| =20
The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine =
is the=20
most powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the world =
today. The=20
Aioi Works of Japan's Diesel United, Ltd built the first engines =
and is=20
where some of these pictures were taken.=20
It is available in = 6 through=20 14 cylinder versions, all are inline engines. These engines = were=20 designed primarily for very large container ships. Ship = owners like=20 a single engine/single propeller design and the new generation of = larger=20 container ships needed a bigger engine to propel them. The cylinder bore = is just=20 under 38" and the stroke is just over 98". Each cylinder = displaces=20 111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters) and produces 7780 = horsepower. =20 Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 = liters) for=20 the fourteen cylinder version.
Fuel consumption at =
maximum=20
power is 0.278 lbs per hp per hour (Brake Specific Fuel=20
Consumption). Fuel consumption at maximum economy is 0.260=20
lbs/hp/hour. At maximum economy the engine exceeds 50% =
thermal=20
efficiency. That is, more than 50% of the energy in the fuel =
in=20
converted to motion. Even at it's most = efficient=20 power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil = per=20 hour. = | ||||||||||||||||
| A cross=20
section of the RTA96C:=20
The =
internals of this=20
engine are a bit different than most automotive=20
engines. | ||||||||||||||||
| Installing=20
the "thin-shell" bearings. Crank & rod journals are 38" =
in=20
diameter and 16" wide:=20
| ||||||||||||||||
| The crank=20
sitting in the block (also known as a "gondola-style" =
bedplate). =20
This is a 10 cylinder version. Note the steps by each crank = throw that=20 lead down into the crankcase:=20
| ||||||||||||||||
| A piston=20
& piston rod assembly. The piston is at the top. =
The large=20
square plate at the bottom is where the whole assembly attaches to =
the=20
crosshead:=20
| ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
| The=20
cylinder deck (10 cylinder version). Cylinder liners are =
die-cast=20
ductile cast iron. Look at the size of those head =
studs!:=20
| ||||||||||||||||
| The first=20
completed 12 cylinder engine:=20
This is a copy of the page produced by Todd=20 = Walke |
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/cross-section.jpg")
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c_bearings.jpg"=20)
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c_crank.jpg"=20)
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c_piston.jpg"=20)
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/pistons.jpg")
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/pistonrods.jpg"=20)
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c_cyldeck.jpg"=20)
![](3D"http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/rta96c.jpg")