Marine Engine Variable Compression Ratio for Torsional Resonance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing marine engines face a decrease in thermal efficiency when attempting to suppress resonance stress caused by torsional vibration of the rotary shaft system through adjustments like changing fuel injection timing or period.

Innovation Solution

A marine engine with a variable compression ratio mechanism that adjusts the top dead center position of the piston to maintain high compression ratios and suppress torsional stress using a feedback control system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If fuel injection timing or fuel injection period is changed to reduce excitation torque component, then resonance stress is suppressed, but thermal efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresonance stressVSAvoidthermal efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compression ratio parameter instead of fuel injection timing to suppress resonance stress. By dynamically adjusting the compression ratio based on detected resonance conditions, the system reduces excitation torque while preserving optimal combustion conditions that maintain thermal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a dynamic compression ratio adjustment mechanism that adapts the compression ratio in real-time based on resonance detection. This dynamic approach allows the system to suppress resonance stress only when necessary while maintaining high compression ratios for efficient combustion during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If engine rotation speed is controlled to fall out of barred range, then resonance stress is avoided, but operability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresonance stressVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements a feedback control system that detects resonance conditions and automatically adjusts the compression ratio in response. This closed-loop control allows the engine to operate through previously barred speed ranges by actively suppressing resonance stress, thereby improving operability without sacrificing structural safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of restricting the engine to operate only outside barred speed ranges, the invention changes the compression ratio parameter to actively suppress resonance stress within barred ranges, allowing continuous operation across the full speed spectrum and improving navigational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Suppresses resonance stress while maintaining thermal efficiency by dynamically adjusting the compression ratio, allowing navigation in resonance ranges without automatic engine speed control, thus enhancing operability.

Implementation Method 1

torsional vibration occurs. When an engine rotation speed falls within a resonance occurrence range, there is a fear in that the rotary shaft system may resonate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTorsional vibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3767094B1Marine engine
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 MITSUI E&S DU CO LTD
  • EP3767094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3767094B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3767094B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a marine engine (100), including: a piston; and a compression ratio controller (182) configured to execute lowering processing of moving a top dead center position of the piston toward a bottom dead center side when an engine rotation speed falls within a resonance occurrence range set in advance. A geometrical compression ratio is reduced, and a resonance stress caused by a torsional vibration in a rotary system can thus be suppressed while suppressing a decrease in thermal efficiency compared with a case in which retarding control is applied to a fuel injection timing or a closing timing of an exhaust valve.