COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TWO SIMPLE MARINE ENGINE BSFC ESTIMATION METHODS

Due to increasingly strict environmental regulations and dwindling oil reserves, fuel consumption and its minimisation play a more and more important role in shipping as well. Based on trends in recent years, the easiest way to solve the problem so far is the so-called "Slow steaming". Other option is the use of alternative fuels, which are increasingly present in shipping with more and more variations. In inland navigation, the above mentioned solutions are also functional, but less achievable. On the one hand, the slower delivery reduces the competitive position of inland navigation in the market, and on the other hand, the number of propulsion systems with alternative fuels are very small in this area. Therefore, the greatest innovation potential can be found in optimising the drive system for minimise the fuel consumption. To do this, the operating profile of the ship being built / built, the parameters influencing the fuel consumption and the more detailed consumption characteristics of the engines need to be known. Many methods have been published in the past decade to determine the latter component. In this research, the authors review the factors influencing fuel consumption of inland navigation, the measurement of fuel consumption and the estimation procedures by any means of transportation based on the literature. They present their modeling results, which are transplanted from several areas into water transport. The proposed methods are validated by engine brake measurements.