The influence of fuel injection pump malfunctions of a marine 4-stroke diesel engine on composition of exhaust gases

The article presents results of a laboratory study on exhaust gas emission level from a marine diesel engine. The object of the laboratory study was a four-stroke marine diesel engine type Al 25/30 Sulzer, operated at a constant speed. The examination on the engine was carried out according to regulations of the Annex VI to MARPOL 73/78 Convention. The laboratory study consisted of 3 observations: the engine assumed to be operating without malfunctions, delay of the fuel injection by 5° of crankshaft angle in the second engine cylinder, and the leakage of the fuel pump on the second engine cylinder. Additionally, parameters of fuel consumption and thermodynamic parameters of the marine engine were measured during the research. Simulated malfunctions caused changes in total weighed NO_x, CO, and CO₂ emissions for all considered engine loads. All simulated malfunctions caused a small change in measured thermodynamic parameters of the engine. The engine operation with the delayed fuel injection and the fuel leakage in the fuel pump in one cylinder caused a decrease of NO_x and CO emission level. Fuel leakage in the fuel pump causes the CO₂ emission to decrease only at low engine load. Calculations of the weighed specific fuel consumption present a 1-2% change in the engine efficiency.