The PBL agreement signed in 2017 focuses on improving engine performance and efficiency among other areas of interest. This upgrade was part of ongoing talks and focused mainly on utilising the latest technology to improve the performance of one of the six Wärtsilä 9L46 engines.
Clear fuel savings
The Wärtsilä 46 performance upgrade included the installation of a new compressor wheel and a camshaft replacement to allow for Miller inlet timing. These new features increased efficiency over a wide range of engine operations, which was particularly noticeable in the reduction of thermal load, an improved turbocharger speed margin and significant fuel savings.
Wärtsilä was able to show the effects of a performance upgrade on a Wärtsilä 46 engine. “We have gained savings in fuel consumption over the whole load range and for the optimised 75% load 6gr/kWh, which correspond to 3%. In addition, the improved combustion process will also improve the lifetime of the engine,” says Mr Carbonera.
According to Mr Carbonera, upgrades are planned and made in combination with other scheduled maintenance to minimise the time an engine is out of service. “However, if we test, for example, a prototype to establish if clear benefits can be achieved, we need to be able to separate these results from normal maintenance measures.”