Design and Performance of a Variable Valve Timing System on a Highly Turbocharged Diesel Engine—Experimental and Predicted Results

A previous study using a cycle simulation program had identified the possibility that highly rated diesel engines might benefit from a variable valve timing (VVT) system. In particular, the study had shown that, by delaying the start of inlet valve opening at part load, it should be possible to eliminate the reverse flow that can lead to inlet port fouling. The work reported here encompasses the design and implementation of a variable valve timing system on a highly rated high-speed marine diesel engine. The principal topics addressed are the selection and design of a mechanism, a comparison between the predictions and results from mechanism testing on a single-cylinder valve-train rig and the engine performance predictions and results obtained when the mechanism was tested on the engine.

The results from the single-cylinder test rig demonstrated that the mechanism performed satisfactorily, and this led to a design suitable for retro-fitting to the engine. The engine was comprehensively instrumented and the experimental results were in good agreement with the cycle simulation predictions.