OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRONIC SPEED GOVERNOR FOR MARINE DIESEL ENGINE

The automatic speed control system (ASCS) is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of diesel engines, which are the most common prime movers on merchant fleet. Modern diesel installations are equipped with electronic speed governors (ESG) that can be adjusted upon changeable ship`s sailing conditions. However, in practice, governor parameters are typically set for a specific mode without considering the stochastic nature of external sailing conditions, leading to unsatisfactory speed regulation in other modes. This creates a problem of ensuring the optimal operation of the ASCS with ESGs during vessel`s operation, especially in rough weather conditions. In this regard, the study aims to optimize the adjustment ESG`s parameters, taking into account the stochastic nature of the load across the entire range of possible operational modes of marine diesel engine. The research methodology involves the use of numerical and mathematical modeling, allowing for the consideration of stochastic characteristics of disturbances caused by the propeller, fluctuations in gas pressure in the diesel cylinders, the dynamic properties of ESG components, and ASCS nonlinearities. The methodology was tested on the main diesel installation HYUNDAI-MAN B&W 6S60MC-C7 of the CATALAN SEA tanker under various operational modes and changing sailing conditions over a wide range. As a result of the study, optimal settings for the Nabtesco MG-800 electronic governor were determined based on the criterion of minimizing the amplitude instability of crankshaft speed oscillations while maintaining an acceptable level of thermal regime stability. This optimization improved diesel engine stability and reduced specific effective fuel consumption by 1.5 – 4.3 % in main operational modes. The recommendations presented in this work regarding ESG adjustment can be used in the operation of marine diesel engines to enhance their stability.