Gas-Fuelled Version of Wärtsilä 31 Engine Launched

Wärtsilä has introduced a gas fuelled version of the Wärtsilä 31 engine.
Image Credit: Wärtsilä

Following "positive acceptance" of the diesel version in marine sector applications, Wärtsilä Corporation (Wärtsilä) says it has also introduced a gas-fuelled version of its Wärtsilä 31 marine engine, the Wärtsilä 31SG.

"The Wärtsilä 31SG is now available and represents a new generation answer to the rapidly evolving need for greater flexibility and better efficiency in power generation," said Niklas Wägar, Director, Technology & Product Management of Wärtsilä Energy Solutions.

"It is the world's most efficient 4-stroke combustion engine and it raises the bar in so many areas, including reliability and serviceability. With efficiency, flexibility, and the environment playing such prominent roles in today's energy market considerations, the Wärtsilä 31SG is the right engine at the right time."

The 31SG is said to offer simple-cycle efficiency levels in excess of 50 percent - compared to about 40 percent with modern gas turbines.

"Another huge benefit made possible by the Wärtsilä 31SG is the increased flexibility which enables rapid response to continuously changing load patterns, especially within systems having a notable share of solar and wind energy," explained the company.

The 31SG is a 20-cylinder, spark-ignited engine that is capable of producing 12 MW of power.

Last week, Wärtsilä announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four Finnish universities for an Engine Research Initiative (ERI) programme, which will see the parties collaborate on development research into sustainable future applications for internal combustion engines, including those for the marine sector.