Investigation of oil emission mechanisms in a marine medium-speed dual-fuel engine

Pilot-ignition Otto marine engines are known for greatly reduced emissions of air pollutants (sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxide, particulates) compared to marine diesel engines. However, lubricating oil emissions still are about one order of magnitude higher than in land-based systems. To identify reduction potentials, a better understanding of oil emission mechanisms has to be gained. For this purpose, mass spectrometric oil emission measurements and fluorescence lubricating film thickness measurements were performed on a medium-speed marine engine. With the fluorescence measuring system, the varying lubricating oil film on the cylinder wall can be visualised and analysed in sub-crank-angle resolution. By applying the developed calibration method to the measurement data, the oil film thickness can be determined in µm. It is shown that the oil film left by the piston rings on the liner as it moves down is almost halved after ignition compared to during intake stroke. The authors have further been able to detect and time operating point dependent ring rotation and investigations show a connection between ring rotation and cylinder liner temperature distribution. Aligning ring gaps allow blow-by to happen. This and other high intensity events such as engine knock, load shedding or the transition from diesel-mode to gas-mode, heavily disturb the oil layer and cause peaking oil emissions.