A Large Diesel Engine 7780bhp

[Nick VR4]

The Most Powerful Diesel Engine in the World!

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 INSERT INTO post VALUES (1820 liters) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches INSERT INTO post VALUES (25,480 liters) for the fourteen cylinder version.

Some facts on the 14 cylinder version:
Total engine weight: 2300 tons INSERT INTO post VALUES (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 INSERT INTO post VALUES (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.

[Nick Mann]

Come on then Dave, what are you going to strap this beastie on to?

[tunes]

haha now will this fit in a skoda?

[Brind]

You guys are missing the point, the engine is at the bottom left. :rolleyes:

[zedy1]

:lolz: got me looking

[Kieran]

Look at the crank on that!:eek:

[zedy1]

i woildnt mined to see the starter

[Darren]

We buy engines from Wartsila. Do you want the email address.

[Kieran]

More piccies of this staggering engine here.

I wonder what it sounds like at full chat?

http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/

[KiwiTT]

Originally posted by Nick VR4
....Even at it's most efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour.

I never complain about fuel consumption again :lolz:

[LANCERMIVEC]

The galants MPG is quie poor though!!!!

[Nevman]

What do they use as the spark plug!!!
A fireplace ???

(I know that they are not actually spark plugs but can't remember what it calls for diesel engine)

[psbarham]

What do they use as the spark plug!!!
A fireplace ???

(I know that they are not actually spark plugs but can't remember what it calls for diesel engine)

theres nothing to ignite the fuel in the way that a perol engine has , a deisel relies on heat created by compression. there are two parts to this.
1 ) the fuel is compreesd by the fuel pump and then when the pressure gets high enough its fired through the injector at high pressure through teeny tiny holes(technical name ) this atomises the fuel into a very fine mist.
2) as the piston travels up the bore it sqaushes the air and this creates large amounts of heat, see how how a bike pump gets

when the fuel is injected into the very hot air of the cyl it ignites and drives the piston back down. i know i have missed a few parts out but its 7 in the morning and i'm late for work and trying to eat porridge

[d i c k i e s]

wheres the belt?

[DefeXion]

The sparky is called a glow plug and it just heats up the cylinder to get it going. Once it's cranking, the glow plug turns off.


What do they start it with? They probably have an electric motor that starts a 3 litre motor, that starts a 10 litre motor, that starts a 20 litre motor that starts this

[psbarham]

What do they start it with? They probably have an electric motor that starts a 3 litre motor, that starts a 10 litre motor, that starts a 20 litre motor that starts this

compressed air normally , or a really big cranking handle

[Kieran]

I wonder if they use the generator - Thinking about how train engines are cranked over?

[Kieran]

compressed air normally

Oh right! So they just pressurise a cylinder or two then to get things turning?

[psbarham]

Oh right! So they just pressurise a cylinder or two then to get things turning?

yeh , thats about the size of it

[Mark 4]

They use air at 30 bar pressure. I sell compressors and spare parts for the Merchant Marine Industry. I've been on a coupleof ships and the engines are absolutely massive. They are called Cathedral engines due to the tapering shape. When they check the main bearings they unbolt a hatch and physically go into the crankcase. The scale of them is absolutely mind boggling.