Page 30 - CARILEC CE Journal CEMAY2021

WÄRTSILÄ 32LG ENGINE

FOR WAPA POWER PLANT

IN ST. THOMAS, USVI

Background, Performance, Emissions,

and Emissions Abatement Strategies

By Rasmus Teir, Wärtsilä Finland Oy, Rodney George, Wärtsilä Caribbean Inc.,
Eirik Linde, Wärtsilä Finland Oy, Stefan Falten, Wärtsilä Finland Oy

ABSTRACT
This paper singles out for discussion the Wärtsilä a robust platform with fuel system adaptations to
32LG engine type from among the well-established get the different hydrocarbons injected but keeping
Wärtsilä 32 engine series. The Wärtsilä 32LG is a in focus optimum efficiency and low emissions.
multi-fuel internal compression ignition engine The Wärtsilä 32GD (GD=Gas Diesel) engine type (no
capable of burning both light fuel oil (LFO) and longer in production) was the forerunner in utilizing
liquid propane (combustion ignition initiated by light varying higher injection pressures (250 bar, 350 bar
fuel oil). In the context of this paper, the LG engine and 600 bar) to achieve stable combustion when
will burn liquid propane as the primary fuel with operating on the thermodynamic diesel cycle. In
1
LFO as a back-up fuel. The paper also provides a the case of the LG engine type, the fuel system is
1
brief comparison of the 34-SG/34-LPG Otto cycle one that has been designed and developed over the
engines given the fact that the 20V34 LPG engine years that enables higher injection pressures, lower
was permitted for application in the first phase of fuel viscosities and acceptance of new fuels. The
the WAPA power plant in St. Thomas and which has history of the development and use of liquid propane
now been in service since 2019. The 32LG engine as a fuel is documented within Wärtsilä as explained
will be installed in the second phase of the project. in the next paragraph.
Over the last 35 plus years, Wärtsilä diesel engines 1992-1997 (commercial installation in
have been run on many fuels from HFO to pure Oskarshamn, Sweden), a Wärtsilä Vasa 32 diesel
methane. The base diesel engine has proven to be engine configured as a GD engine utilized liquid

1 Propane and LPG are used interchangeably as well as diesel fuel and LFO

30