Swedish engine builder to begin supplying diesel engines below 300 kW with aftertreatment systems to comply with stricter European emissions regulations
Building on its IMO Tier III technology, Volvo Penta will this year begin supplying four-stroke D8 and D13 engines for diesel inboard, marine genset and auxiliary ranges that comply with EU Stage V emissions regulations.
Adopted by the European Parliament in July 2016, the Stage V emission limits came into force as of 1 January 2019. The EU Stage V standards put stricter limits on emissions of particulate matter (PM), impacting engines greater than or equal to 37 kW used in inland waterway vessels for propulsion and engines greater than 560 kW used in inland waterway vessels for auxiliary power. At the core of the stricter emissions regulations is human health; combustion engines installed in everything from small handheld equipment, construction machinery and generating sets, to railcars, locomotives and inland waterway vessels account for roughly 15% of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) and 5% of the PM emissions in the EU.
In the power range below 300 kW, the Volvo Penta D8 and D13 engines use aftertreatment –selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology – to meet the stricter emissions standards. Volvo Penta says the diesel engines are designed to cope with high back pressure and high-sulphur fuel – up to 1,000 ppm. This ensures high engine power and efficiency while simultaneously reducing NOx, according to the Swedish engine manufacturer.
The SCR technology is the result of experience and know-how from the entire Volvo Group, including on-highway, off-highway and marine. Volvo Penta’s plant in Vara, Sweden produces its marine diesel engines, while its factory in Skövde, Sweden manufactures diesel engines for trucks, buses and construction equipment.
To meet the IMO Tier III and EU Stage V regulatory requirements, the SCR solutions have been specifically adapted to commercial marine conditions. They have been tested at Volvo Penta’s own facilities and through customer applications, accumulating some 35,000 hours in operation before the 2018 launch.
“The SCR solution will reduce NOx levels by up to 75%”
Designed with a reduced footprint, the SCR can be mounted on the engine, engineroom ceiling, or floor, providing the shipyard with flexible aftertreatment installation options. Volvo Penta expects the SCR solution will reduce NOx levels by up to 75%. With SCR technology, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is infused into the exhausts, and gases are mixed inside the SCR unit. The ammonia content of the DEF/urea transforms the NOx into nitrogen and water. To reduce the burden on the crew, Volvo Penta uses an intelligent level-sensor in the urea tank to control the level and quality of the urea. The systems allow for an aqueous urea solution of 32 or 40%, according to Volvo Penta.
The first marine diesel inboard models available will be Volvo Penta’s in-line six-cylinder, 7.7-litre D8 MH IMO Tier III/EU Stage V, with a power range of 154 to 261 kW and 296 kW at between 1,800 and 2,200 rpm. These engines use common-rail fuel injection, double overhead camshafts and a twin-entry turbo.
For applications of 294 kW, Volvo Penta will make available the D13-MH IMO III/EU Stage V in-line, six-cylinder, 12.8-litre diesel engine. This uses a high-pressure unit injector system, overhead camshaft and twin-entry turbo, with a water-cooled exhaust gas manifold and miller timing.
For marine genset applications, Volvo Penta will begin supplying two versions of the in-line, six-cylinder common-rail D8 MG IMO Tier III/EU Stage V diesel and D13 MG IMO Tier III/EU Stage V diesel, covering 50 Hz at 1,500 rpm and 60 Hz at 1,800 rpm.
The engines will also be available as marine auxiliary engines, both in variable speed and constant speed models.
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