More power and efficiency from Scania

The XPI fuel-injection system has long been used in Scania’s engines for trucks and industrial applications, but in the past this system, due to its sensitivity to fuel quality was not considered to have the necessary reserves of reliability for marine applications.

Maritime Journal attended the press launch of the new engine in the Stockholm Archipelago. Two vessels were available for appraisal, both with twin engine Scania DI16 setups both driving throughT Rolls-Royce waterjets. The Björn Christer, is one of the Swedish lifeboat service’s three largest offshore rescue vessels which the service invested in following the highlighting of shortcomings in Sweden’s long range rescue capabilities by the Estonia ferry disaster. The vessel had recently been re-engined with these newer Scania engines. We also sampled Scania XPI power aboard a Finnish-built Watercat M18 AMC. This 19.9m multi role combat support service vessel had a maximum speed of over 45 knots thanks to its 2300hp setup.

Svante Lejon is a senior technical adviser within Scania’s Research and Development division and his responsibilities include developing technical performance concepts for industrial and marine engines.

“The XPI system introduces more fuel into the cylinders in a shorter time, providing more power,” he says. “However, this also places higher demands on both the filtration system and the cleanliness of the fuel, as the system is more sensitive to particles.”

Lejon says the challenges involved have meant that Scania has not previously used common-rail technology in its marine solutions. “The fuel quality required for marine applications is different to that for trucks and industrial applications,” he says. “However, filter technology has now reached a level that allows for performance and uptime to be maintained at the high level that Scania expects.”

The engine has an integral 5 micron fuel filter and an additional 10 micron pre filter can be fitted on the boat.

The V8 version of Scania’s marine engine is based on the company’s tried-and tested 16.4-litre V8 for trucks. The engine is the most powerful in the marine range and is capable of producing up to 1,150 hp for use in working boats. While this represents an increase in power on the previous generation, Scania says the physical size of the complete installation has actually decreased making it easy to upgrade an existing V8 installation to the new engine platform.

Scania’s modular system in combination with the company’s Engine Management System (EMS) allows for the same platform to be used in different applications. An engine solution can thus be tailored for completely different operating profiles without compromise.

“It’s thanks in part to Scania’s Engine Management System that we’re able to optimise our engine platform for such a wide range of areas,” says Lejon. “Otherwise, we would be forced to make an engine that wasn’t as good for each area.”

A Scania spokesperson said that the introduction of the XPI system could bring economy savings of up to 5% over the last generation Scania V8s.

By Jake Frith