|
This
is some engine:
Maximum
power: 108,920 hp at 102
rpm
Maximum torque: 5,608,312 lb/ft
at 102rpm
 The
Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged
two-stroke diesel engine is the most
powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the
world today. The Aioi Works of Japan
's
Diesel
United, Ltd built the first engines and is
where some
of these pictures were taken. It
is available in 6 through 14 cylinder
versions,
all are inline engines. These
engines were designed primarily for very
large
container ships. Ship owners like
a single engine/single propeller design
and
the new generation of larger container
ships needed a bigger engine to
propel
them. The cylinder bore is just
under 38" and the stroke is just
over
98". Each cylinder displaces
111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters)
and
produces 7780 horsepower. Total
displacement comes out to 1,556,002
cubic
inches (25,480 liters) for the
fourteen cylinder
version.
Some facts on the 14
cylinder version:
Total
engine weight:
2300 tons (The
crankshaft alone weighs 300
tons.)
Length: 89
feet
Height: 44
feet
Maximum
power: 108,920 hp at 102
rpm
Maximum
torque: 5,608,312 lb/ft at
102rpm
Fuel consumption
at maximum power is 0.278 lbs per hp per
hour (Brake
Specific Fuel Consumption).
Fuel consumption at maximum economy is
0.260
lbs/hp/hour. At maximum economy
the engine exceeds 50% thermal efficiency.
That
is, more than 50% of the energy in
the fuel in converted to
motion.
For comparison, most
automotive and small aircraft engines have
BSFC figures
in the 0..40-0.60 lbs/hp/hr
range and 25-30% thermal efficiency
range.
Even at its most
efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes
1,660 gallons
of heavy fuel oil per
hour.
A cross section of the
RTA96C:
The internals of
this engine are a bit different than most
automotive
engines.
The top of the
connecting rod is not attached directly to
the piston. The top
of the connecting
rod attaches to a "crosshead" which rides in
guide
channels. A long piston rod then
connects the crosshead to the
piston.
I assume this is done so the the
sideways forces produced by the
connecting
rod are absorbed by the crosshead
and not by the piston.. Those
sideways
forces are what makes the
cylinders in an auto engine get
oval-shaped
over
time.
The
crank sitting in the block (also known as
a "gondola-style"
bedplate). This is a 10
cylinder version. Note the steps by each
crank throw
that lead down into the
crankcase:
A piston &
piston rod assembly. The piston is at the
top. The large
square plate at the bottom is
where the whole assembly attaches to
the
crosshead: |