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Gas-diesel (GD) technology was introduced greater fuel versatility for the operator. In
in 1987 with the Wärtsilä 32GD, the first the DF system the lean-burn gas is ignited
gas engine in the Wärtsilä portfolio. This with a small amount of light fuel oil as
technology was mainly used in offshore pilot injection and therefore no spark plugs
applications, although it also found are needed on this engine. The system also
application in the power plant sector. GD included the normal diesel fuel injection
technology makes it possible to run the system in order to run on diesel oil.
power plant on either gas or oil (heavy fuel All these technologies have been
oil, light fuel oil), giving the operator fuel developed to meet specific customer needs
versatility and security against gas supply and markets. Now it is time to introduce a
disturbances. The system is also tolerant further development of the GD technology,
against gas quality variations. fuel sharing, which is mainly targeted at
GD uses the diesel combustion cycle in the needs of the operators of oil fields and
both gas and liquid fuel operation, which related process facilities.
gives it the characteristics of a diesel engine
(output, derating etc.) in both operating What is fuel sharing?
modes. In gas mode, a small amount of The fuel sharing system allows the engine
pilot fuel oil injection is used to initiate to run on gas and liquid fuel in different
combustion. The need for a gas compressor proportions, in order to optimize plant
for high-pressure gas injection was often operation based on the availability of the
considered an excessive investment for fuels. For example, if the gas available
conventional power generation applications. allows only 30% of the rated output to
The GD system was followed in 1993 by be reached, the engine will use fuel oil
spark-ignited lean-burn engine technology for the remaining 70%. The operator can
(SG) with the introduction of the Wärtsilä freely change the setpoint of the fuel share,
25SG, which was soon followed by the and the control system will ensure that
Wärtsilä 34SG. SG technology was the actual operating point is within the
developed especially for power plant specified operating windows. Of course,
applications where lower investment cost is the operator has the choice of running
a must but where reliable and good quality the engine in conventional GD or fuel oil
gas supply is available. Since then, the SG operation as well. The range of operation is
engine has become the most popular gas shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2 – GD pump curve and transfer area
engine in the Wärtsilä portfolio. In order to better understand the fuel between maximum fuel share and GD
The SG principle was later converted sharing window, let’s take a closer look at operation.
to dual-fuel (DF) technology to provide each area individually.
Fuel oil operation the setpoint according to the minimum area is illustrated in Figure 2.
Fuel oil operation is based on the use of or maximum limit. If the load returns 3. Minimum engine output in fuel
normal fuel oil injection pumps and the to a level where the 30% setpoint can be sharing is 35% of rated load, and this is
system operates just like any diesel engine. reached, the system will bring the fuel share the point where the minimum and the
The engine can run for example on light back to the setpoint. The operator may maximum fuel share limits meet. If the
fuel oil, heavy fuel oil or crude oil as the change the setpoint at any time during engine load goes below 35%, the system
main fuel (and as the pilot injection fuel), operation. will automatically switch over to fuel oil
without any changes to the fuel injection Fuel sharing is limited to a specified operation. The switchover is executed as a
system. Fuel oil operation is available window to ensure safe operation. The fast transfer (not as a gas trip), which means
within the full range from zero to the rated following numbers refer to the limiting that the gas supply system is maintained in
load of the engine. points indicated with circles in Figure 1: ready status for some time to enable rapid
1. The minimum gas share (gas amount) return to fuel sharing, should the load level
GD operation is 15% of the power generation at full load. soon be restored above 35%.
GD is the original gas-diesel operation, This is a fixed limit which originates from The actual fuel sharing value is derived
where gas is the main source of power the minimum gas injection volume; hence, from the actuator positions. To reach
although pilot fuel oil injection of when the load is decreased, the lower limit an accurate actual value, the control
approximately 5% is used to ignite the becomes proportionally higher (a higher % system works internally with linearized
combustion. GD operation is available value). The minimum gas share is defined actuator signals which are calibrated to
within 30...100% of rated load, and the in order to allow continuous operation only site conditions and site fuels. The accuracy
transfer to or from GD operation can be at sufficiently long injection durations to is best if the fuel heat value does not
executed at any point within 30...87.5% of ensure repeatable and linear operation of vary. However, the system is tolerant of
rated load. the gas injection valve. variations and these do not cause problems
2. The maximum gas share (gas in operation.
Fuel sharing operation amount) in fuel sharing mode is about
The fuel sharing option is available within 80%, at 87.5% of the engine’s rated load. The fuel sharing technology
35...100% of rated load. The fuel share The reason for not allowing continuous The fuel sharing system is essentially a
setpoint can be adjusted on-line from operation between GD operation and combination of the GD engine and a new
WOIS (Wärtsilä Operators’ Interface the maximum limit is because the fuel oil control system and control principle. The
System). For example the operator may pump curve contains an inverse operating system controls both the gas and the oil
want to run at 30% gas share at full engine area between the main and pilot injection injection simultaneously and allows both
load and to achieve this the 30% setpoint is curves; inverse operation means that to be used within the allowed operating
given and the fuel sharing mode is selected. increasing the fuel rack position actually window limits. The new control system is
If at any time the engine load is too decreases the fuel injection amount. tightly integrated into the programmable
low for reaching the selected setpoint, the This area is passed over as a step when logic control (PLC) of the Wärtsilä
control system will automatically adjust transferring to GD operation. The transfer extended level automation system using the