Image caption: Successful testing of WinGD X-S short-stroke engine at Dalian Marine Diesel
Swiss marine power giant WinGD has recently concluded successful factory acceptance tests with engine builder Dalian Marine Diesel, paving the way for the debut of its groundbreaking X-S short-stroke engine design. This milestone marks a significant leap forward in marine propulsion technology, promising enhanced efficiency and cost savings for ship operators worldwide.
The upcoming installation of the six-cylinder, 62cm-bore 6X62-S2.0 engine on a pulp carrier being constructed at COSCO Dalian shipyard heralds the dawn of a new era in maritime engineering. The X-S series, poised to succeed the venerable RT-flex50 and RT-flex58 engines, offers versatility with its availability in 52cm and 62cm bore sizes. Moreover, it accommodates a range of fuel options, including traditional diesel or dual-fuel LNG, methanol, and ammonia operation.
Volkmar Galke, Director of Sales at WinGD, expressed confidence in the X-S series, stating, “The factory test for our first X-S engine confirms that this new generation of short-stroke engines delivers outstanding value for ship operators, providing significant operating cost advantages while enabling high efficiency in compact ship designs.”
One of the key advantages of the X-S series lies in its compact design and superior fuel efficiency. With fuel consumption approximately 10g/kWh lower than equivalent RT-flex engines, the X-S engines offer potential savings of around 4% depending on the vessel’s operating profile. This makes them particularly attractive for vessels benefitting from short-stroke engines.
The innovative combination of shorter stroke length and higher engine speeds allows for the generation of comparable power to long-stroke engines with similar cylinder bore sizes. This compact design caters well to vessels operating in shallow drafts or requiring lower main deck or engine room heights. The X-S series is not only suitable for container feeders, car carriers, and multipurpose cargo vessels but has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of bulk carriers and tanker vessels.
In addition to reducing fuel consumption, the X-S engines offer streamlined maintenance and extended time between overhauls due to their robust and lightweight design. Furthermore, for dual-fuel X-S engines, intelligent control by exhaust recycling (iCER) enables vessels to meet Tier III NOx emissions in both gas and diesel modes without separate selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
The debut installation of an iCER-equipped X-S engine is underway for a 7,000 CEU pure car/truck carrier (PCTC). These X62DF-S engines will incorporate WinGD’s Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) technology, allowing for further efficiency improvements by dynamically optimizing engine compression ratio based on various parameters.
