MITSUI

MINI MITSUI ENGINEERING & SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.

NEWS DIESEL ENGINE DEPT. －RESEARCH GROUP.

for MITSUI－B & W engine,

NO. 85

SECTION J. Watanabe
Fuel Pump Cavitation CHIEF
ASSIST
CHIEF K. Harada
STAFF K. Harada

ENGINE TYPE S60MC-C, S70MC(-C), K/S80MC(-C),K90MC(-C),K98MC DATE March 2005

The so-called Bosch type fuel pumps have been used on MAN B&W engines
for long time, and cavitation in the pump spill ports is sometimes seen after
extensive use.

However, the cavitation has been acceptable because it has developed slowly,
and has not harmed the engine performance or reduced the lifetime of the
pump barrel. In the mean time, we were informed by our licensor, MAN B&W
Diesel A/S, that faster developing cavitation, compared to the other engine
types, has been seen on the largest fuel pumps used on K98MC engine.

However, since the cavitation on K98MC engines has also been acceptable
because it has not harmed the engine performance judging from the location
of the cavitation as explained in the next page, it is possible to use the pump
barrel even with developing of the cavitation.

We herewith inform the conditions of the cavitation on K98MC engines.

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＊ Location of cavitation

The cavitation is located in the upper part of spill port and may vary in extent
as shown in Figure 1.

＊ Influence on the engine performance

Fuel oil injection is started when fuel oil pressure reaches the opening pressure
of fuel valve by closing the timing holes of pump barrel in the process of rising
of pump plunger, i.e., the start of injection is determined by the position of
timing holes that were positioned higher than the spill ports.

Fuel oil injection is stopped when fuel oil pressure is decreased to the opening
pressure of fuel valve by opening of spill ports by further rising of pump
plunger, i.e., the end of injection is determined by lower part of spill port where
no cavitation is observed.

Therefore, the injection timing is not affected even if the cavitation occurs in
the upper part of spill port.

It is possible to inspect the condition of spill ports by removal of fore and aft
side of plugs on pump housing after discharging the fuel oil.

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 Figure 1 Fuel Pump

Barrel

Spill Port Timing hole

Plug

Plunger

Cavitation

Barrel Plunger

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