Injection rate of cylinder lubrication oil in large two-stroke marine diesel engines using a common rail lubrication system

This article investigates a common rail cylinder lubrication system for large two-stroke marine diesel engines using electronically controlled injectors. The system is studied using the Bosch rate of injection measurement technique. The common rail injector has a buildup of mass flow of approximately 1 ms as the injector opens until the nozzle is choked from cavitation. Using a highly viscous fluid, the Bosch rate of injection method is able to predict the injected amount with an error of 5% or lower for nearly the entire tested delivery range of 2–21 mg. Lubrication of cylinder liners and piston rings is a crucial parameter in operating a two-stoke marine diesel engine efficiently. Both over and under lubrication is harmful for the engine, so the ability to accurately dose the cylinder oil is very important. A mass flow build up time of 1 ms promises high accuracy of dosage even down to 2.5 mg per injection. This paves the way for injecting the oil where and when it is needed, which in turn will improve engine performance and lower harmful emissions.