Variable geometry exhaust manifold turbocharging system for an 8-cylinder marine diesel engine

The variable geometry exhaust manifold (VGEM) turbocharging system can realize the switch between two charging modes by the switching valve, and it can give a good performance both at the high load operation and the low load operation. When the switching valve is closed during the low load or transient response operation, the VGEM turbocharging system works as a pulse turbocharging system. When the switching valve is opened during the high load operation, the VGEM turbocharging system works as a semi-constant pressure turbocharging system. This paper puts forward a newly designed VGEM turbocharging system for an 8-cylinder marine diesel engine. The original turbocharging system for this marine diesel engine is a modular pulse converter (MPC). The VGEM turbocharging system simulation model is modified based on the original MPC model; the difference between them is only the exhaust manifold model. The GT-POWER simulations on both steady state and transient state have been done. The results show that in all four loads of 25, 50, 75 and 100%, the average scavenging coefficient of the VGEM turbocharging system is greater than that of the original MPC turbocharging system, while the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) is less than that of the original MPC turbocharging system. In the 25% load case, the BSFC could be reduced by 15 g/kW h. The transient analysis shows that the performance of the VGEM turbocharging system is also better than the original.