Marine diesel engine – a novel approach of indicated power determination and related uncertainty level

Abstract

A proposal of a new method for marine engine indicated power determination, based on direct piston position, instead of crankshaft angular position measurement, was presented. With the aid of bond graph theory, it was proved, that the new method is equivalent to conventional method. To verify hypothesis, that the new method has potential of determined indicated power uncertainty reduction, simulated calculations were carried out. Results of calculations for two marine diesel engines: medium-speed, four stroke and slowspeed two stroke type, at assumption of engine crankshaft constant speed, were compared with results obtained by a conventional method. Data, collected by means of a typical portable, industrial, digital indicator on engines in service, were used for simulation. The uncertainties of engines indicated power determined by means of two methods were analysed. The indicated power uncertainty, achieved for conventional method, was nearly twice higher than for new proposed method. Finally, uncertainty structure was analysed and evaluated for both: new and conventional method of engine indicated power determination.