Objective #1 #2 #3


Reduction of fuel consumption (from BAT 2010)


Reduction of emissions (from BAT 2010)


Retaining performance over engine lifetime (20 years) - Divergence


technologies that would “push the limits of marine engine expertise. Te focus of the project was on the development of a future generation of optimally efficient, clean and reliable marine power plants”. In the main the HERCULES A partners


learned about how a diesel engine operates under extreme conditions with advanced research engines capable of coping with severe mechanical and thermal loads. In addition three-dimensional CFD


(computer fluid dynamics) simulation tools were applied to engine combustion for optimising the combustion systems, involving the development of new models as well as the extension and adaptation of existing sub-models. “A particular achievement was the


development, manufacture, installation and testing of a novel test rig for the fundamental investigation of fuel sprays, combustion and emissions formation in large-bore two- and four-stroke engine cylinders. Tis spray/combustion chamber has an internal diameter of 500mm and can operate at maximum pressures up to 200 bar,” said the final report. Furthermore, there were advances in


turbo-charging systems and emissions reduction methods using water inside engine cylinders to reduce NOx emissions. And a complete EGR system for two-stroke engines was developed that included a newly designed exhaust gas scrubber. As a result of these tests the Hercules partners confirmed that it would be possible to reduce NOx emissions by up to 70%. Other developments included an


“intelligent engine” that monitored engine performance and adapts


the


engine performance under all conditions. HERCULES B focused the results of the technologies identified in the first phase


The Naval Architect March 2012


Year 2015 -3%


-80% <5%


Table 1: HERCULES C Objectives


scope of the project includes all the technology interrelations needed for a holistic approach to marine engine efficiency improvement and emissions reduction. Te integrated RTD work will allow the above objectives to be achieved simultaneously. However, the project has already


of the project and sought to find practical solutions that would improve engine performance. Specifically Hercules-B looked at extreme parameter engines, combustion, turbo-charging, emission reduction methods, power optimisation, advanced materials and electronics and control. Due to conclude in 2015


the


HERCULES C project is perhaps the most ambitious of all the Herculean efforts, but the benefits, to both the marine industry and society at large, are there for all to see. To achieve the above objectives, the


HERCULES project aims


The scope of the Project includes the technology interrelations needed for a holistic approach to marine engine efficiency improvement, emissions reduction and reliability increase. Specifically, work will be performed in the following areas: • Multi-fuel switching and direct gas injection technologies • Partially premixed combustion • low temperature, cool combustion with extreme Miller valve timing plus Exhaust Gas Recirculation


• Visualisation methods for flow inside fuel injection nozzles • laser optic methods for fuel spray field investigation inside full scale working engine


• Combustion analysis and modelling tools validated through full scale experiments


• Sequential After treatment Units including SCR and Scrubber • Advanced multistage sequential turbo-charging schemes • Combination of Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Water-in-Fuel Techniques • Engine Thermal Process adaptation with adaptive control for extreme operating conditions


• Overall engine adaptive control combining individual cylinder controls • Operating behaviour evaluation algorithms and model based diagnostic methods


• Vessel powerplant monitoring and asset management. • Emission optimised lubrication • Methods of friction reduction in bearings, piston rings, skirts


achieved many of its targets say the partners.“The HERCULES programme has been successful in several ways: When completed the 10 years (2004-2014) of its duration, it will have mobilised 70 top organisations to work in 152 subprojects, spanning the whole spectrum of marine diesel engine research and development. It has allowed market competitors to work side-by-side and to jointly define cutting- edge research targets. Te research results to date, show that the respective targets have been met or even surpassed,” claims professor Kyrtatos. NA


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