Technorati Tags: Happy Hump Day
Archive for June, 2009
Happy Hump Day 07-01-09!
June 30, 2009Unusual Grave Markers
June 29, 2009
Where In The World Is Curtis Lowe?
June 23, 2009Where am I hanging my hat this week? Here’s a hint for you…
Technorati Tags: Jerry Jeff Walker,LA Freeway
No Blog For You! Two Weeks!
June 18, 2009Last week and this week.
Out of the country and/or city – check back next Monday.
Thatisall.
Happy Hump day 06-10-09!
June 10, 2009
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from The In-Box
June 8, 2009To: Curtis Lowe
From: Joe
Date: June 2, 2009
Subj: Big Engine
Hey Curtis, When are you gonna install this in your F-150?
UE POWER
Maximum power: 108,920 hp at 102 rpm
Maximum torque: 5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm
The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C turbocharged two-stroke diesel engine is the most powerful and most efficient prime-mover in the world today. The Aioi Works of Japan’s Diesel United, Ltd built the first engines and is where some of these pictures were taken. It is available in 6 through 14 cylinder versions, all are inline engines. These engines were designed primarily for very large container ships. Ship owners like a single engine/single propeller design and the new generation of larger container ships needed a bigger engine to propel them. The cylinder bore is just under 38″ and the stroke is just over 98″. Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 liters) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25,480 liters) for the fourteen cylinder version.
Some facts on the 14 cylinder version:
Total engine weight:
2300 tons (The crankshaft alone weighs 300 tons.)
Length:
89 feet
Height:
44 feet
Maximum power:
108,920 hp at 102 rpm
Maximum torque:
5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm
Fuel consumption at maximum power is 0.278 lbs per hp per hour (Brake Specific Fuel Consumption). Fuel consumption at maximum economy is 0.260 lbs/hp/hour. At maximum economy the engine exceeds 50% thermal efficiency. That is, more than 50% of the energy in the fuel in converted to motion.
For comparison, most automotive and small aircraft engines have BSFC figures in the 0.40-0.60 lbs/hp/hr range and 25-30% thermal efficiency range.
Even at its most efficient power setting, the big 14 consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour.
A cross section of the RTA96C:
The internals of this engine are a bit different than most automotive engines.
The top of the connecting rod is not attached directly to the piston. The top of the connecting rod attaches to a “crosshead” which rides in guide channels. A long piston rod then connects the crosshead to the piston.
I assume this is done so the the sideways forces produced by the connecting rod are absorbed by the crosshead and not by the piston. Those sideways forces are what makes the cylinders in an auto engine get oval-shaped over time.
Installing the “thin-shell” bearings. Crank & rod journals are 38″ in diameter and 16″ wide:
The crank sitting in the block (also known as a “gondola-style” bedplate). This is a 10 cylinder version. Note the steps by each crank throw that lead down into the crankcase:
A piston & piston rod assembly.. The piston is at the top. The large square plate at the bottom is where the whole assembly attaches to the crosshead:
The cylinder deck (10 cylinder version). Cylinder liners are die-cast ductile cast iron. Look at the size of those head studs!:
The first completed 12 cylinder engine:
Wow – that would really piss off the hippy neighbors if I revved that thing coming home from the bars at 2:30 in the morning!
Technorati Tags: From the in-box
One of these things…
June 8, 2009Is NOT like the others…
In Case Of Fire
June 8, 2009
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When You Shouldn’t Hyphenate Your Name (Part III)
June 3, 2009You can see part I here
And part II here
Bet she has an
Hope she doesn’t have
Otherwise it could be
This guy doesn’t know what hit him
Life’s too short to drink
So drink
Better get that checked out
or your prospects could be
If you
Then you gotta make
If you are a
You’d better tell her now, or it could be a
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