Advances in scavenging and turbocharging of Sulzer RD engines

Abstract

Starting with the status of development of RSAD76 engines described in a number of publications [1,2,3,4], work is described which has been done during the last felt years on improving the scavenging system and charging conditions with the object of raising engine ratings by a higher degree of supercharging. Detailed investigations into the scavenging process led to new and improved arrangements of the scavenging ports from which all RD-type engines have benefited. The writer then traces the further development of the supercharging system for numbers of cylinders difficult to deal with in pulse operation. Substantial advances were made by the introduction of new turbine arrangements for RD engines haring seven, eight and ten cylinders; this rendered it possible to employ to a far-reaching extent the advantages of full-admission turbines – something that had previously only been practical on engines having six, nine or twelve cylinders. Major increases in rating were thus also obtained in the case of these “difficult” numbers of cylinders, without the exhaust gas temperature being increased.