ABB: New Turbo Charges Help Engine to Give "Six Figure Savings on Fuel Annually"

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Friday June 5, 2015

ABB Group (ABB) Wednesday said the first application on a marine engine of its Power2 800-M turbocharging solution will help achieve "six figure savings" on fuel annually.

Making the announcement at Nor-Shipping 2015, the firm said its two-stage ABB Turbocharging technology is being used on the recently announced Wärtsilä 31 marine engine, which earlier this week Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) said has broken the Guinness World Record for efficiency in a 4-stroke diesel engine.

"New marine engine technology needs to offer consistency of performance across conventional and newer marine fuel options, demanding turbochargers that can work with highest pressure ratios in combination with highest efficiencies to minimize fuel consumption," explained Christoph Rofka, Senior General Manager - Products, ABB Turbocharging.

Scheduled for production at ABB Turbocharging headquarters in Baden, Switzerland, the second generation of Power2 800-M is also said to enable a 60 percent reduction in NOx emissions thanks to increased pressure ratio capabilities up to 12, from 8 in the first generation, as well as turbocharger efficiency beyond 75 percent.

"It surpasses current industry standards in enabling increased power output, fuel savings and emission reductions," said Rofka.

"Our collaboration with Wärtsilä has allowed ABB's state-of-the-art technology to be part of this first-of-a-kind engine project."

ABB says the second generation technology is targeted at marine applications where four-stroke engines operate across a wide range of load profiles facing increasingly demanding emissions legislation, and is designed to allow fuel flexibility as it is applicable to engines burning all marine fuel types.

Earlier this week Wärtsilä said its Wärtsilä 31 engine "clearly redefines efficiency."