QE2 Engines (diesel-electric powerplant)

[Michael Gallagher]

Two more (better) ones...

[Twynkle]

Thank you!
It's almost possible to hear the noise, smell the smell -  and feel the heat!

[Michael Gallagher]

And the 'Son of Echo' Engine....

[Twynkle]

Fantastic! 
Now wondering about the 'naming of parts' and how they work!
aka - what goes on behind the bits that are visible!
Or maybe that could be a bit boring for everyone else...

(It wasn't until after seeing other engines working that I realised that the walls of the alleyways everywhere were actually formed by tanks!   Such is the limit of my knowledge...'spose it's little wonder that curiosity continues to get in the way!)

[Twynkle]

Found them!!
Post No 10 - Thanks to Beardy Rich!
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1032.0.html

[Beardy Rich]

Thanks Flagship, Peter & Rosie for your replies, some great photo's there Flagship... thanks for posting them, I've not seen those before.

About the over-heated piston, (post No 2 above) - could this happen quite easily?
It would be really interesting to understand more!
Rosie

Skilly would be the man to ask about this really Rosie, but I suspect it would be caused by either a lubrication or cooling failure of some sort. It needn't have necessarily been an actual engine fault to have caused this, as there are many other things that could have caused it (lube/coolant failure). There's no doubt a report of this somewhere in the depths of MAN B&W vaults.

[Twynkle]

This might be of interest too!  Its a film clip from the WAP Film Library - shot in 1969.

http://www.wpafilmlibrary.com/detail/qe2_return_qe2_returns_to_southampton_to_have_her_ailing_turbine_fixed_after_trials/48aba194-ac1c-102b-b605-0030482f0128.html

Unfortunately the film clip isn't working, however the description below taken from the web page  is something that doesn't seem to be anywhere else.

'TROUBLE HITS QE2 DURING TRIALS The luxury liner queen elizabeth 2 had to turn around and come back home for repairs and clean-up; with various problems including engine trouble and "incomplete accomodations".

Southampton, Hampshire.

General views of QE2 slowly steaming into Southampton Dock, being towed by tugs. MS pan of name 'Queen Elizabeth 2' and people watching from deck. She has come home from trials to have her ailing turbine seen to. Pan along deck, showing chefs and others watching and waving. Captain Warwick watches from observation deck. LS of QE2 in dock, pan to bow. General views inside main control room of QE2. Shot of turbine revolving very slowly. Workmen and officials go up the gangplank and aboard the ship. Several shots at press conference being held by Sir Basil Smallpiece, chairman of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and Cunard and Mr Anthony Hepper. Several shots of the interior of the ship, looking down corridor pan door, pan up unfinished light fittings, pan of room with all the workmen's gear assembled in a mess, another unfinished room with electric fittings. General view looking along main deck with workmen's gear lying about, pan to window frames. Pan of bedroom. CU of hand-written sign on wall reading 'Grill' with an arrow beneath it. General view pan of one of the main lounges where two men are seated. CU of Captain Warwick and Sir Basil talking together on deck with Anthony Hepper. General view of QE2 in dock.

Opens with shot of the ship moving slowly.Tugboat. Qe2 with steam around it. Cool shot panning along top deck; showing name on side and crew standing on top--a few nautical uniforms; then along line of other workers; including chefs in hats and all. Passengers waving. People on quay looking at ship passing. Another side view of ship; with lifeboats hanging;people on deck. Captain;others on high balcony part. Ship docked--pan to bow. Bridge interior; lots of dials; etc. Ds engine room; a maze of pipes.Turbine slowing. Engineers going aboard; up stairs in through small opening. Press conference. Cus anthony hepper of the shipbuilder and cunard chief sir basil smallpiece.View down long hall; pan to door; up to missing panel in ceiling. Totally messy room. Another big mess.Boards; sawhorse; in hall.Another shot; ladder out. Inside cabin-couches/beds; sitting area.  Handwritten sign: "grill".Large room with white chairs around small tables. 2 Men walk through large lounge. Cu smallpiece with other man. Hepper;smallpiece; other guy. Final shot of ship at dock.

http://tinyurl.com/yadp4g6

[Rob Lightbody]

What was the cubic capacity of each engine, in litres?

[Beardy Rich]

Let's have a go at working this out. Cylinder capacity is determined by using the mathematical formula pi X radius squared X height.
The MAN L58/64 engine has cylinder bore measuring 58cm and a stroke of 64cm.
So we multiply 3.142 x 29 x 29 x 64 = 169,115.008 cubic centimetres or 169.115litres.
Multiply by nine to give total cylinder capacity of each engine. This gives us 1,522.035 litres for EACH ENGINE.
This is only the swept volume. There is also the clearance volume to add to the equation but since I don't know what this is, or the compression ratio for the engine, I am unable to give a final figure.

[Bob C.]

Let's have a go at working this out. Cylinder capacity is determined by using the mathematical formula pi X radius squared X height.
The MAN L58/64 engine has cylinder bore measuring 58cm and a stroke of 64cm.
So we multiply 3.142 x 29 x 29 x 64 = 169,115.008 cubic centimetres or 169.115litres.
Multiply by nine to give total cylinder capacity of each engine. This gives us 1,522.035 litres for EACH ENGINE.
This is only the swept volume. There is also the clearance volume to add to the equation but since I don't know what this is, or the compression ratio for the engine, I am unable to give a final figure.

Well done, Bravo!

[Rob Lightbody]

Yes, fantastic, and thank you!  Amazing stuff.  I wonder at what size engines stop being expressed in terms of litres?

[Beardy Rich]

Yes, fantastic, and thank you!  Amazing stuff.  I wonder at what size engines stop being expressed in terms of litres?

Now that's a question isn't it? Given the size of QE2s main engines, you'd be better off expressing the capacity in GALLONS 

Seriously though ( and I don't think many people realise this) but QE2 actually had some diesel engines before the 1986/87 refit.
They were situated on 2-deck aft inside a small machinery space there. I cannot remember the exact model of engine but they were Paxman V12 Diesel engines used to provide emergency electrical power in the event of a power cut. I can remember having to help test run them on a couple of occasions. They were quite noisy and ear muffs had to be worn when they were running. The cooling fans on them make a bl**dy racket too I seem to remember!

[skilly56]

Hi Rich,

Have now got my feet dry again - just came home last night. A second engineer accidently hit himself in the face with a spanner & needed medical treatment - I was called for 2 days, and ended up staying for 2 weeks! And, the ship has 2 of Mr Davey Paxman's RPHZ diesel gensets! Horrible, noisy nasty things! If a marine engine's name starts with 'P' you are going to have trouble with it - guaranteed! Pielsticks, Paxman's, P(R)ustons - they're all trouble! MAN now own Paxman and Ruston so those names are disappearing, but the memories don't.

Good job on the displacement maths - here are the figures for 'Emma Maersk's engine - I guess it is easier to call it in cubic metres once they get this big.

The cylinder bore is just under 38" (0.97m) and the stroke is just over 98"(2.5m).  Each cylinder displaces 111,143 cubic inches (1820 litres) and produces 7780 horsepower. Total displacement comes out to 1,556,002 cubic inches (25.48 m3) for the fourteen cylinder version.
     Some facts on the 14 cylinder version (for “Emma Maersk”)
   Total engine weight:   2300 tons (The crankshaft alone weighs 345 tons)
   Length:   89 feet
   Height:   44 feet
   Maximum power:   108,920 hp (81,254kW) at 102 rpm
   Maximum torque:   5,608,312 lb/ft at 102rpm

In my computer I have a 3 minute video clip of one of QE2's DG on load - taken in '08 by Skilly jnr. Once I have figured out how to get it onto You-Tube I will post a link here. Don't forget to put your ear muffs on before you start it.
Cheers
Skilly

[Douglas Carmichael]

I'd love to see and hear that, skilly! Let us know when you put it up.

[Beardy Rich]

Hi Tony, thanks for posting those facts and figures for the Emma Maersk... some incredible figures there, unbelieveable torque output too 
As Douglas commented, I am very much looking forward to viewing that video clip you have too.