According to information from Zmescience, the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C is currently the largest and most powerful engine in the world, running on diesel fuel and boasting an impressive output of 109,000 horsepower.
Today, with the advancement of science and technology, in order to remain competitive in the maritime transportation sector, manufacturers of marine diesel engines worldwide are constantly researching and developing new engine designs characterized by optimal structures, fuel efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and especially lower environmental pollution.
Deep within the holds of cargo ships and gigantic oil tankers around the globe, there truly lies “a monster” lurking inside. This machine is so large and powerful that it leaves people astonished: Wärtsilä RT-flex96C, now considered the largest and most powerful engine in the world. However, the story of this engine is not just about its size, but also about its efficiency and innovation.
This colossal machine is manufactured by Wärtsilä, a Finnish engineering company. With 14 inline cylinders, it has a total power output of 109,000 horsepower (80,800kW) – enough energy to ‘sustain’ a small town. The total weight of the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C exceeds 2,300 tons – equivalent to the water displacement of a fully equipped escort ship. Measuring 26.6 meters in length and 13.5 meters in height, this engine block is taller than a four-story building.
Wärtsilä is a Finnish company specializing in the design and manufacture of large engines for marine and power plant applications. In 2005, the company began creating the largest and most powerful diesel engine in the world. The result was the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C, a low-speed, two-stroke diesel engine that uses a conventional fuel injection system to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions.
The RT-flex96C is a true giant among engines, with fourteen cylinders capable of producing over 100,000 horsepower and more than 7,000,000Nm of torque – sufficient to power an entire suburban town.
By utilizing technology that employs tie rods instead of traditional camshafts, chains, fuel pumps, and hydraulic drives, the engine operates at maximum efficiency with a low RPM, saving fuel and reducing harmful emissions. By 2006, over 300 RT-flex96C engines and older RTA96C engines were ordered and put into operation.
Each of the 14 integrated cylinders consumes 6.5 ounces of diesel in a cycle, generating 5,700 kW of energy. While this sounds substantial, this engine is indeed highly efficient and one of the least polluting types, employing a conventional fuel injection system and other technologies to minimize emissions and enhance fuel savings.
In 2006, the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C engine was installed and ultimately set sail on the Emma Mærsk, a cargo vessel capable of carrying 11,000 twenty-foot containers at a speed of 31 knots, while most other ships of its kind typically operate at only 20 knots.
The engine expels exhaust through valves operated by an electronic system and hydraulic tie rods – eliminating the need for a camshaft. While the maximum engine speed reaches only 102 RPM, the torque generated is still enough to crush a tank.
Thanks to its high power output, large cargo ships equipped with the RT-flex96C can achieve high average speeds, reducing transit times and increasing the number of trips per year.
Ships equipped with the RT-flex96C frequently transport goods from China to the United States, potentially delivering shipments four days earlier than competitors, resulting in significant cost savings.
The camshaft of this engine block alone weighs up to 300 tons. Each piston also weighs 5.5 tons. In one movement cycle, a cylinder of the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C consumes about 160g of diesel, and the total amount of diesel required to operate the entire engine block is 250 tons per day.
Wärtsilä continues to improve the design of the RT-flex96C; for example, it has been upgraded with a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 95%. The advanced control system of the engine also allows for the optimal combination of engine power with the ship’s propulsion requirements, further reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
The Wärtsilä RT-flex96C is installed on a cargo ship of significant size – the Emma Mærsk. This ship can carry up to 11,000 containers of goods and achieve an impressive speed of 31 knots (equivalent to over 55km/h), regularly transporting cargo on the waterway from China to the United States.
As of now, the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C remains the largest and most powerful diesel engine in the world, a true giant among machines. It symbolizes human ingenuity and innovation, and it will continue to power the largest ships in the world, making cargo transportation more efficient while reducing the environmental impact of shipping.