Wärtsilä Corporation reports the upgraded version of the Wärtsilä 34DF engine is rapidly becoming established as an industry standard, particularly in South Korea, but in shipyards elsewhere also. The three major South Korean shipyards are supporting the use of this engine for auxiliary applications in the LNG Carrier segment where dual-fuel engines are favoured.
South Korea currently has more than 80% of the total order book for LNG tankers, while the Wärtsilä 34DF engine has achieved an auxiliary application market share of approximately 70% in this sector.
During the first half of this year Wärtsilä has been awarded contracts for 56 Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines for 14 new LNG Carriers being built for four different owners. This means that Wärtsilä has already received orders for nearly 100 such engines from these three yards since it was re-launched with a higher MCR (maximum continuous rating) in 2013. All these orders were placed by South Korea’s three leading shipyards and the ships are being built for European, American, and Asian owners.
“The Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engine is a powerful, versatile, and efficient engine that is helping shipping move into the gas age. While the success has been universal, with contracts from yards and owners globally, the fact that the world’s largest shipbuilding nation, South Korea, is increasingly opting for the Wärtsilä 34DF is especially gratifying,” says Lars Anderson, Vice President, Engine Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions.
The Wärtsilä 34DF is manufactured in configurations from 6L to 16V, giving 500 kW per cylinder and a total maximum mechanical output of 8000 kW. The engine speed is 750 rpm.
Emissions Performance
The dual-fuel engine capability enables ships to be operated on either conventional liquid marine fuels (LFO, HFO or liquid bio fuel) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The switch between fuels can be made seamlessly without loss of power or speed. Such fuel flexibility enables compliance with emission regulations in controlled areas, while giving operators the option of determining the fuel according to cost and availability.
When operating in gas mode, the Wärtsilä 34DF engine is already compliant with IMO Tier III regulations without any secondary exhaust gas purification systems. Also, when fuelled by gas, the SOx and CO2 emissions are notably reduced and smokeless operation is attained. In liquid fuel oil mode, the Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines are fully compliant with the IMO Tier II exhaust emissions regulations.
The Wärtsilä 34DF has also obtained certification of emission standard compliance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which further endorses the environmental compliance of this engine.
(Source: Wärtsilä Corporation)
