engine with a bore of 620 mm has four to eight cylinders, each with an output of 2660 kW at a speed of 97-103 rpm, with main supplying target of the smaller capesize bulk carriers, Panamax bulk carriers, Aframax tankers, and handysize container vessels. The 72-bore engine has a bore of 720 mm and four to eight cylinders, each with an output of 3610 kW at a speed of 84-89 rpm, with ideal application of capesize bulk carriers, Suezmax tankers, and Sub-Panamax to Panamax container vessels.

Compared to recent engines, the stroke/bore ratio offers good internal efficiency with a gain of 1-2 percent, and depending on the vessel type, the lower engine speeds make it possible to improve propulsion efficiency by 2-6 percent. These standardized engines offer high propulsion efficiency, reliability, and optimized total cost of ownership for customers in the bulker, tanker, and feeder container markets.

[mappress]

Source: csgcic, June 14, 2011;