View non-flash version
Diesel Power Review (continued from page 14) mers recently established a Ma- rine Diesel Division. "The step was considered essential in estab- lishing Allis-Chalmers as a sup- plier of low-speed diesel engines for marine and stationary power applications. Negotiations on the construction of new units are un- der way," said John R. Mills, gen- eral manager of the Marine Diesel Division. The first diesel on the test bed is a Sulzer 12 RND 90M type—a single-acting, two-stroke cross- head engine with constant-pres- sure turbocharging. It has a rat- ing of 43,200 bhp at 126 rpm, weighs 1,160 tons, and is 82 feet long, 36 feet high, and a maxi- mum of 14 feet wide. This engine is the first of three to be built by Allis-Chalmers un- der an agreement with Sulzer Brothers, Ltd. of Switzerland as main propulsion units for three containerships under construction at Avondale Shipyards for Amer- ican President Lines. These three vessels, the biggest container- ships ever built in the United States, will be used in trans- Pacific trade when they are deliv- ered in 1982. "For Allis-Chalmers, this con- tract means some 50,000 man- hours of work over a 14-month period," Mr. Mills said. "The first engine is scheduled to be shipped in the fourth quarter of this year. The second and third engines are scheduled to be finished in the first and second quarters of 1981, respectively." Major components built by Al- lis-Chalmers are the massive, two- piece bedplates that form the foundation of each engine; the thrust housing, which supports the end of the crankshaft; the columns that support the cylinder assemblies; the air receiving chambers; and the 28 tie-rods that hold a completed engine to- gether. For the third engine, Al- lis-Chalmers will manufacture the piston connecting rods. Other ma- jor components are supplied by Sulzer. According to Mr. Mills, the U.S. Maritime Administration has rec- ognized that one answer to the rising cost of marine fuel was to encourage development of a low- speed diesel industry in the U.S. In the total absence of this in- dustry, however, MarAd waived its "buy American" rule to qual- ify for Federal shipbuilding sub- sidy. This attracted leading ma- rine diesel manufacturers, who sought to meet MarAd require- ments by arranging to have their engines built in the U.S. by Amer- ican companies. "Shipowners also are eager to benefit by the fuel-saving design of the low-speed diesels," Mr. Mills said. "American President Lines placed the first order for such diesels, giving the contract to Sulzer, which in turn entered into a manufacturing agreement with Allis-Chalmers. The Milwau- kee company thus becomes the first American manufacturer to actually build such engines." APL hopes to save about $2 million in fuel costs per ship each year. Elsewhere in the world, some 23,000 oceangoing ships are benefiting from the lower costs of fuel-efficient diesel engines. American Brons Diesel American Brons engines are manufactured in the U.S. under license from Brons Industrie of the Netherlands at the facilities of Marine Engineering, Incorpo- rated in Belle Chasse, La. Brons diesels have a reputation for high reliability and low maintenance costs. In the United States, they are installed in offshore tugboats, tug/supply vessels, and inland pushboats. Oosterhuis Industries, Inc. of New Orleans is the U.S. market- ing representative for American Brons engines, which are avail- able in the TD and GV series, both lower rr>m type, two-stroke diesels. The TD (turbodiesel) se- ries of engines have a bore of 220 mm, stroke of 380 mm, and a power range from 1,200 to 4,000 bhp (895-2,983 kw). The turbodiesel design is based (continued on page 18) ' | if , Optimal Injection That is: Variable point,^duration and pressure of injection with constant-pressure injection and BOSCH microprocessor technology. That means: Low consumption, ability to burn low-grade fuels, excellent manoeuvring characteristics, dead slow speed of one-sixth rated speed, clean exhaust. M.A.N. Diesel Engines, D-8900 Augsburg 1 0) co m 36 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
