Page 47: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 1986)

Caterpillar Offers Literature On New

Marine Diesel Propulsion System Products

And Support Programs

Fuel Savings Alone Can Justify

New Engine Investment

At the New Orleans Work Boat

Show in January, Caterpillar En- gine Division announced new and improved diesel marine propulsion system products and support pro- grams designed to help operators reduce costs and improve equip- ment availability. "With fuel and lubricants representing up to 90 percent of vessel operating costs," said Bill Jensen, North American marine business manager, "opera- tors must analyze new products and their potential contribution to bot- tom-line profitability." In addition to new vessel construction, existing vessels are prime candidates for new, fuel-efficient engines. Coupled with low fuel and lube oil costs, low maintenance and financing costs, operators can pay for new engines by simply paying for them with fuel savings and higher availability. Ac- cording to Mr. Jensen, "Operators today are feeling more cost pres- sures than ever before. Survival of- ten depends upon more technology investment ... and the basic need for low operating cost and high availability can best be met with current technology."

Caterpillar diesel engines are of- fered in a range of propulsion rat- ings from 85 to 3,000 hp (64 to 2,240 kW) and marine generator sets from 55 to 1,800 kW (60 Hz). During 1986, with commercial availability of the 3616, propulsion ratings will extend up to 6,000 hp (4,475 kW) and generator set ratings up to 3,650 kW.

Marine transmissions match de- sired shaft speeds for both high pro- ductivity and low fuel consumption.

Caterpillar auxiliaries are also pro- vided as generator set packages or in industrial, mechanical drive config- urations to provide essential ship services—lighting and communica- tions, powering winches, operating compressors, pumping water, and operating bow and stern thrusters.

Optional power takeoffs are also of- fered for powering steering pumps, winches, power blocks and refrigera- tion units. 3600 Series On Stream

Caterpillar's 3600 Series medium- speed, heavy-duty diesel engines in the 2,000- to 6,000-hp (1,500-4,500 kW) class were announced to the industry two years ago. Marine field testing began in August 1984, with the 3606 repowered Cecile Erickson, a bulk freighter operated by Morton

Salt. The 2,250-hp (1,675 kW) en- gine has been in service more than

This cutaway of the new four-stroke cycle diesel 3600 engine series covers a power range from 2,000 to 6,000 hp (1,500 to 4,500 kw) at an operating rpm range of 720 to 1,000. The series is offered in in-line six and eight, and V-12 and -16 configurations and is specifically designed for marine use. On display at the Work Boat Show in New Orleans was a 3608, the first exclusive North American showing of this new engine to the marine industry. Represen- tative of its broad product offering, Cat also displayed the 3208 rated at 210 hp (112 kw). 7,500 hours and fuel consumption has been cut by almost 15 percent compared to the previous engine. A 3612 was used to repower the

George A. Sloan during the spring of 1985 and has since accumulated more than 1,300 hours. This 4,500- hp (3,356 kW) 12-cylinder engine powers a self-unloading bulk freighter operated on the Great

Lakes by USS Great Lakes Fleet.

The Sloan has obtained almost one- third fuel savings and a 15 percent increase in its carrying capacity, the result of increased speed capability and a small increase in tonnage that can be carried each trip because the new engine is lighter than the steam engine it replaced.

Production of the 3600 Series is underway at Cat's Lafayette, Ind. facility. Four 3606 Generator Sets and a 3612 Locomotive Engine were shipped during the fourth quarter, 1985. A 3616 Generator Set and three 3608 Marine Engines will be shipped early in 1986. The 3608 on display at The Work Boat Show is destined for Mid-South Towing's

Julia Woods along with two other 3608s. The 3606 displayed at Euro- port 1985 is currently being in- stalled on a Rhine River barge; and, the first 3606 production engine to run on residual fuel will be installed in a hopper dredge in Belgium.

These applications occurred after single and multicylinder test en- gines accumulated more than 56,100 hours.

The 3600 Engines represent the company's first entry into big ship main propulsion and large ship aux- iliary power. According to Mr.

Jensen, "Whether you operate a tug, push boat or container ship, your vessel is no better than the power that helps it do its job .. . we know of no engine in the same hor- sepower class of similar rpm that is more fuel efficient than the 3600

Series. The 3600 will meet or exceed fuel economy of any comparable en- gines manufactured worldwide."

Early production engines have demonstrated specific fuel con- sumption of 198 g/kW-h with pumps at full load.

Residual Fuel

Cat continues to thoroughly test residual fuels in order to determine their effect on engine performance and durability. "We are learning how to heat, clean and treat residual fuels, and how to modify our engines for their use," said Mr. Jensen. "Our laboratory programs have sig- nificantly improved component life that previously was severely short- ened by the heavy fuels." The 3500/ 3600 Series have been designed to start, operate and stop on blended residual fuels. Because blended re- sidual fuels vary greatly, Cat En- gines will be individually modified to optimize return on investment for the operator, balancing higher ini- tial cost against time-to-overhaul based on regional fuel characeris- tics. The 3600 Series are currently qualified on residual with up to

IF380 viscosity, up to 4 percent sul- fur content by weight and up to 300 ppm vanadium. The 3500 Series up to IF160, up to 2Vi percent sulfur and up to 100 ppm vanadium.

New 3500 Series Ratings

During 1985, after hundreds of thousands of successful operating hours, Cat has increased 3500 Series output up to 25 percent and im- proved fuel economy up to 3 percent for all ratings, while retaining or exceeding original component dura- bility and reliability objectives. The series consists of 60° V8, V12 and

V16 models, all with 6.7-inch bore and 7.5-inch stroke (170 x 190 mm).

Higher ratings and improved fuel efficiency are the result of design improvements, including a stronger, reinforced cylinder head and fuel system components; a forged alumi- num, gallery-cooled piston; in- creased main and rod bearing load capabilities; higher load capacity valve train; and more efficient tur- bocharging and air induction sys- tems. Maximum intermitten output is now approximately 125 hp (93 kW) per cylinder compared to 100 hp (75 kW) per cylinder at introduc- tion.

According to Mr. Jensen, "3500

Series Engine performance and low operating cost has been exceptional in workboat applications, whether used in new vessel construction or repower." Mr. Jensen cited im- proved performance capabilities.

When introduced in 1980, the 3500

Series offered more than 11 percent improvement over the 6.25-inch bore 300 Series fuel comsumption.

Putting this into perspective, a 3512

Engine would save the owner $250,000 over its operating life— more than double the original pur- chase price of the engine. The addi- tional 3 percent improvement of- fered during 1985 would produce an additional $50,000 in lifecycle cost savings. It should also be noted that the 3512 is about 20 percent smaller in volume than the D399, is signifi- cantly quieter, and easier to service.

Coupled with product improve- ments just completed, Caterpillar's low cost financing will make the engines an even better investment. 3300/3400 Series Products

Caterpillar continues to improve 3300 and 3400 Series Marine prod- ucts. Specifically, Series B 3300 and 3400 Series Engines now use a new high pressure fuel system with matched turbocharging and mani- folding to ensure precise injection and efficient breathing for better fuel efficiency. The fuel system maintains top fuel economy without periodic adjustment at full and part load. Part load performance is im- portant to main propulsion and aux- iliary applications where engines do not run fully loaded 100 percent of the time.

New 1,200 rpm ratings for auxilia- ry packages are now available for generator sets where extended life, reliability, reduced noise, and im- proved fuel economy are impor- tant.

Increased 3208 Output

The 3208, having served the workboat industry for more than 15 years, is now available from 150 to 375 hp (112 to 280 kW). For harbor tugs and utility vessels, the 3208's (continued)

February 1, 1986 49