The Most Powerful Ship Engine: The Giant Wärtsilä-Sulzer Engine
The Wärtsilä-Sulzer RTA96-C is the world’s most powerful ship engine. The Finnish company Wärtsilä-Sulzer designed this two-stroke, low-speed, turbocharged diesel engine for the world’s largest container ships, which operate on heavy fuel oil.
The largest model features 14 cylinders, stands 13.5 meters tall, measures 26.5 meters in length, and weighs over 2,300 tons. The crankshaft weighs 300 tons, and each piston weighs 5.5 tons.
With an output of 80.08 megawatts (MW), or 107,390 horsepower, this engine is the world’s most powerful reciprocating engine.
It entered commercial operation in 2006 on the Emma Maersk, then the world’s largest container ship.
Its design is very similar to the older RTA96C engine, but it incorporates common rail technology, replacing the traditional camshaft, chain drive, fuel pump, and hydraulic actuator.
Compared to older mechanically controlled engines, it delivers maximum power at lower rpm, reduces fuel consumption, and reduces harmful emissions.
The engine produces 7,603,850 Nm of torque at 102 rpm and boasts a thermal efficiency exceeding 50%, higher than most automotive engines, meaning that more than half of the fuel’s energy is converted into power.
The engine consumes 1,660 gallons of heavy fuel oil per hour. Each of its 14 cylinders displaces 1,820 liters, for a total displacement of over 25,000 liters.
The engine’s two-stroke design, featuring a crosshead that separates the cylinders from the crankcase, enables the use of different lubricants and reduces lateral forces on the pistons, thereby minimizing wear.
Besides this engine, the marine engine market is dominated by a handful of companies that have produced some of the most powerful engines in history.
One such company is the MAN B&W 11G95ME-C9.5 engine, manufactured by MAN Energy Solutions, a competitor of Wärtsila.
This 11-cylinder, two-stroke engine delivers up to 75,570 kW (103,000 hp). This low-speed, two-stroke engine is designed for modern ultra-large container ships, such as the MSC Jade, with a capacity exceeding 19,000 TEUs.
The “G” in its name stands for G-type, meaning long-stroke engine. This design enables the use of larger, more efficient propellers, resulting in significantly reduced operating costs and fuel consumption.
Another powerful Wärtsilä marine engine is the X92, part of the X-Generation series, building on the innovative technology of the RTA96-C. This modern 12-cylinder engine delivers up to 73,560 kW.
It features Wärtsilä’s common rail fuel injection and electronic exhaust valve control technology. The engine offers operational flexibility, reduces emissions, and ensures smokeless operation at all speeds.
The X92 is designed to comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) Tier II emissions regulations and can be equipped with systems that meet Tier III standards, which are crucial for the marine industry.
