Title: Performance optimisation of a marine 2-stroke diesel engine

Authors: George C. Kollias, George J. Besseris, Constantinos Stergiou

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological and Educational Institute of Piraeus, P. Ralli and Thivon Avenue 250, Egaleo 12224, Athens, Greece; Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, London, UK. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological and Educational Institute of Piraeus, P. Ralli and Thivon Avenue 250, Egaleo 12224, Athens, Greece; Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, London, UK. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological and Educational Institute of Piraeus, P. Ralli and Thivon Avenue 250, Egaleo 12224, Athens, Greece; Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE, London, UK

Abstract: Many companies no longer need to rely on periodic inspections to determine machinery condition but they can also retrieve information from computerised continuous monitoring systems. Through appropriate software and hardware installation, these systems can diagnose possible failures of the machinery and predict needed maintenance. This paper is examining the tuning of a vessels main engine running mode, by successfully applying the Taguchi optimisation method, in order to increase the quality of output power to the shaft, along with the reduction of NOx emissions. This technique involves statistical and approved industry methods by analysing and processing data from performance log of a long-term monitoring, during sea voyages of a double skin bulk carrier of 55,000 DWT during sea service.

Keywords: performance optimisation; Taguchi methods; design of experiments; DOE; NOx reduction; 2-stroke diesel engines; marine diesel engines; bulk carriers; continuous monitoring.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQET.2011.039127

International Journal of Quality Engineering and Technology, 2011 Vol.2 No.2, pp.148 - 172

Published online: 21 Feb 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article