Wärtsilä Corporation has enhanced its Auxpac range of medium-speed heavy fuel oil (HFO) marine
generating sets with features that reduce costs, and simplify installation.

Auxpac diesel-based electrical generators are optimized for simple installation. They include the provision of 3D CAD models in various formats including Tribon - which is widely used in shipyards - and full pre-commissioning. Such features, benefiting shipbuilders and ship operators, have helped Wärtsilä to substantially increase its share of the worldwide marine generating set market, with orders for well over 200 units booked in the first 12 months since the launch of this product at SMM exhibition in Hamburg last year.

Wärtsilä is now building on this success by evolving the specification of its generating sets for outputs to 2850 kWe (3652 kVA), with a suite of technical modifications that improve price and performance, and lower overall lifecycle costs.

One major advance is the newly designed fuel system on the engine. It makes it possible to use fuel with the same parameters as the main engine, allowing the generating sets to be connected to the main-engine fuel supply system.

To speed installation, the water cooling system has been remodelled, reducing the number of connections required to two - as well as saving engine parts. Combined with further detail improvements to the engine design, including a simpler lubrication oil sump, this is helping Wärtsilä to reduce the costs of manufacturing the sets to make them more commercially attractive.

One of the new design features, the replacement of a hydraulic-mechanical speed governor with an all-electronic unit developed by Wärtsilä, provides gains in performance as well. The new actuator provides faster and more accurate response, with tests showing improvements of up to 30% in load response. The new control system also provides possibilities for isochronous load sharing.

Auxpac medium-speed generating sets, running on HFO, cover an electrical power output range from 520 to 2850 kWe (650 to 3652 kVA), for either 50 or 60 Hz operation. These units are based on Wärtsilä's well-proven engine designs, and are the most compact and lightweight generating sets on the market today - simplifying engine room design. The sets cater for nearly all types of vessels including fishing boats, general cargo ships, bulk carriers, container vessels, product tankers, and all types of tankers up to VLCCs.

Unlike many generating sets targeted at marine markets, the Auxpac range is completely pre-engineered - providing plug-in solutions to shipboard electrical power generation. User-friendly documentation for all commercial and technical aspects is included, and tailored to each individual application. The documentation can also be supplied in either digital or printed forms, with drawings in various standard interchange formats such as DXF and Tribon.

Through modular construction, Auxpac generating sets can be built rapidly. Following assembly, they are put through rigorous factory-acceptance tests including extended endurance runs at full load, and full parallel running for multi-generator networks. Installation and commissioning procedures are standardized and well documented to ensure a trouble-free start-up.

Wärtsilä provides full service support for the Auxpac range including commissioning, maintenance and spare parts. One novel feature is the availability of advanced condition monitoring analysis, to avoid problems and support planned maintenance. This works by exploiting the data made available by the modern electronic controls on Wärtsilä's diesel engines. Data from the many sensors on the generating set's dual-redundant CANbus network are collected, exported and analyzed by an optional Wärtsilä software package called CBM Expert. This analysis can be performed locally on a shipboard PC, or remotely by transferring the data over a satellite link to a Wärtsilä service centre. If any spares are required, they can be sent to the ship's next port. The company's international service organization with more than 6000 professionals, enables support to be provided 24/7, worldwide.

"Wärtsilä Auxpac is a generating set solution that is a combination of efficient, reliable hardware and support services, to provide best-in-class performance, outstanding total economy, and meet the stringent needs of maritime clients," says Mikael Mäkinen, Executive Vice President and Head of Wärtsilä’s Ship Power Business. "The focus on delivering a comprehensive lifecycle solution is helping us to grow rapidly in this market segment, and the latest evolution of our generating sets helps to enhance our overall value proposition."

In cooperation with Volvo Penta, Wärtsilä also produces a range of high-speed Auxpac units, running on MGO (marine gas oil), for smaller-scale power requirements down to 62 kWe. /ins

Notes to the editor:
Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 12.000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä offices in over 60 countries around the world.

www.wartsila.com


For additional information, please contact:

John Grant, Sales Manager, Scotland, Northen England & Ireland
Wärtsilä UK Ltd
Phone +44 1224 854 011
Mobile +44 7775 807 118
E-mail john.grant@wartsila.com


Paul Bennett, Sales Manager, England
Wärtsilä UK Ltd
Phone +44 1892 782 365 / +44 1732 783 571
Mobile +44 7775 807 115
E-mail paul.bennett@wartsila.com


Mr Nandkumar Pai
Head Ship Power
Wartsila India Ltd
Tel: 91-22-27575361-71
Fax: 91-22-27575178
Email: nandkumar.pai@wartsila.com


Media contact:

Lydia D’Sa
Corporate Communications
Wärtsilä India Ltd
Tel: 91-22-27575361-71
Fax: 91-22-27575176-78
Email: power@wartsila.com
Internet:www.wartsila.com


Media contact:

Marit Holmlund-Sund

Public Relations Manager

Wärtsilä Corporation

Direct tel: +358 10 709 1439

Direct fax: +358 10 709 1425

e-mail: marit.holmlund-sund@wartsila.com

Internet: www.wartsila.com

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