Marine engine and technology developer WinGD has updated its popular X72DF dual-fuel engine platform with an offer of four versions to provide ship design flexibility while helping owners reduce installed power and emissions.
The X72DF is the best-selling engine in WinGD’s portfolio and accounted for every low-speed engine ordered for a newbuild LNG carrier in 2020. The X72DF is also applicable on Suezmax tankers, Panamax and sub-Panamax containers and Capesize bulk carriers.
“Our most successful engine model is now available in four configurations,” said WinGD Global Sales Director Volkmar Galke. “These options reflect the varied demands on shipowners to design vessels more efficiently, reduce installed power and cut emissions dramatically. Whatever route shipowners choose to meet these demands, there is now an X72DF that will work for them.”
Alongside baseline design improvements to the platform, an option is now available to optimise lower power output in five and six-cylinder configurations. These new versions are also available with enhanced methane slip reducing X-DF2.0 technology.
The base version, X72DF-1.1, incorporates the company’s new engine control architecture, WinGD Integrated Control Electronics(WiCE). Several design improvements focused on enhancing reliability, while simplifying production and installation were made along with the addition of a modular scavenging concept to improve control over combustion and emissions.
For five and six-cylinder engines, further optimisation is available to improve efficiency at lower power outputs. The X72DF-1.2 features a selected power/speed range with a lower specific fuel consumption. This configuration designed specifically for ships like the LNG Carriers will be attractive to owners and shipyards seeking to limit installed power in line with the IMO’s energy efficient design indexes for newbuilds and existing vessels.
The option of reduced power rating and limited cylinder configuration enables a more compact design, with a shorter thrust section, an optimised gear drive and a smaller fuel supply unit contributing to reduced engine length. This equates to greater flexibility in the engine room and versatility potential for the ship design.
The new versions are both available as X-DF2.0 upgrades featuring iCER(intelligent control by exhaust recycling) technology. Released in June last year, iCER reduces methane emissions by up to 50% compared with X-DF1.0 engines. The X72DF-2.1 and 2.2 have been specifically tailored for all LNG fueled vessels.
With improved overall GHG emissions, reduced methane slip and lower gas consumption, the X72DF2.0s are the most competitive solutions in terms of opex and overall emissions for LNG carriers, Capesize bulkers, Suezmax tankers and 3,000-8,000TEU container ships.