MAN Diesel’s First 40-Bore Electronic Engine

MAN Diesel’s first S40ME-B electronic engine has entered service. Yielding 6,810 kW at 146 rpm and an mep of 21 bar, the new engine was built by STX in Korea and is one of six ordered by Intership Navigation of Cyprus to power a series of vessels.

The ME-B engine is the prime mover aboard the Pacific Adventure, a multi-purpose vessel built at HuangHai shipyard in China. The newbuilding recently passed its sea-trials successfully. The market requirement for the lowest possible propeller speed in relation to bore size has led to the new ME-B engine having a stroke/bore ratio of 4.4. In turn, the new engine has an increased maximum cylinder pressure, giving rise to an improved fuel consumption that is 2 g/kWh lower than existing, small-bore engines. Thanks to the electronic control of the engine’s parameters, the ME-B is also well-equipped to meet the new Tier-II emission requirements.

Ole Grøne, Senior Vice President, MAN Diesel Promotion and Sales said “Market reception for the ME-B series has been very positive to date and, with over 100 orders recorded thus far, we are very happy with its success.”

“Engine builders, shipowners and ship builders alike have hailed this modern engine technology, and the arrival of the first S40ME-B in service is another, significant step forward for the ME-B series.”

The ME-B concept MAN Diesel introduced the ME-B concept in mid-2006 with the small-bore S35ME-B and S40ME-B MAN B&W engine designs. It subsequently expanded the series in early 2007 with the launch of the S50ME-B MAN B&W engine design, with the result that the entire ME-B program now boasts a total output range from 2,975 kW to 16,020 kW. The economical ME-B design utilizes a camshaft-operated exhaust valve and an electronically controlled fuel-injection system.

This fuel injection makes the new ME-B engines particularly well-equipped to meet Tier-II emission requirements, and is an efficient way of managing current environmental, emission requirements. As with the larger MAN B&W ME-engines, the Alpha Lubricator comes as standard with all ME-B engines, ensuring a very low, cylinder lubricating-oil consumption.