HERCULES strengthens engine performance

The company’s work within the European Union supported HERCULES project includes modelling techniques to provide new insights into the tribology (the science of the mechanisms of friction, lubrication, and wear of interacting surfaces that are in relative motion) of the ring and liner system of large engines, allowing reduced friction without increasing wear. The technology will be applicable to engines of all sizes.

HERCULES stands for High Efficiency Engine R&D on Combustion with Ultra Low Emissions for Ships and is a major EU programme to improve the efficiency and performance of large engines for the marine sector.

Federal-Mogul is the sole piston ring supplier to the project and is working closely with engine manufacturer Wärtsilä to develop new ring designs, materials and coatings. As the market leader in the large piston ring sector, Federal-Mogul has a long history of close technical cooperation with Wärtsilä.

“Participation in the HERCULES project confirms our leading world-class innovation capability, said Rainer Jueckstock, Federal-Mogul senior vice president of Powertrain Energy. “Federal-Mogul’s technical expertise is making a major contribution to the development of a new generation of marine engines that will run more efficiently and more reliably than current engines and produce lower emissions.“

The advanced tribology simulation codes under development at Federal-Mogul use sophisticated friction and wear computer models that will allow the creation of new ring designs, aiming to reduce ring pack friction without increasing wear, a key factor in improving powertrain efficiency and durability.

“Progress is very good and the initial results from the HERCULES programme are being reviewed by the project partners, said Franz-Gunther Cantow, Federal-Mogul’s director of global sales and engineering, Powertrain Energy. “In the long term, the output from this project should mean that ships will be able to transport goods more efficiently and in a more environmentally friendly manner.”

Federal-Mogul claims to be the market and technology leader in large industrial piston rings. The company has consolidated the research and development capacities for this market at its Burscheid site near Cologne, Germany. Production takes place in Friedberg,Germany and in Gothenburg, Sweden.

In 2010 Federal-Mogul acquired piston ring manufacturer Daros of Sweden, integrating its engineering and manufacturing expertise into its global operations. The combination of complementary technologies from Goetze and Daros within the Federal-Mogul portfolio provides major engine manufacturers with a single, consistent communication channel for both product types.