Performance of a 10 kW underwater diesel engine system

Abstract

To operate in a nonair environment, a diesel engine must be supplied with a synthetic atmosphere which mimics the role of normally aspirated air. To determine the optimum synthetic atmosphere mixture, an intensive experimental investigation has been carried out by the authors using a specially developed test rig. Provision has been made on the test rig so that a number of different composition synthetic atmospheres can be produced. In this way, it has been possible to measure the effects of carbon dioxide ratios on the performance of the diesel engine. In addition to the shaft performance, power and fuel efficiency, exhaust gas emissions and combustion noise have also been measured. This paper details the operational principle of an underwater diesel engine and reports on the performance of such an engine whilst operating with high intake carbon dioxide levels.