mtu engines prove reliable on inland waterways

• Series 2000 with improved operating performance for continuous operation successful in the market
• Series 4000 more economical with forward-looking engine technology
• Series 60 engine for the European market

Hamburg - At the Hamburg shipping fair SMM 2002, the offering from MTU Friedrichshafen includes powerful drive systems for ships for use on inland waterways. The focus is on the Series 2000 and 4000, which have been specially optimized by the company for the requirements of inland shipping. Since being launched in the year 2000, the new series of engines, which are available in 12- and 16-cylinder versions, have had an excellent record in continuous duty. Consequently, mtu has managed to break into the inland shipping market with its high-speed heavy-duty engines. The company also prepares the Series 60 in the 300 to 350 kW range for the German and European market.

With regard to the operating results achieved, the engines set new standards in terms of economy, operating performance and ruggedness. Both 2000 and 4000 Series meet the emissions limits of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and already today comply with the emissions limits laid down by the Central Commission for Shipping on the Rhine (ZKR) which come into force as of January 2003. They also have proved their worth as propulsion units for inland ships in the power output range between 400 and 1760 kW. The range of application extends from 80-meter-long container and bulk-cargo barges to cruise ships. For large cruise ships, altogether 40 Series 2000 engines have been sold.

Series 2000 with improved operating performance for continuous operation

The engines of the Series 2000 are available in 8-, 12- and 16V-cylinder versions. For the powering of commercial vessels, the engines cover a power output range from 400 kW to 800 kW at 1800 rpm. The power output range for passenger vehicles extends from 525 to 1050 kW at 2100 rpm.

Series 2000 marine engines have been optimized in several respects for use in inland ships. mtu has reduced the consumption figures and has made the engines more robust and durable. Fuel consumption has been significantly reduced through improvements in the combustion process. Oil consumption, too, has been considerably lowered by means of design measures. It has thus been possible substantially to improve the economy of the engines, one of the essential factors with regard to inland shipping.

The operating performance has likewise been optimized, which means that the engines deliver a significantly higher torque and accelerate more easily in the lower and medium engine speed ranges. This allows the captains of inland ships to maneuver their vehicles with greater accuracy on waterways and in ports. New high-pressure injectors, which provide improved fuel consumption, make the engines both more robust and durable - a further positive factor with regard to continuous-duty endurance, something which is already characteristic of the engines owing to their rugged design. There has also been a significant reduction in smoke emissions under acceleration. Overall, this means that the engines guarantee an operating profile which is tailor-made for inland ships, especially with regard to tough continuous duty in inland ships, some of which are in operation 24 hours a day. The TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of these engines are roughly 24,000 hours - depending on the load and service profile of the ship.

Series 2000 successful in the market

Since their launch in 1996, the Series 2000 has proved its worth in many applications as a ship's propulsion unit. Last year alone, mtu sold over 1700 engines of this series, with over 500 being used to power ships. The range of application of the Series 2000 in the field of commercial vessels includes not only ships for use on inland waterways, but also public-authority and passenger vessels, freighters, push-boats and other vessels requiring high standards of stability, reliability and economy. There is a strong demand for the engines for use in ships with a heavy workload, e.g. in high-speed single- and double-hull ferries. There is also a sustained high level of demand from the market for high-speed yachts up to 35 meters in length and from the market for high-speed public-authority vessels.

Series 4000 more economical

Technical innovation with regard to Series 4000 engines has focused on a reduction of lube oil consumption, which is now only 0.3 percent of the standard fuel consumption. This improvement has been accomplished by re-optimizing the interplay between piston, cylinder liner and piston rings. This guarantees economical continuous operation.

Similarly, Series 4000 engines are 4-stroke diesel engines with direct fuel injection, exhaust-gas turbocharging and charge-air cooling, 4.06 liters displacement per cylinder, a bore of 165 mm and a stroke of 190 mm. They are available in 8V-, 12V- and 16V versions. mtu offers these engines for the powering of commercial vessels in the power output range from 700 kW to 1460 kW at 1600 rpm and for passenger shipping in the power output range from 880 kW to 1760 kW at 1800 rpm. The TBO up to the first major overhaul is up to 30,000 hours depending on load profile. The engines operate to the great satisfaction of the ships' owners, who especially appreciate the low fuel consumption and reliability of the engines.

Forward-looking engine technology

The optimized engines of the Series 4000 feature a number of forward-looking technologies, this having an impact above all with regard to functionality, reliability and economy. One of the forward-looking technologies embodied in the Series 4000 is Common Rail injection. This injection process has proved its worth in many applications. The Common Rail system allows all those injection parameters which influence combustion to be freely determined. One of the advantages of this is that both fuel consumption and exhaust emissions can be significantly reduced at the same time. The Series 4000 has successfully established itself on the market. To date, over 380 engines have been sold as ship's propulsion systems. Both engine series offer a wide range of further advanced technologies, including a split "intelligent" coolant system which guarantees the optimum temperature of engine coolant, oil and charge air under all operating conditions. Three-walled, encapsulated exhaust-gas pipes ensure that the surface temperature at no point exceeds the permissible values. A decisive factor with regard to the functionality of the engines is the electronic engine management system, which automatically controls and monitors all the functions of the engines. It allows the engine to be integrated into a comprehensive control and monitoring concept of the entire propulsion system and of other areas of the ship.

Series 60 engine for the European market

The Series 60 engines are new in the European market. They are produced at Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) in Detroit on behalf of mtu. This modern, turbocharged engine with charge air cooling and electronic engine management has direct diesel injection. With a bore of 146 mm and a stroke of 168 mm, the engine has a volume of 2.3 litres per cylinder. It is built exclusively as inline six cylinder engine with a swept volume of 14 litres. Like the other engines in the mtu program, the S 60 fulfills the IMO limits in the US standard. It's power range for inland ships reaches from 298 to 354 kW at 1800 rpm, the maximum TBO being 15,000 hours. Up to now, 500 units have been delivered for work boats.