The biggest service provider in the maritime business, Wartsila, introduced a completely new
brand of vessel engines, which are based on well-proven and established low pressure
technology. Wartsila successfully completed tests with the new 2-stroke dual-fuel engines on
gas.
The 1st of the Wartsila's engines, RT-flex50DF is scheduled to be delivered by the end of
2014. The implications of the new Wartsila engines are for the vessel operators and owners
are going to be referred to as a game-changer for merchant shipping. The other series of the
brand new engines of Wartsila, the X-series are scheduled to be ready for delivery in 2015
and 2016.
Both new 2-stroke engines of Wartsila are going to be dual-fuel (DF) low pressure versions.
The brand new Wartsila engines will offer capital expenditure reductions (CAPEX) of 15-20
per cent, revealed studies. This results will be achieved by substantially lower and much
simpler cost of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas handling system, which operates at
pressure, working under 10 bars. Which is really impressive with the new engines technology is
that there are no needed cleaning systems for exhaust gases to meet any emission
regulations. The brand new Wartsila engines are constructed to meet IMO Tier III emissions
compliant in gas mode and to cover the Tier II minimum level with liquid natural gas
.
In addition, there will be considerable gains on the operating expenditure (OPEX) side with the
new engine technology of Wartsila. This OPEX will be due to the otioseness of the external
high pressure compression system for gas and the NOx abatement system on the ship will be
no longer required. The new technology of the engines makes the gas operation across the
whole load range stable. Due to this, there will be no longer needed to switch to diesel as is the
current case with other ship technologies. Furthermore, the fuel consumption of the technology
is only 1% of the entire fuel amount, and therefore pretty much lower compared to other
technologies.
The new engine low pressure system for gas of Wartsila fulfils all the safety requirements
. Since gas technology with low pressure is the standard for all four-stroke engine makers
today, the merit of this concept is clearly proven.
“The benefits of the new low pressure dual-fuel technology for 2-stroke engines are significant.
Describing this as a game-changing development for merchant shipping is certainly no
exaggeration, since the many advantages of being able to use gas and LNG as primary fuel
are now, for the first time ever, available to virtually all vessel types. Our well proven
technologies for both the engines and the onboard gas and LNG handling systems, can now be
applied to this wider market. With the adaption of low pressure dual-fuel technology to 2-stroke
engines, Wärtsilä brings the proven advantages it has demonstrated in the 4-stroke, medium-
speed DF engine market to its 2-stroke low speed engine customers,” says Mr Martin Wernli,
Vice President, 2-stroke, Wärtsilä Ship Power.
The spokesperson of Wartsila announced that the company is currently in finalising all required
documents for the 1st of its brand new engine types, the Wartsila RT-flex50DF. Furthermore,
the Classification Society approvals preparations are underway.
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