VOLVO PENTA DEMONSTRATION DAY | New heavy duty ratings plus IMO III concept for the D8 engine

Volvo Penta’s new D8 MH and MG engine was presented at a journalist event at the company’s headquarters in Gothenburg a week prior to its official launch at the Nor-Shipping show in Oslo. This all-new heavy-duty engine has significantly lower noise and vibration levels and is lighter without comprising power, reliability and durability.

The latest iteration of Volvo Penta’s D8 engine sees it given a heavy-duty 1-2 rating, allowing it to power pilot boats and tugs and other heavy-duty applications.

The D8 was first introduced in 2016 for marine high-performance and leisure applications. This was followed by a new variant that boasted a 3-4 rating, making it suitable for commercial light duty, planing and semi-planing boats. This new heavy-duty rating opens up yet more demanding applications for this flexible power system.

This completely new engine will comply with the newest emissions regulations. However, the D8 will start its journey with IMO II, USA EPA 3 and China 2 ratings to satisfy current market demands and then develop into a full-blown and compact IMO III as well as European inland waterway solutions for the marine professional.

D8 marine heavy duty engine

Volvo Penta D8 MH is an in-line, six-cylinder, 7.7-litre diesel engine. Its common-rail fuel injection, double overhead camshafts and twin-entry turbo all contribute to its impressive operating economy, world-class diesel performance, low emissions and noise levels.

The engine has a robust design with a ladder frame bolted to the engine block. It features a rigid cast-iron cylinder block and cylinder head, which guarantees high reliability and long-term durability.

The unique marine torque of the Volvo Penta diesel engine stands out because it has high torque at low speeds, ensuring strong manoeuvrability and acceleration. Rated power is maintained below rated speed for an increased load-carrying capability and ability to maintain a high cruising speed, irrespective of load or sea state.

D8 MH diesel inboard (IMO III)

The common-rail technology gives a very smooth-running engine with world-class diesel performance, low fuel consumption, emission and noise levels. The fuel injection system also helps make the engine highly fuel efficient. As well as this, the unique control unit monitors several parameters that reduce the overall fuel consumption.

Volvo Penta offers two options of type-approved systems for onboard electronic control. Electronic vessel control (EVC) fully integrates the engines, electronics and a range of optional features. The “marine commercial control system” (MCCS) is easily integrated into the ship’s control system.

The D8 MH is designed to be easy to maintain. Volvo Penta’s comprehensive range of high-quality oil, lubrication, and coolant ensures uptime and high performance in the long term. The engine is fitted with twin switchable oil/fuel filters as standard. Accessories include a fuel pre-filter to keep the engine in good condition.

D8 marine genset

This is a complete solution for a ship’s onboard power requirements. It comes complete with engine, generator and monitoring system, all tested and ready for installation onboard. Volvo Penta D8 MG is an in-line, six-cylinder, marine diesel genset using common-rail fuel injection, double overhead camshafts, and a twin-entry turbo – with pulse charging.

The highly efficient speed control system gives this engine superior load-taking capability. The D8 based gensets will deliver power in 50 Hz and 60 Hz in a range from 136 kWe to 250 kWe and come with major classification society certificates.

The engine’s robust design with a ladder frame bolted to the engine block makes it highly reliable. Its rigid in-line cylinder block with generously dimensioned crankshaft bearings, water-cooled exhaust manifold, and turbo provide a powerful package. This engine is designed to withstand high exhaust back pressure.

The common-rail fuel system makes the engine highly fuel efficient and means minimal vibrations and low noise levels. The control unit monitors several parameters that reduce the overall fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. Volvo Penta’s MCCS is an engine control and monitoring system that is easily integrated into the ship’s control system. All actions are displayed with text messages and logged in a non-erasable memory.

The genset is easy to install and the engine is developed to manage high exhaust back pressure. Maintenance and servicing are also made simple with easily accessible service points.

Clever and compact design

This compact engine has been created for vessels that have to maximise volume for payload. The compactness of the engine is mirrored in the SCR muffler, which is designed to be small and versatile with its three possible outlets and accepting vertical as well as horizontal mounting.

As with the D13 sister, the urea/DEF is sprayed into the exhaust through a nozzle just before the muffler and converting the NOx into nitrogen and water in the catalytic process inside the SCA muffler. This technology is common to Volvo Group’s vast land-based engine base and now frequently being demanded by marine customers. In the NOx converting process, the muffler adds to onboard comfort by reducing noise by 35dBA and for any operations near shore and fire hazardous areas the system acts as a spark arrestor.  

Reliable and flexible

The proven durability and compact design of the D8 engine combined with generators – from Stamford – lay out a genset portfolio tailor-made to auxiliary power generation. This engine is also powerful enough to be the base power provider in compact diesel-electric and serial hybrid propulsion systems. Not only that, it can also be the ideal “reborn” propulsion system for inland or coastal vessels.

The D8 MH and MG will be released in two stages. The first D8 will be for the IMO II, US EPA Tier 3 and China 2 in early 2020, followed by the D8 IMO III and EU IWW stage V in summer 2020.

Baird Maritime Managing Director Alex Baird was a guest of Volvo Penta in Gothenburg, Sweden, for a day of presentations, product unveilings and test drives.


Baird Maritime Gear Editor

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