Engines: Transiting to Greater Power
Engine manufacturers are working in close consultation with OEMs for developing machines that will meet the upcoming BS1V emission norms and deliver high productivity, more fuel efficiency, faster cycle times, and consistency in operation. Making the BS IV complaint engines fully adaptable to customer requirements is being led by sound technology, cost optimization, fuel economy in operation zones, power ratings, and their least impact on the end-application.
Miron Thoms, Vice President & Head - Volvo Penta India
Volvo Penta will use its tried and tested Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology for Indian OEMs when the stringent BS CEV IV emission norms come into effect in October 2020. We already have products ready for the BS CEV IV in off-highway applications. The Volvo Penta SCR System is maintenance-free and allows us to reduce the fuel consumption of the base engine compared to the BS CEV III engine.
We have been supplying BS CEV IV equivalent Stage IV/Tier4 final engines globally since 2013. With the stringent emission regulations, all the engine suppliers will have to move to electronic engines with an after-treatment system. In fact, Volvo Penta had introduced electronically controlled engines in 2006 in India, independent of the emission regulations. Along with a cleaner environment, the machine owner and operator benefit from a lower cost of ownership, greater reliability and stable operations over the lifetime of the engine. Today, all our electronically controlled engines are given as standard, and their popularity can be gauged by our increasing number of users in various applications.
Since mid-2019, we have been working with several customers and OEMs on BS CEV IV compliant engines. We undertake extensive field-testing on engine performance, installation and application, including in the most abusive field conditions for thousands of hours so that we can develop robust engines.
The Volvo Penta engine platform is designed to fit every engine installation and application. It offers, as standard, the heavy-duty cable harnesses, optional heavy-duty cooling, air filtration system, etc. We also assist the OEMs in their engineering processes, design reviews, selection of optional equipment, packaging, building prototypes and their installation, testing and validation.
Volvo Penta has engineered its engine platform and after-treatment system to enable the OEM to design a modular driveline. This allows the OEMs to have one engine room design for all emission regulations from BS CEV II, III, IV and for 2025 V. Since the engines are designed to have complete equipment integration with their auxiliary systems such as radiators, transmissions, air intake and exhaust, the OEMs and the end-user/customers will have a minimal change for meeting the new emission norms.
Besides installation and maintenance-free after-treatment technology, we also provide OEMs options to interface with different transmissions. Our current customer base has an easy shift to the new engine generation as we have managed to keep the engine footprint across the range identical and “only” replaced the silencer with our new SCR-silencer combination that will remain maintenance free.
The engine being compact in size and offering options like remote oil and fuel filter provides manufacturer the liberty to place filters at accessible locations. This can help reduce maintenance time and improve uptime. We offer service intervals of up to 1000 hours as per our service guidelines, without increasing the oil capacity.
Sanjeev Nimkar(Chief Operating Officer), Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited
Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL) has recently developed R550 - a new compact engine with Low NVH, improved power to weight ratio, high reliability, modular design, and the ability to comply with the current as well as future emissions norms. This engine, in the power range of 15hp to 55 hp with 2, 3 and 4 cyl variants, is over and above the current products that we have developed for the upcoming BS IV emission norms. This product is developed with more than 35 different variants to suit any global requirements.
KOEL has initiated field trials for its BSIV engines for use in backhoe loaders, compactors, wheel loaders, motor graders, self-loading concrete mixers, cranes etc, These are all complied with the stringent BS IV emissions in Phase I, and for excavators will have to comply in Phase II.
Our new BSIV engines are designed to provide the same ease of operation, fuel efficiency, robustness, durability and reliability that Kirloskar engines are known for. KOEL engines are currently dominating the off-highway market where they are being used in rugged, dusty and tough conditions.
Along with engines after-treatment system is an additional component for meeting the new emission norms. KOEL has deployed world’s best systems for this purpose. Thus, our Engine + After Treatment System will provide the end users and our OEMs a complete hassle-free solution during this transition to the BS IV technology. KOEL has industry’s widest service and spares channel of more than 435 outlets. The spares are replenished on daily basis in all outlets. KOEL engines are known for their low maintenance cost and this will continue even in BS IV. KOEL is determined to keep their customer delight index more than 90 % post transition.