Analysis of variable Inlet Valve Control in two-stage turbocharged marine four-stroke Diesel engines – Miller cycle

Abstract

With the ever so imminent threat of climate change caused by man-made pollution, IMO introduces a new piece of legislature: IMO Annex 6 Tier III regarding air pollution. To meet new standards of exhaust air content, engineers are scrambling to find new and efficient ways to keep the shipping industry going. With the dawn of two-stage turbocharging developing high values of inlet air pressure in combination with early IVC using variable valve actuation depending on the engine load, the regulations are met. In this study the effectiveness of the previously mentioned concepts are put to the test against the conventional Diesel cycle used on board most vessels today. A detailed comparison of the two is conducted followed by a thorough analysis and argumentation.