"Intelligent" Combustion Monitoring for 2-Stroke Diesels

Wärtsilä introduced its Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system for two-stroke diesel engines; a system designed to provide ship operators and owners with  information that enables operators to optimize vessel engine performance, and to be aware of the condition of components in the combustion chamber.
By operating at optimal firing pressures, fuel cost savings of up to two percent compared to deteriorated parameters can be achieved. Furthermore, the condition information ensures that maintenance is carried out at the right time.
The Wärtsilä Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system provides a means for measuring the pressures in each cylinder during the entire combustion process, continuously, in parallel, and under all load conditions. By monitoring the exact position of the crankshaft, and in combination with advanced mathematical modelling of the engine, it provides highly accurate, real-time data for diagnostic analysis.
Conventional cylinder pressure measurement systems, such as portable pressure indicators, or on-line systems that measure the combustion pressure cylinder by cylinder in a scanning sequence, are influenced by movements of the fuel rack, rpm variations, and sea conditions.
Wärtsilä solution, according the manufacturer, has the ability and real time capacity to collect the combustion pressures and angle values for each cylinder, in parallel and simultaneously, stroke by stroke. The crankshaft deflection is calculated on a continuous basis, thus ensuring that the information given is accurate regardless of engine load conditions. The monitored data covers, amongst other things, the thermal overload of individual cylinders (MIP); the mechanical overload of individual cylinders (Pmax); the optimal fuel efficiency; power readings (MIP and IPOW); the condition of the cylinders (Pmax + diagram shape); load dependent monitoring of the combustion parameters (MIP, Pmax, aPmax, Pcomp, Ptdc, Pign, aPign, etc.) and comparisons between cylinders; the tracking of gas leaks due to worn liners or broken piston rings (Pcomp); the tracking of exhaust valve components (Pcomp); and the tracking of the fuel equipment (Pmax + diagram shape).

Co-operation agreement with ABB
The Wärtsilä Intelligent Combustion Monitoring system integrates the well-known ABB Cylmate system, for which ABB and Wärtsilä have signed a co-operation and distribution agreement earlier this year. Under this agreement, Wärtsilä takes responsibility for global sales, installation, and lifetime service of the system for all two-stroke engines, both for upgrades to engines in operation and as an option for new-buildings. The synergies of this co-operation between two world-renowned technology providers offer numerous customer benefits. Wärtsilä's global sales and services network provides worldwide customer support; the system can be supplied on a turnkey basis with installation and commissioning handled by a single entity; and the engine designer's specialist services and support capacity is further enhanced. Further development of the system's technology will be carried out jointly, utilizing the combined know-how of the system developer and the engine designer.