Impact of Using Residual Fuels on the Wear of Selected Elements of Self-Ignition Internal Combustion Engines

The article presents the results of research on the impact of fuel type on the consumption of selected, components and piston nodes of internal combustion engines. The objects of research are medium-speed piston self-ignition engines, which drive generators feeding by residual fuels. Engines, powered by residual fuels was subject to intensive wear, as the fuels contained significant amounts of sulfur and water and are characterized by a high Conradson number.

Wear has been examined under various natural operating conditions, including those prevailing in tropical regions. Significant wear has been found of combustion chamber elements, such as cylinder liners, pistons, cylinder heads, timing valves and injection apparatus. The wearstates of selected elements has been compared to the degree of supply of distillation fuels.

Intensive wear of the investigated engines under analysis results from their design, where the lubrication system of pistons and sleeves and is not separated from that of crankshaft bearings. Wear investigates were carried out mainly with the use of passive observation, geometric and microscopic measurements, image analysis and the use of passive diagnostic experiments. Apart from the intensive wear of metallic materials, the problem in the tested internal combustion engines was the formation of deposits. The purpose of the research was also to identify types of wear.

The latest environmental requirements force the use of fuels with a limited sulfur content, outlet gas treatment and, in some regions, the use of distillation fuels. There is scarce literature discussingthe problems caused by using residual fuels