Analysis of reliability/failure of newly built diesel engines

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Analysis of reliability/failure of newly built diesel engines

Kubo, Akira / Okawara, Koji / Iwaya, Koji / Igari, Kiichi / Ohno, Naoyuki

Despite the remarkable progress in technology, the number of failures in newly built diesel engine has been increasing. Judging from a number of instances, they seem due to design defects, material defects, and manufacturing faults. Once a diesel engine failure occurs, a ship owner not only loses profits, but can also encounter other major problems, such as the loss of life and environmental damage. Over a period of several years (to make clear the actual conditions) the authors have attempted to gather and accumulate data on failures and on abnormalities in regard to newly built diesel engines from 15 Japanese ship owners/managers. The investigation shows that most of these failures are attributable to poor engineering design and poor quality control. Because ship owners / operators / managers want to help improve the reliability of these high-powered diesel engines, they are willing to work with engine designers and builders. Therefore, based upon the analysis results, constructive and positive proposals are made to engine designers and builders to help eliminate these problems.