Over a very long period, Sulzer has further developed large Diesel engines step by step. While in earlier times the main target was an increased specific power, for the last decade the main efforts have been devoted to a reduction in the specific fuel consumption, in order to relieve the operators at least partly from the drastic increase in fuel price. A further step towards improved overall efficiency has been attained for low-speed engines by the introduction of the “superlong-stroke” design RTA, featuring a spectacularly low specific fuel consumption as well as optimally low propeller speed matching highly efficient propellers.
The development and design of the new engine series has been based on three major“pillars”, the immense service experience from predecessor two- and four-stroke generations, the full exploitation of the modern theoretical analysis means, as well as a comprehensive experimental programme with reduced-scale models, full size components and a four-cylinder test engine.
The first RTA-series engine began its trials for confirmation tests and final optimization in Japan at the end of 1982. The results obtained so far fully confirm the high thermal efficiency as well as the high safety level of all components. Sulzer is convinced that the RTA series will become another successful member of its well-reputated low-speed engine family, ensuring good reliability and high overall economy to their owners.