The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the most powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the world today. The Aioi Works of Japan’s Diesel United, Ltd built the first engines and is where some of these pictures were taken.
It is available in 6 through 14 cylinder versions, all are inline engines. These engines were designed primarily for very large container ships. Ship owners like a single engine/single propeller design and the new generation of larger container ships needed a bigger engine to propel them.
The cylinder bore is just under 38″ and the stroke is just over 98″. Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 liters) for the fourteen cylinder version.
Some facts on the 14 cylinder version:
Total engine weight:
2300 tons (The crankshaft alone weighs 300 tons.)
Length:
89 feet
Height:
44 feet
Maximum power:
108,920 hp at 102 rpm
Maximum torque:
5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm
Fuel consumption at maximum power is 0.278 lbs per hp per hour (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption). Fuel consumption at maximum economy is 0.260 lbs/hp/hour. At maximum economy the engine exceeds 50% thermal efficiency. That is, more than 50% of the energy in the fuel in converted to motion.
For comparison, most automotive and small aircraft engines have BSFC figures in the 0.40-0.60 lbs/hp/hr range and 25-30% thermal efficiency range.
Even at its most efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour.
Here’s a clip of this machine in the Holland America Line – MS Noordam’s engine room (it’s a bit long, but interesting to see):
Also here is a clip of 6 of these engine moving a giant Ferry at nearly 40 mph!
For more information about the The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine, go to the following link: http://people.bath.ac.uk/ccsshb/12cyl/
Richard Hammond from BBC’s “Top Gear” asks what would happen if you drove behind a 747 just before it takes off . . . go ahead, click on the clip. It’s so cool!
Jeremy Clarkson takes an Audi A8 Diesel across Great Brittan in an 800 miles trek from London to Edinburgh on one tank of gas . . . this means he will be averaging 40 mpg in a car that can go from 0-60mph in 6 seconds and has a top speed of 150mph. We need these cars in the USA badly!
Here’s the clip . . .it’s very cool . . . you have to see this. . .
The TopGear presentors (James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond) are participating in a 24 hour endurance race at Silverstone. Their car, a used BMW 330i turbo-diesel. In leiu of Audi’s successful R10 TDI leMans victories, they set out to see how a road going car will fair in this grueling race of will and test of reliability.
James May and Jeremy Clarkson take a special Toyota 4X4 Hilux diesel for a race against Richard Hammond and a team of dogs to the North Pole. This has been broken into 8 parts and they are all here. Just scroll down sequentially and enjoy
Posted by motorphilia 
Posted by motorphilia 
Posted by motorphilia 
