pro_junior Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 06:08AM

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 it's most efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour.

Mrkim Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 11:39AM

Very impressive, thanks Pro !

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 02:31PM

Interesting thanks, although I notice that the engine speeed is quoted in rpm, as opposed to the more usual metres per second.

Sulzer, were always known as 'dustbin engines' due to their apparent ability to burn almost anything in their two stroke diesels.

At this size, the motor will obviously be a 'crosshead' design, due primarily to the stroke and overall width of the engine.

As an aside, Gardner diesels, were producing engines with a thermal efficiency of 48% back in the sixties.

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 05:05PM

some dumb kid will try and stuff that into a honda...with a fart pipe

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 09:37PM

I wish there was a view of the other side of this thing as well. I'D LOVE to see what they're doin for boost !

About 3 yrs ago there was a 1600lb exhaust turbine housing for sale on Ebay that came off a ship engine, it was fuckin Huge !

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: March 22, 2006 09:58PM

it's just funny to see what you can find on ebay..

Mrkim Report This Comment
Date: March 23, 2006 01:38AM

I wanted that housing BADLY ! I was gonna make it into a base for a round glass topped living room table. The housing closed at somewhere around $200, but the shipping costs would have been a bitch!

I have a collection of 4 different style/application turbos sitting atop my fridge. Mama got the boot and they're back where they belong again ! :>

Anonymous Report This Comment
Date: March 24, 2006 02:28AM

Aioi, Japan? Realy?
There are Hankul in pic #1.
Or Aioi's factory in South Korea?

Nice set p_j!