Variable Exhaust Valve Closing (VEC)
In order to optimise the exhaust valve operation over the normal load range, the
closing point of the exhaust valve is changed over 70-85% x MCR. During VEC
operation the exhaust valve is closed EARLIER which means that the compression
stroke of the piston is increased. This will lead to higher compression pressures and
temperatures.
For instance if the
normal closage of the Exhaust vaive actuating arrangement with the VEC device
exhaust valve is 130°
BTDC, and this gives a
compression ratio of
10.6, then by closing
the valve 10° earlier,
the compression ratio
will increase to 11.2,
and the compression
pressure will rise by 4
bar, for the same
scavenge air/load
setting.
The unit achieves this
by leaking some of the
oil contained in the
high pressure pipe
when the valve is in
the OPEN position.
This will cause the
valve to slightly close,
but will mean that the
exhaust valve will be
fully closed EARLIER
than normal. Hence
the piston can start to
pressurise the cylinder
contents earlier. The
amount the valve
closes is dependant on
the position of the VEC
shaft and eccentric
mounted on the side of
the exhaust valve
actuator.
(GALWEB] €g@\ CHA BNSt or \nOWREUBS\ENDaCWRENSnd chainPapel 11 of 20Man B&W Exhaust Valve Hydraulic Actuator
Damped closing
Control air
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£ VAs
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Stop
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Filter
Sealing Ae
oil mist inlet
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(VAXOGE] asO\ CHR INStor \noVBBUBS \SNDaCHRENGnd chainsapel 12 of 20‘The hydraulic actuator is provided in order to operate the exhaust valve. On the side
of the actuator unit there are three valves fitted:
Non-return valve
+ This valve is provided to ensure that the hydraulic line is filled at all times.
‘The camshaft oil supply (main system in newer engines) will open this valve
when the high line pressure drops below 3-4bar. This will occur when a)
leaks are present, or b) the HP line is being filled after overhaul, or c) to
supply make-up for oil which leaks through the air vent valve
Safety valve
+ This valve is provided to safeguard the hydraulic system from over-pressure
which could occur if the exhaust valve unit does not open. The set pressure
is 300 bar.
Throttle valve
+ This valve is a compensating valve for the leakages which can occur in the
system.
+ If leakages are small then the amount of pressure generated within the high
pressure line will be a maximum. This will cause the exhaust valve to open
earlier and close later, BSFC will increase and the thermal loading of the
exhaust valve will increase. To compensate for this the throttle vaive will be
‘opened which will bleed oil from the system.
+ When leakages increase, the pressure in the high pressure line falls too
quickly which can lead to exhaust valve "knocking. This increase in impact
can increase seat indentation damage. In this case the throttle valve would
be closed to prevent this noise and damage. The optimum setting is when the
valve just prevents to knock, and is then closed in a further 30°,
It is important not to close the throttle valve completely as this would prevent the
normal small leakage of the system that occurs when the valve stem expands.
Hence the throttle valve will compensate for the decrease in tappet clearance that
occurs when the engine and hence exhaust valves heat up.
In the later mark V engines, a damped closing piston has been provided at the top
of the exhaust valve (similar to the RTA damping pin). This eliminates the use of the
throttle valve in these engines.
(GALWGE] 636\ CHA INStor\noWRBUEA \SNVaIRARNAnd chainskapel 13 of 20EXHAUST VALVE FAILURES:
‘Three factors have been found to accelerate valve failure by gas leakage. These
are influenced by the fuel quality/combustion process:
1. Mechanical dents
+ These are formed by hard particles of catalyst from HFO or slag/ash particles
from CLO. Softer faced valves will yield to remove the damage, but with the
harder faced vaives the number of indents increase with time and can.
produce gas blow-through
2. Spallation of salt layers
2. The molten salts from combustion flow onto the valve seat area and solidify
on the colder seat area. The salt deposit forms a hard brittle layer, which
builds up. Ifthe layers are thick enough, then thermal stresses in this layer
cause cracking and break up, which creates leakage paths
3. Sealing face high temp corrosion
The corrosion is caused by molten salt deposits. Once the liquid salt
dissolves the protective oxides on the valve surfaces, aggressive corrosion
and degradation will occur. When a channel has been formed in the surface,
the local temperature is increased and corrosion accelerates.
Hence the problems with the valves are mainly dependant on the fuel quality or
impurities, and are greatly influenced by the “quality of combustion’ which occurs.
‘These impurities include the catalyst fines, sulphur, vanadium, and sodium
compounds. The exact chemical composition of the oxides formed depends on the
‘oxygen excess and combustion temperature. Oxides found include Sodium oxide
(Na,0), Sulphur oxides (SO,, SO,) and Vanadium Oxides (V,O,). These oxides
react with each other and the calcium from the lube oil to form low melting point
salts. These salts include Sodium sulphate (Na,SO,), Calcium sulphate (CaSO,)
and sodium vanadates of varying composition.
‘The salts can combine to have a stiction temperature as low as 400°C, but it is more
common for the salt compounds produced to give problems above 530°C. The
actual combination of the salt varies according to valve alloy and fuel composition.
The inner layers have been found to be vanadium rich, with various type of sodium
vanadates, whereas the outer layers are sulphate rich with sodium and calcium
sulphates.
CALEB! @ai\ CHRINStor \ncVABUES \ANVaCNAENSnd chainsaws 14 of 20