OPERATING PIELSTICK PC3 ENGINES ON HIGH-VANADIUM HEAVY FUEL

On her return from the U.S.A., after her medium-speed engines had been operating on low-quality fuel for more than 3 1/2 years, the passenger/car ferry Bolero (asimilar ship to the Engle) dry-docked at the Aker Group's Nylands yard. The two engines had then each accumulated nearly 23,000 operating hours since the ship's delivery in Feb. 1973. These two 12PC3V-480 Diesels are the third and fourth production PC3 engines; the first and second are in the Eagle. The article, which mentions that early difficulties with the Eagle's engines were corrected and have not recurred in the Bolero, describes the condition of the latter's engines as demonstrated at the Nylands shipyard. Most of Bolero's fuel had been taken aboard at Miami, and although it was of low viscosity (about 400 sec. Redwood No. 1) it had about 400 ppm of vanadium and about 2.5% of sulphur. The fuel was given on special shipboard treatment. The article includes some detailed analyses of the bunkers, and some data on liner wear. The condition of the liners, pistons, rings, and bottom-end bearings was generally satisfactory, but difficulties with maintenance had led to choking of the inter-coolers, with consequent shortened exhaust- valve life and corrosion of the exhaust ducting; some information is included on the corrective action being taken. Maintenance of the PC3 compares very favourably with that of low-speed engines. This is particularly important in ships such as the Bolero, which has only a small engine-room staff and whose machinery spaces have to be manned at all times at sea.

• Corporate Authors:

  Whitehall Technical Press Limited

  29 Palace Street, Westminster
  London SW1,   England 
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 3 p.
• Serial:
  • Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering International
  • Volume: 99
  • Publisher: Whitehall Technical Press Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Engine performance; Engines; Ferries; Fuel composition; Fuel processing; Vehicle maintenance; Vehicle power plants; Wear
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fuel quality
• Old TRIS Terms: Diesel maintenance; Engine maintenance; Medium speed diesels; Propulsion plant performance
• Subject Areas: Energy; Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00153042
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Ship Research Association
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1977 12:00AM