Investigation of oil emission mechanisms in a marine medium-speed dual-fuel engine

Pilot-ignition otto marine engines are known for greatly reduced emissions of air pollutants (sulphur, nitrogen oxide, particulates) compared to marine diesel engines. However, lubricating oil emissions still are about one order of magnitude higher than in land-based systems. To identify reduction potentials, a better understanding of oil emission mechanisms has to be gained. For this purpose, mass spectrometric oil emission measurements and fluorescence lubricating film thickness measurements were performed on a medium-speed marine engine. With the fluorescence measuring system, the varying lubricating oil film on the cylinder wall can be visualised and analysed in sub-crank-angle resolution. This enables ring rotation detection and investigations show a connection between ring rotation and cylinder liner temperature distribution. Aligning ring gaps allow blow-by to happen. This and other high intensity events such as engine knock, load shedding or the transition from diesel-mode to gas-mode, heavily disturb the oil layer and cause peaking oil emissions.