Page 25: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2, 2005)

Last month in New Orleans Caterpillar Marine

Power Systems Division made several major announcements, the biggest being the introduction of the new C280 series engine, an upgrade of the 3600 series and a change in naming nomenclature. The C280 will employ Electronic Unit Injection (EUI) for reduced fuel consumption, emissions and smoke.

The 3600 series is a 280 mm-bore, medium-speed engine with a long track record in tugs, fishing vessels, tow boats, supply vessels, AHTS vessels, and military and patrol vessels. The C280 is designed for the same applications, available for either propulsion or auxil- iary power. The new C280 incorporates all the core components of the 3600 series marine engine, includ- ing the cylinder block, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and camshafts, which have made it one of the most reliable and durable engines in its class.

The difference lies in the fuel injection, as the C280 replaces the mechanical fuel injection system of the 3600 series with Caterpillar's Electronic Unit Injection (EUI) fuel system. The EUI fuel system, which com- bines the Caterpillar ADEM-III governor with elec- tronic unit injectors, is designed to take the C280 to a new level of precision. Variable injection timing and duration optimize combustion for any given speed and load. This electronic fuel system is similar to the one utilized in the Caterpillar 3500B series.

Unlike many fuel injection systems, the Caterpillar

EUI system does not employ high pressure fuel lines and therefore does not require threaded fuel connec- tions or double-walled fuel lines. Rather, the system employs a low-pressure fuel supply. Injection pressure is created via a pump that is an integral part of the unit injector itself. Each injector solenoid controls fuel delivery and eliminates the need for mechanical syn- chronization of the injectors. The ADEMä-III precise- ly controls each injector solenoid so the timing and the length of the injection are adjusted to match the specif- ic load and speed requirements at any given moment.

ADEM-III monitors the amount of boost pressure gen- erated by the turbochargers and the throttle speed demanded and then dispenses just the right amount of fuel for an optimum combustion process.

ADEM-III also enables customer programmable fea- tures such as droop, gain, and fuel/air ratio control so the fuel system may be customized for each individual application, depending on the requirements.

By optimizing the combustion process, the C280's

EUI fuel system reduces part load fuel consumption, transient smoke and emissions. The C280 meets cur- rent EPA and IMO Tier I emissions standards and has

Kahlenberg Sound Signal

Systems have set the standard for quality and reliability for over 100 years.

K www.kahlenberg.com

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P.O. Box 358, 1700 12th St.

Two Rivers, WI 54241

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Fx: 920-793-1346

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Certified Product Line covers all types of vessels from less than 20 Meters to Over 200 Meters in length.

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Circle 236 on Reader Service Card

Circle 221 on Reader Service Card

January 2005 25

Propulsion Update

Caterpillar Debuts the 3600 Series Upgrade, the C280

C280

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