Development of Twin-bank Engine

Abstract

The drastic increase in oil prices which began in 1973 resulted in the fuel oil consumption again becoming a major parameter for the operational economy of a ship. One of the best ways to achieve low fuel oil consumption is to reduce the required propulsive horse power by adopting a larger diameter propeller at lower revolutions having increased propeller efficiency.
The newly developed twin-bank engine gives the best solution to this purpose, utilizing a most reliable two-stroke, low-speed crosshead type diesel engine together with a conventional reduction gear so as to select suitable propeller revolutions in wide range keeping capability of burning lowgrade fuel oil. The twin-bank engine also enables to reduce engine room space requirements, and thus providing for increased space for cargo.
The specific fuel consumption of engine itself has attained to be cut down about 7% by introducing the constant pressure turbocharging to the uniflow scavenging system.