Rolls-Royce Unveils New Medium Speed V-Engines

September 19, 2018

The new Rolls-Royce medium speed V engines will consist of 12, 16 and 20 cylinder, and are available in both gas and liquid fuel variants. (Image: Rolls-Royce)

Rolls-Royce has launched a V-line version of the new B33:45 liquid fuel and B36:45 gas engine series, completing the engine lineup following the launch of the first variants three years ago.

The V-line will consist of 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder variants, while the inline platform is available in 6-, 8- and 9-cylinder. At 600 KW per cylinder the new engines offer a 20 percent increase in power per cylinder compared to their predecessors. Rolls-Royce said the engines set offer exceptionally low fuel consumption and emissions of NOx, CO2, SOx and particulates.

"The new engine builds on and improves our existing capabilities, with a completely new modular architecture. This makes for an engine family that is truly engineered for the future, with numerous configurations, multiple fuel options, and low life cycle costs," said Leif-Arne Skarbø, Chief Technology officer at Bergen Engines AS.

With a modular design, the B33:45 liquid fuel and B36:45 gas engines will share the same core components. This allows for fuel conversion between gas and liquid fuels with minimal downtime, and will create a flexible platform for customers. This is especially beneficial in countries with transitioning fuel options.

The new engine is applicable for different operational modes, including baseload, grid balancing, load following and peaking. Waste heat and CO2 can also be efficiently used for industrial processes, district heating, air conditioning, or to drive a combined cycle.

“The new V-Engine series is truly an outstanding product and we believe that the new platform confirms Rolls-Royce’s position as a global provider of some of the world’s most efficient power plants,” said Peter Headland, Head of Customer Business at Bergen Engines AS, which is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

“The Powergen market is a very important part of our business,” Headland continued. “Over the last two years we have increased our customer base significantly, both in Asia and the rest of the world. We believe this new power plant platform will be in high demand, especially in the Asian market where many of our customers have access to LNG or natural gas. The B36:45V gas engines are perfect to support variable renewable energy sources in hybrid systems like micro grids.”