An efficient procedure to predict the dynamic loads for piston liner systems in marine engines

The piston ring-cylinder liner (PRCL) is one of the most important parts of marine diesel engines and contributes 25% to 50% of total friction loss. The lubrication simulation analysis of the PRCL system is a challenging task. Complete understanding and precise prediction of lubrication loads is a key to understanding the friction behavior of PRCL systems as the accuracy of the friction prediction depends upon precise prediction of lubrication loads. Therefore, this paper focuses on the gas pressure calculation which is the primary source of lubrication loads. The procedure presented combines the advantages of two mainstream methods to predict loads in the PRCL system. The result is a significant reduction in the computation time without compromising on accuracy. Firstly, a comparison of both approaches is presented which suggests that each technique has its limitations (one is time-bound, and one is accuracy-bound). Then, the results from both calculation methods are verified against literature and a parametric study is performed to identify the key structural parameters of PRCL system that affect the calculation efficiency. Finally, a correlation coefficient is introduced into the analysis to combine the two approaches which then identifies the conditions under which the use of the faster method becomes invalid and replaces it with the more accurate approach. This ensures optimum performance of the calculation procedure by switching between the fast and the accurate method depending upon the accuracy requirement under given conditions, thereby, simplifying the dynamic and lubrication model of PRCL systems. The study has direct implications for the tribological design of the PRCL interface.