MAN B&W 2.

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Engine Layout and Load Diagram

Engine Layout Diagram

An engine’s layout diagram is limited by two con- For a standard high-load optimised engine,
stant mean effective pressure (mep) lines L1– L3 the lowest specific fuel oil consumption for
and L2– L4, and by two constant engine speed the ME and ME-C engines is optained at 70%
lines L1– L2 and L3 – L4. The L1 point refers to the and for MC/MC-C/ME-B engines at 80% of the
engine’s nominal maximum continuous rating, see SMCR point (M).
Fig. 2.04.01.
For ME-C-GI engines operating on LNG, a further
Within the layout area there is full freedom to se- SFOC reduction can be obtained.
lect the engine’s specified SMCR point M which
suits the demand for propeller power and speed
for the ship. Continuous service rating (S)

On the horizontal axis the engine speed and on The continuous service rating is the power need-
the vertical axis the engine power are shown on ed in service – including the specified sea margin
percentage scales. The scales are logarithmic and heavy/light running factor of the propeller
which means that, in this diagram, power function – at which the engine is to operate, and point S
curves like propeller curves (3rd power), constant is identical to the service propulsion point (SP)
mean effective pressure curves (1st power) and unless a main engine driven shaft generator is in-
constant ship speed curves (0.15 to 0.30 power) stalled.
are straight lines.
Power
L1
Specified maximum continuous rating (M)
M

Based on the propulsion and engine running L3

S
points, as previously found, the layout diagram
of a relevant main engine may be drawnin. The 1 L2
SMCR point (M) must be inside the limitation lines
of the layout diagram; if it is not, the propeller
speed will have to be changed or another main L4
engine type must be chosen. The selected SMCR
has an influence on the turbocharger and its Speed
matching and the compression ratio. 178 60 85-8.1

Fig. 2.04.01: Engine layout diagram

For ME and ME-C/-GI engines, the timing of the
fuel injection and the exhaust valve activation are
electronically optimised over a wide operating
range of the engine.

For ME-B engines, only the fuel injection (and not

the exhaust valve activation) is electronically con-
trolled over a wide operating range of the engine.

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Engine Load Diagram

Definitions Engine shaft power, % of A

110
105 7
The engine’s load diagram, see Fig. 2.04.02, de- 100
M
7
5 5
fines the power and speed limits for continuous as 95
4
90
well as overload operation of an installed engine 85 1 2 6

having a specified MCR point M that confirms the 80

8
ship’s specification. 75
4
70
65
The service points of the installed engine incorpo- 6
60
rate the engine power required for ship propulsion
55
and shaft generator, if installed. 1 3
50
2 9
45
Operating curves and limits for continuous
40
operation
35
The continuous service range is limited by four 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110
Engine speed, % of A
lines: 4, 5, 7 and 3 (9), see Fig. 2.04.02. The pro-
peller curves, line 1, 2 and 6 in the load diagram
are also described below. Regarding ‘i’ in the power function P = c x ni, see page 2.01.

M Specified MCR point

Line 1:
Propeller curve through specified MCR (M), en- Line 1 Propeller curve through point M (i = 3)
(engine layout curve)
gine layout curve. Line 2 Propeller curve, fouled hull and heavy weather –
heavy running (i = 3)
Line 2: Line 3 Speed limit
Line 4 Torque/speed limit (i = 2)
Propeller curve, fouled hull and heavy weather Line 5 Mean effective pressure limit (i = 1)
– heavy running. Line 6 Propeller curve, clean hull and calm weather
– light running (i = 3), for propeller layout.
The hatched area indicates the recommended range
Line 3 and line 9: (4.0-10.0%)
Line 3 represents the maximum acceptable speed Line 7 Power limit for continuous running (i = 0)
for continuous operation, i.e. 105% of M. Line 8 Overload limit
Line 9 Speed limit at sea trial
178 05 427.8
During trial conditions the maximum speed may
be extended to 107% of M, see line 9. Fig. 2.04.02: Standard engine load diagram

The above limits may in general be extended to

105% and during trial conditions to 107% of the Line 4:
nominal L1 speed of the engine, provided the tor- Represents the limit at which an ample air supply
sional vibration conditions permit. is available for combustion and imposes a limita-
tion on the maximum combination of torque and
The overspeed setpoint is 109% of the speed speed.
in M, however, it may be moved to 109% of the
nominal speed in L1, provided that torsional vibra- Line 5:
tion conditions permit. Represents the maximum mean effective pres-
sure level (mep), which can be accepted for con-
tinuous operation.

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Line 6: Recommendation
Propeller curve, clean hull and calm weather – light
running, used for propeller layout/design. Continuous operation without limitations is al-
lowed only within the area limited by lines 4, 5,
Line 7: 7 and 3 of the load diagram, except on low load
Represents the maximum power for continuous operation for CP propeller plants mentioned in the
operation. previous section.

The area between lines 4 and 1 is available for

Limits for overload operation operation in shallow waters, heavy weather and
during acceleration, i.e. for nonsteady operation
The overload service range is limited as follows: without any strict time limitation.

Line 8: After some time in operation, the ship’s hull and

Represents the overload operation limitations. propeller will be fouled, resulting in heavier run-
ning of the propeller, i.e. the propeller curve will
The area between lines 4, 5, 7 and the heavy move to the left from line 6 towards line 2, and
dashed line 8 is available for overload running for extra power is required for propulsion in order to
limited periods only (1 hour per 12 hours). keep the ship’s speed.

Line 9: In calm weather conditions, the extent of heavy

Speed limit at sea trial. running of the propeller will indicate the need for
cleaning the hull and possibly polishing the pro-
peller.
Limits for low load running
Once the specified MCR has been chosen, the
As the fuel injection for ME engines is automati- capacities of the auxiliary equipment will be
cally controlled over the entire power range, the adapted to the specified MCR, and the turbo-
engine is able to operate down to around 15-20% charger specification and the compression ratio
of the nominal L1 speed, whereas for MC/MC-C will be selected.
engines it is around 20-25% (electronic governor).
If the specified MCR is to be increased later on,
this may involve a change of the pump and cooler
capacities, change of the fuel valve nozzles, ad-
justing of the cylinder liner cooling, as well as
rematching of the turbocharger or even a change
to a larger size of turbocharger. In some cases it
can also require larger dimensions of the piping
systems.

It is therefore of utmost importance to consider,

already at the project stage, if the specification
should be prepared for a later power increase.
This is to be indicated in the Extent of Delivery.

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Extended load diagram for ships operating in extreme heavy running conditions

When a ship with fixed pitch propeller is operat- Extended load diagram for speed derated en-
ing in normal sea service, it will in general be gines with increased light running
operating in the hatched area around the design
propeller curve 6, as shown on the standard load The maximum speed limit (line 3) of the engines is
diagram in Fig. 2.04.02. 105% of the SMCR (Specified Maximum Continu-
ous Rating) speed, as shown in Fig. 2.04.02.
Sometimes, when operating in heavy weather, the
fixed pitch propeller performance will be more However, for speed and, thereby, power derated
heavy running, i.e. for equal power absorption of engines it is possible to extend the maximum
the propeller, the propeller speed will be lower speed limit to 105% of the engine’s nominal MCR
and the propeller curve will move to the left. speed, line 3’, but only provided that the torsional
vibration conditions permit this. Thus, the shaft-
As the low speed main engines are directly cou- ing, with regard to torsional vibrations, has to be
pled to the propeller, the engine has to follow the approved by the classification society in question,
propeller performance, i.e. also in heavy running based on the extended maximum speed limit.
propeller situations. For this type of operation,
there is normally enough margin in the load area When choosing an increased light running to be
between line 6 and the normal torque/speed limi- used for the design of the propeller, the load dia-
tation line 4, see Fig. 2.04.02. To the left of line 4 gram area may be extended from line 3 to line 3’,
in torquerich operation, the engine will lack air as shown in Fig. 2.04.03, and the propeller/main
from the turbocharger to the combustion process, engine operating curve 6 may have a correspond-
i.e. the heat load limits may be exceeded and ingly increased heavy running margin before ex-
bearing loads might also become too high. ceeding the torque/speed limit, line 4.

For some special ships and operating conditions, A corresponding slight reduction of the propel-
it would be an advantage  when occasionally ler efficiency may be the result, due to the higher
needed  to be able to operate the propeller/main propeller design speed used.
engine as much as possible to the left of line 6,
but inside the torque/speed limit, line 4.

Such cases could be for:

• ships sailing in areas with very heavy weather

• ships operating in ice
• ships with two fixed pitch propellers/two main
engines, where one propeller/one engine is de-
clutched for one or the other reason.

The increase of the operating speed range be-

tween line 6 and line 4 of the standard load dia-
gram, see Fig. 2.04.02, may be carried out as
shown for the following engine Example with an
extended load diagram for speed derated engine
with increased light running.

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Engine shaft power, % A L1
110 M Specified engine MCR Examples of the use of the Load Diagram
5%
M
100 5 7
L2
90 L3
Heavy
In the following are some examples illustrating the
80
running Normal flexibility of the layout and load diagrams.
operation L4 operation
70

• Example 1 shows how to place the load diagram

60
4 for an engine without shaft generator coupled to
1 6 3 3 a fixed pitch propeller.
50
2
• Example 2 shows the same layout for an engine
40 with fixed pitch propeller (example 1), but with a
55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Engine speed, % A
shaft generator.
Normal load Extended light

• Example 3 is a special case of example 2, where

diagram area running area

the specified MCR is placed near the top of the

Line 1: Propeller curve through SMCR point (M) layout diagram.
 layout curve for engine In this case the shaft generator is cut off,
Line 2: Heavy propeller curve
 fouled hull and heavy seas and the GenSets used when the engine runs
Line 3: Speed limit at specified MCR. This makes it possible to
Line 3’: Extended speed limit, provided torsional vibration choose a smaller engine with a lower power out-
conditions permit
Line 4: Torque/speed limit put, and with changed specified MCR.
Line 5: Mean effective pressure limit
Line 6: Increased light running propeller curve
 clean hull and calm weather
• Example 4 shows diagrams for an engine
 layout curve for propeller coupled to a controllable pitch propeller, with
Line 7: Power limit for continuous running or without a shaft generator, constant speed or
178 60 79-9.1 combinator curve operation.

Fig. 2.04.03: Extended load diagram for speed derated For a specific project, the layout diagram for actu-
engine with increased light running al project shown later in this chapter may be used
for construction of the actual load diagram.

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Example 1: Normal running conditions.

Engine coupled to fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and without shaft generator

Layout diagram Load diagram

Power, % of L1 Power, % of L1 3.3%M 5%M

100% 7
L1 100%
L1
5
4
1 2 6

L3 M=MP
7 L3 5
M
7

S=SP 5%L1
S

1 6 L2 4 1 6 L2
2 2

3 3

L4 Propulsion and engine L4 Propulsion and engine

service curve for fouled service curve for fouled
hull and heavy weather hull and heavy weather

Engine speed, % of L1 100% Engine speed, % of L1 100%

M Specified MCR of engine

S Continuous service rating of engine
MP Specified MCR for propulsion
SP Continuous service rating of propulsion

The specified MCR (M) and its propeller curve 1 will normally be selected on the engine service curve 2.

Once point M has been selected in the layout diagram, the load diagram can be drawn, as shown in the figure, and hence the actual
load limitation lines of the diesel engine may be found by using the inclinations from the construction lines and the %figures stated.
178 05 440.9

Fig. 2.04.04: Normal running conditions. Engine coupled to a fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and without a shaft generator

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Example 2: Normal running conditions.

Engine coupled to fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and with shaft generator

Layout diagram Load diagram

3.3%M 5%M
Power, % of L 1 Power, % of L 1
100% 7
L1
100%
L1
5 Engine service curve for
fouled hull and heavy
4 M M
7 weather incl. shaft 7
generator 5
1 2 6
S SG 5%L 1
L3 L3 S
SG MP MP
Engine
service 4
curve SP SP

1 2 6
L2 1 2 6
L2
3 3

L4 L4
Propulsion curve for fouled Propulsion curve for fouled
hull and heavy weather hull and heavy weather

Engine speed, % of L 1 100% Engine speed, % of L 1 100%

M Specified MCR of engine

S Continuous service rating of engine
MP Specified MCR for propulsion
SP Continuous service rating of propulsion
SG Shaft generator power

In example 2 a shaft generator (SG) is installed, and therefore the service power of the engine also has to incorporate the extra shaft
power required for the shaft generator’s electrical power production.

In the figure, the engine service curve shown for heavy running incorporates this extra power.

The specified MCR M will then be chosen and the load diagram can be drawn as shown in the figure.
178 05 488.9

Fig. 2.04.06: Normal running conditions. Engine coupled to a fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and with a shaft generator

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Example 3: Special running conditions.

Engine coupled to fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and with shaft generator

Layout diagram Load diagram 3.3%M 5%M

Power, % of L 1 L1 Power, % of L 1 L1
M M
100% 7 100%
M Engine service curve for fouled M
5 7 7
S hull and heavy weather S
4 incl. shaft generator
MP MP
SG SG
1 2 6
5%L 1
L3 SP
L3 4
SP

1 2 6 1 2 6 L2
L2
3 3

L4 Propulsion curve
L4 Propulsion curve
for fouled hull for fouled hull
and heavy weather and heavy weather

Engine speed, % of L 1 100% Engine speed, % of L 1 100%

M Specified MCR of engine Point M of the load diagram is found:

S Continuous service rating of engine Line 1 Propeller curve through point S
MP Specified MCR for propulsion Point M Intersection between line 1 and line L1 – L3
SP Continuous service rating of propulsion
SG Shaft generator

Also for this special case in example 3, a shaft generator is installed but, compared to example 2, this case has a specified MCR for
propulsion, MP, placed at the top of the layout diagram.

This involves that the intended specified MCR of the engine M’ will be placed outside the top of the layout diagram.

One solution could be to choose a larger diesel engine with an extra cylinder, but another and cheaper solution is to reduce the
electrical power production of the shaft generator when running in the upper propulsion power range.

In choosing the latter solution, the required specified MCR power can be reduced from point M’ to point M as shown. Therefore,
when running in the upper propulsion power range, a diesel generator has to take over all or part of the electrical power production.

However, such a situation will seldom occur, as ships are rather infrequently running in the upper propulsion power range.

Point M, having the highest possible power, is then found at the intersection of line L1– L3 with line 1 and the corresponding load
diagram is drawn.
178 06 351.9

Fig. 2.04.07: Special running conditions. Engine coupled to a fixed pitch propeller (FPP) and with a shaft generator

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Example 4: Engine coupled to controllable pitch propeller (CPP) with or without shaft generator

Power
7
Layout diagram  with shaft generator
5
3.3%M 5%M The hatched area shows the recommended speed
4 L1 range between 100% and 96.7% of the specified
1 2 6 MCR speed for an engine with shaft generator
running at constant speed.

L3 5
M
7 The service point S can be located at any point
5%L1 within the hatched area.
S

4 1
L2 The procedure shown in examples 2 and 3 for
engines with FPP can also be applied here for en-
3
gines with CPP running with a combinator curve.

L4 Load diagram
Therefore, when the engine’s specified MCR point
Min. speed Max. speed
(M) has been chosen including engine margin, sea
Combinator curve for Recommended range for margin and the power for a shaft generator, if in-
loaded ship and incl. shaft generator operation
sea margin with constant speed stalled, point M may be used in the load diagram,
which can then be drawn.
Engine speed

M Specified MCR of engine The position of the combinator curve ensures the
S Continous service rating of engine maximum load range within the permitted speed
range for engine operation, and it still leaves a
178 39 314.5 reasonable margin to the limit indicated by curves
4 and 5.
Fig. 2.04.08: Engine with Controllable Pitch Propeller
(CPP), with or without a shaft generator

Layout diagram  without shaft generator

If a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) is applied,
the combinator curve (of the propeller) will nor-
mally be selected for loaded ship including sea
margin.

The combinator curve may for a given propeller

speed have a given propeller pitch, and this may
be heavy running in heavy weather like for a fixed
pitch propeller.

Therefore it is recommended to use a light run-

ning combinator curve (the dotted curve which
includes the sea power margin) as shown in the
figure to obtain an increased operation margin of
the diesel engine in heavy weather to the limit indi-
cated by curves 4 and 5.

MAN B&W engines 198 69 93-5.5