Developing cooling system for small-sized marine diesel engines operating at different seawate temperatures in laboratory conditions

Abstract

Using a cooling system in water transport is considered the most effective way to increase the energy efficiency of a vessel. Currently, closed-loop cooling systems and frequency-controlled drives of seawater electric pumps are actively used. An option of improving the energy efficiency of cooling systems with mounted seawater pumps is being studied. The hydraulic scheme of the unit with an energy-efficient ship engine cooling system is presented. To study ways to reduce mechanical losses in the drive of auxiliary mechanisms of a marine engine, the laboratory “Marine Diesels” of Astrakhan State Technical University developed a test bench for the Iveco 8041I06 engine. The engine cooling system does not have a thermostat to control the thermal state; instead of a thermostat on the engine, an electronically controlled variator is installed between the engine power take-off shaft and the VKS 1/16 pump. At a constant engine speed, the variator allows changing the pump speed, supply of sea water through the heat exchanger and regulating the thermal state of the engine. It has been found that during engine tests it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the outboard water constant. A description is given of the use of tanks with thermal insulation at the stand to reduce heat exchange with the environment. Variants of types of containers and materials for insulation are considered. To prepare water of the required temperature a chiller is connected to the cooling system at the experimental stand. The calculation of thermal insulation and comparison of the result with a real test is given. On the stands for testing diesel engines the change in the thermal state of the engine is carried out only by changing the load on the engine. On the developed stand, the thermal state can also be changed, including by controlling the seawater temperature, which expands its capabilities for modeling real processes.