Rolls-Royce Improves Fuel Efficiency by 5% in Latest MTU Engines

MTU Series 4000 diesel engines has shown a 5 percent reduction in fuel consumption alongside a 45 percent increase in output.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG (Rolls-Royce) has announced that its MTU Series 4000 diesel engines have demonstrated a 5 percent reduction in fuel consumption alongside a 45 percent increase in output compared to its predecessor.

The engines, which were designed to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) III and EPA Tier 4 emission regulations, will be made available in a 12 and 16-cylinder version, as well as a new 20-cylinder version. 

The company says that, through a number of technical advances to the turbocharging system, combustion process, and the injection system, combined with MTU’s new SCR system, NOx emissions of the engines have been reduced by 75 percent compared with IMO II, while particulate emissions have been reduced by 65 percent compared with EPA Tier 3.

Rolls-Royce adds that an additional diesel particulate filter is not required with the new engines.

"After completing more than 3,000 hours of operation on a Fairplay harbour tug, we gained valuable experience in 2015 with our first SCR installation and IMO III certification," said Dr. Ulrich Dohle, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

"This has now been fed back into the development of more advanced products, which will not only be more environmentally friendly than current products, but will also be more powerful and more fuel efficient."

Rolls-Royce sas the engines will be suitable as the main propulsion for tug boats, ferries, crew supply vessels, displacement hull yachts, governmental vessels, and as a genset for power supply for ships and offshore platforms.

The company says it will begin offering the engines in 2018, noting that more than 4,000 hours of testing have now been completed on the series.

Rolls-Royce also notes that the MTU design will be on display at this week's SMM International Maritime Trade Fair in Hamburg, running from September 6 to 9.

In March, Rolls-Royce announced that it has signed a $6.5 million contract with Tersan Shipyard in Turkey to supply a liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion package for a cargo carrier.