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Assessing the added benefits of marine additives and lubricants 15 July 2020 • 09:00-09:45 BST Part of Marine Lubricants Webinar Week 14-16 July 2020 Panellist & sponsor documents Sponsored by Premier partner Page 2: Paul Elliot, Gulf Oil Marine Page 8: Ian Bown, Lubrizol Page 15: Kjeld Aabo, MAN Energy Solutions Page 23: Lubrizol whitepaper

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Page 1: Assessing the added

Assessing the added benefits of marine additives and lubricants15 July 2020 • 09:00-09:45 BST

Part ofMarine Lubricants Webinar Week14-16 July 2020

Panellist & sponsor documents

Sponsored byPremier partner

Page 2: Paul Elliot, Gulf Oil MarinePage 8: Ian Bown, LubrizolPage 15: Kjeld Aabo, MAN Energy SolutionsPage 23: Lubrizol whitepaper

Page 2: Assessing the added

Assessing the added benefits of marine additives

RMM Webinar July 2020

Page 3: Assessing the added

Service Prior to 2020Service Prior to 2020 Legacy Lubricants

ECA 50Additives adjustment requiredReduced neutralisation but does need detergency and dispersancy.

GulfSea Cylcare 5040HAcid neutralisation required along with detergency and dispersancy.

Next generation under development / test.Global pandemic affecting timelines.Fuel composition / stability.

Page 4: Assessing the added

Switching Lubricants

2020 and beyond

BN window reduced with sulphur range reduction.• Challenges associated with switching oil.• Challenges associated multiple gradess.

Multiple grades onboard increases logistical requirement.• Additional stock requirement & cost.

Vessels fitted with abatement technology.• Oil requirement open / closed loop systems

Page 5: Assessing the added

Recent ExperienceCompliant fuel from the same supplier, same port without experiencing issues.

Switching fuel supplier vessel experienced failures.

No SDA undertaken.

Page 6: Assessing the added

Future Formulations - Alternative FuelsIntermediate Fuels in use • LNG• LPG• Bio Distillate

Current Abatement in use• Scrubbers• SCR

Future Fuels• Methanol – Bio Derived• Ammonia• Hydrogen – Cells /Hybrid

Page 7: Assessing the added

Thank You

Page 8: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

Assessing the added benefits of marine

additivesRMM Webinar

15 July 2020

Presenter
Presentation Notes
Hi, Thank you Edwin and RMM for inviting me to present to you today. My name is Ian Bown and I will be talking to you about assessing the added benefits of marine cylinder oil additives.
Page 9: Assessing the added

2 © 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

Additive design challenges…

2

Engi

ne

• Temperature• Coatings• Surfaces• Cycle Fuel

• Properties• Handling• Conditioning• Combustion

Ope

ratio

n • Dual Fuel• ECA• Maintenance• Environment

Presenter
Presentation Notes
There are many requirements to be considered in the design and formulation of a cylinder lubricant, this slide highlights three of them. Regular meetings with engine designers to understand issues in the field, how those issues might be resolved, and future engine developments are a key part of that process. Considering fuels, every day there are articles in the media about fuels, either existing fuels and their issues, or new fuels that will enable shipping to meet its greenhouse gas targets. Recalling 2018 and 2019, and thinking about VLSFOs, we would regularly read and hear about the “new fuel” and variability in terms of compatibility, stability, pour point, combustibility and asphaltene handling.  It is fair to presume that will continue with more new differences with the various alternate fuels being proposed. And finally, operation, what type of engine and where is the vessel likely to operate, some elements that a lubricant cannot address, but we do consider. So, critical to the development of an additive package is to identify those characteristics where the additives, and ultimately, the lubricant can have an enabling effect. 
Page 10: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation3

Marine Diesel Cylinder Lubricants

OIL

Performance Package

Base Oil

Lubrication

Piston Cleanliness

Acid Neutralisation

Presenter
Presentation Notes
As you can see from the illustration on the left, a cylinder oil is made up from base oils and additives, with the additive package contributing a smaller part, but primarily, the performance element of the lubricant.   Thinking about the different lubrication requirements, we can identify three key roles: To, lubricate For piston and ring pack cleanliness, and to Control corrosion As you know, the capability to neutralise acid formed from combustion was historically how a lubricant was selected i.e. by its Base Number, however today, and into the future we must de-couple acid neutralisation from piston cleanliness. As we have seen most recently, the focus has shifted much more towards piston and ring pack cleanliness and deposit control, whilst ensuring sufficient BN for neutralisation purposes. 
Page 11: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

Industry bench tests may need to change

Lubrizol has developed a hot tube test method which incorporates VLSFO and shows better correlation to the engine test results

4

40BN MDCL without dispersant 40BN MDCL with dispersant

Panel Coker

Panel Coker100 hour engine test with VLSFO 100 hour engine test with VLSFO

Minimal deposits on piston ring backs

Thicker deposits on piston ring backs

Presenter
Presentation Notes
I’d just like to briefly talk about the panel coker, a typical cylinder oil deposit screening test. What we have seen is that as the chemistry in the additive package changes then the results of the bench test do not align with performance in the engine, in this case when dispersants are used in the formulation. The left hand panel is light but the piston and ring back deposits are heavier. The right hand panel is heavier but in the engine the results are much cleaner highlighting that different technology may not be as easy to evaluate using typical industry bench test methods. In addition, we have also developed a hot tube test method which incorporates VLSFO and shows better correlation to the engine test results.
Page 12: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

VLSFO and piston cleanliness

Additive package designed specifically to address the concerns with VLSFOs

5

Presenter
Presentation Notes
So, how do we take the knowledge we have gained and transform that into a high performing cylinder lubricant.  I have used the traffic light system on this slide to demonstrate how our development took place when formulating a cylinder oil additive package in preparation for IMO2020 VLSFOs. Moving from left to right across the screen you can see where we started some years ago, when the results of our early development left us concerned about the ability of a 25BN oil to sufficiently neutralise acid and to keep the piston and ring pack areas clean. So, we added a novel dispersant technology and as you can see, whilst the technology addressed the cleanliness concerns, the performance in acid neutralisation remained below requirements. To address acid neutralisation, we increased the base number of the additive package but then fell short of providing the performance target to keep the piston clean.  At the right hand side of the screen we identified the properties of the fuel that were leading to deposit formation in the ring pack area, modified the formulation to address that and provide sufficient base for acid neutralisation purposes.  As you can see, developing an additive package is an iterative process which sometimes creates its own challenges in what is now a dynamic environment. 
Page 13: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

Summary

Additives / Lubricants enabling alternate fuels

• IMO2020 compliant fuels present new challenges to the cylinder lubricant

• Requires lubricants with improved deposit control performance

• Lubrizol has identified a novel dispersant that gives the required performance level

• ‘Standard’ industry bench test methods will need to change

• The right lubricant selection is key to a successful strategy in utilising compliant fuels and will continue to be with new alternate fuels

6

Presenter
Presentation Notes
So, in summary, IMO2020 presented us with some challenges, it required us to think differently about the chemistries we use in our additive packages, and the testing processes we employ. Through that process we identified the need for novel dispersants that deliver robust performance and for bench tests that correlate to performance in the engine.  And finally, to ensure the durability of a two stroke engine, a vital element in a ship managers asset management strategy must be the choice of the right cylinder lubricant for the right application. Thank you
Page 14: Assessing the added

© 2020 The Lubrizol Corporation

Your trusted source for industry news, trends, and market and consumer insights that help move your business forward with confidence.

Log on and learn about the lubrication and fuel challenges of today’s and tomorrow’s advanced hardware.

Page 15: Assessing the added

Marine Two-stroke Engines

Kjeld AaboDirector New technologies Sales and Promotion Two stroke Marine Member of WG ISO 8217 & Chairman CIMAC Fuels

Lubrication and Cylinder oil strategies

Riviera Maritime Media Webinar, Marine Lubricants Webinar WeekAssessing the added benefits of marine additives and lubricants

Page 16: Assessing the added

Public

Introduction

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 3

Highly fuel-efficient engines with higher pressures and higher temperatures require lubricants with matching performance.

Aim:

Raise the performance level of cylinder oils.

What is new?

The cylinder oils are divided into two categories (Cat. I and Cat. II), Cat. II - overall higher performing

Removal of the 15-25 BN column

SL2020-694 Cylinder oil and system oils. Introduction of Cat. I and Cat. II

Page 17: Assessing the added

Public

Motivation to the introduced changes

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 4

1. Operation on <0.50% S VLSFO will be the most predominant in the coming years.

2. Highly fuel-efficient engines with higher pressures and higher temperatures require lubricants with matching performance.

3. Cleanliness of the piston rings and crowns is important to secure an acceptable time between overhaul of the cylinder units.

Bring attention to the development and usage of higher performing cylinder oils!

Page 18: Assessing the added

Public

Cylinder lubrication guidelines should be used?

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 5

1. SL2019-671 is very flexible.

The focus is on monitoring the cylinder condition

Ensure that the piston ring pack is clean and moving freely

In case of excessive deposit build-up, use oil with higher cleaning ability

2. The alternation time period between high- and low-BN cylinder oils can mean from a couple of days to over 300 running hours,

scavenge port inspections, monitor the condition closely, and take action if the condition deteriorates.

3. As always, it is of great importance to monitor and act on the cylinder condition.

SL2019-671 Cylinder lubrication update for 0 to 0.50% sulphur fuels applies until a new SL is issued.

Page 19: Assessing the added

Public

Cylinder oil

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 6

Main Purposes of the cylinder oil are to:• lubricate the piston and liner

• reduce the friction

• introduce wear protection

• minimise risk of seizures

• neutralise acids and oxidation products in accordance with the engine requirement

• and to keep the piston, piston rings, ringlands, and liner clean, as it is important to ensure free movement of the rings by managing and preventing

excessive deposit build-up.

SL2020-694 Cylinder oil and system oils. Introduction of Cat. I and Cat. II

Purpose

Page 20: Assessing the added

Public

Category II – Cylinder oils for all MAN B&W engines

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 7

SL2020-694 Cylinder oil and system oils. Introduction of Cat. I and Cat. II

• Cat. II cylinder oils have excellent overall performance with a special focus on cleaning ability.

• In order to receive this status, the cylinder oil is tested thoroughly.

• The first cylinder oils to go through the Cat. II process have been the 100 and 140 BN oils

• The aim is that the other lubricant grades will follow, such as the 40 BN oil.

Category II

Cat. II cylinder oils are applicable for ALL engines and recommended for MAN B&W two-

stroke engines Mark 9 and higher.

Page 21: Assessing the added

Public

Summary

15 July 2020MAN ES @2020 9

SL2020-694 Raise the performance level of cylinder oils.

Cat. II - applicable for ALL engines and recommended for engines Mark 9 and higher.

Cat. I - applicable for engines Mark 8 and lower.

SL2019-671 is still valid. Deposit control

Monitor cylinder condition

Take action if condition deteriorates

Monitor & Act

Page 22: Assessing the added

Thank you

Kjeld AaboPromotion ManagerMAN Energy Solutions - Marine two-stroke

[email protected]

DisclaimerAll data provided in this document is non-binding.This data serves informational purposes only and is especially not guaranteed in any way.Depending on the subsequent specific individual projects, the relevant data may be subject to changes and will be assessed and determined individually for each project. This will depend on the particular characteristics of each individual project, especially specific site and operational conditions.

Page 23: Assessing the added

Lubrizol 2020 WhitepaperThe VLSFO Challenge: Looking Deeper for Lubricant Performance

Page 24: Assessing the added

1. Introduction

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) global sulfur cap will dramatically alter the marine fuel market from 1 January 2020 – and with it the often overlooked but critical role of cylinder lubrication for 2-Stroke marine engines.

The new 0.5% limit on fuel sulfur will drive a market previously dominated by high-sulfur heavy fuel oil (HFO) towards new blends of very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO)1. That change in sulfur content alone will demand a shift in the cylinder oil used on many ships operating with a 2-Stroke engine for propulsion. But concerns about the expected properties of the new blends – including stability, viscosity and combustion characteristics – mean that existing lubricants may not be robust enough to protect engines.

In the new, low-sulfur era, the traditional lubricant indicator of base number (BN) – used to quantify acid neutralisation capability – will be only part of the equation. New refinery processes and fuel blend stocks used to produce VLSFOs, as well as the expected incompatibility between VLSFO products, could lead to engine condition challenges that can only be tackled effectively with new lubricant additive chemistries.

As a leading supplier of marine lubricant additives, The Lubrizol Corp has invested heavily in understanding the fuel characteristics of potential VLSFO blends. Based on this research Lubrizol has developed and rigorously tested its own robust, low-BN additive package for cylinder oils to be used with VLSFOs. The resulting formulation deploys dispersant chemistry that is new to the marine lubricant sector and is specifically designed to help engines perform reliably while burning 0.5% sulfur fuels with a wide range of fuel properties.

“Shipping faces an unprecedented fuel switch in 2020,” says Ian Bown, technical manager, marine diesel engine oils, Lubrizol. “The majority of ship owners and operators that are planning to comply with VLSFO should understand that legacy lubricant products used with low-sulfur fuels will not necessarily protect their engines as required. Lubrizol’s robust BN40 additive package has been formulated specially to handle the wide range of fuel characteristics anticipated in VLSFO blends.”

2. The Role of Lubricants and Additives

The main function of marine engine cylinder lubricants is to provide lubricity that prevents damage to pistons and cylinder liners. Neutralisation is another important role, preventing excessive corrosion which can reduce the life of cylinder liners.

A particular type of corrosion, known as cold corrosion2, can be found on large modern engines running on high-sulfur fuel. Cold corrosion is the result of lower temperatures in ultra-long-stroke, large bore engines that cause acidic sulfur gases to condense on liner walls. To protect against

this, lubricant additive packages for use with high-sulfur fuels in modern engines traditionally contain highly alkaline detergents. These provide greater acid neutralisation (a higher BN) to protect from corrosion while also cleaning any deposits or cylinder wear residues – another crucial job for the lubricant.

Cylinder oils also need to have strong thermal management properties in order not to degrade at high temperatures within the combustion chamber. To meet these various roles and demands cylinder lubricants need the right combination of additives.

3. Selecting the Right Lubricant

Choosing the right cylinder oil depends on several factors. As mentioned above, sulfur content can have an impact. Traditionally, high-sulfur fuels have required high-BN lubricants – of BN70 or more – to counter the corrosive effect of the sulfuric acid produced when the fuel is combusted. Lower sulfur fuels require much less corrosion protection, so a lower level of basicity is appropriate.

Operating conditions also make a difference to how engines are lubricated. For example, engines running at a higher load will use more fuel and will require proportionally more cylinder oil. As well as BN, ship operators also need to keep an eye on the rate at which the cylinder oil is injected onto the liner (known as the feed rate). Analysis of cylinder oil not burned off in the combustion process (sometimes called scrapedown or piston underside) enables operators to check that their engines are correctly lubricated, without excessive levels of corrosion. As too much BN can also be disadvantageous, leading to ash deposits, used oil analysis also indicates whether there is sufficient level of residual base to protect the engine.

These factors have influenced the current standard practice for lubricating 2-Stroke engines. The majority of vessels today run on high-sulfur HFO, and therefore require a high level of alkaline detergency to manage both the risk of deposits and corrosion. As a result, additive packages with high BN and strong detergency have been a mainstay in marine lubricants designed for HFO.

For the few vessels that have used low-sulfur fuels – including those operating in 0.1% sulfur emission control areas since 2015 – the demands have been different. Lower sulfur content means lower BN requirements, whilst a good level of deposit control is always important.

“High BN detergents have dominated cylinder lubricant formulations as they deliver the acid neutralisation needed for HFO and help to keep the high temperature surfaces of the engine clean of deposits” explains Harriet Brice, technology manager, marine diesel engine oils, Lubrizol. “Reducing these high BN detergents for the lower neutralisation needs of 0.5%S fuels without rebalancing the formulation with extra deposit control additives would severely impact on the lubricant cleanliness performance.”

1 Energy consultant Wood Mackenzie expects marine demand for HFO of 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2020, down from 3.5 million bpd in 2019. VLSFO supply is anticipated at 1.4 million bpd in early 2020, with marine gas oil expected to meet the remaining low-sulfur fuel demand; https://www.reuters.com/article/shipping-bunker-imo-gasoil/imo-2020-to-boost-gasoil-demand-by-12-mln-bpd-woodmac-idUSL3N26H2CQ

2 International Council on Combustion Engines (CIMAC) Guideline, Two-Stroke Engine Cold Corrosion, November 2017; https://www.cimac.com/cms/upload/Publication_Press/WG_Publications/CIMAC_WG8_Guideline_2017_Two_Stroke_Engine_Cold_Corrosion.pdf

Page 25: Assessing the added

4. The Impact of 2020 Fuels

Concerns have arisen in the industry about the variation in constituents of new VLSFOs and the effects they could have on fuel stability, compatibility and combustibility. For lubricant additive manufacturers, the main concern is the potential impact on combustion zone deposit formation. Excessive deposits can affect engine efficiency and durability. Lubricants and the additive packages within them need to be designed to keep components free of these deposits.

To understand the characteristics of VLSFOs, their effect on engine deposits and how lubricants perform when used with these fuels, Lubrizol closely examined five such fuels available in China (one of the only markets where they were available before late 2019) alongside five VLSFOs blended by its in-house laboratory. The results demonstrate how appropriate additives can effectively reduce the impact of fuel variability, with enhanced deposit control improving engine durability. This goes beyond conventional cylinder oil formulating and demonstrates that BN alone is not the solution for 0.5% sulfur fuels.

Wide variability

The fuels sourced in China provide a good example of VLSFOs that meet the ISO 8217:2017 marine fuel standard. During use, however Lubrizol observed measurable differences in deposit formation. These blends are manufactured from normal refinery components that meet the specifications for residual fuels set out in the ISO standard. But even using these well known fuel streams, the formation of deposits can vary considerably between blends.

To study this, piston groove cleanliness was tested using three different batches of VLSFO and a reference cylinder lubricant. One of the three engine tests showed increased deposit formation (see figure 1). As the engine operating conditions were similar, the difference can be attributed to a variation in fuel properties.

“Even within the same small sourcing area, variation can be seen to affect the amount of deposit formed in the engine,” explains Harriet Brice. “With the almost overnight global expansion of 0.5% sulfur fuels from 2020, the variation could

be even greater as more atypical blend constituents are used to meet demand. Using a more robust lubricant will help to reduce the impact to the engine of this variability.”

Compatibility and stability

Compatibility concerns around VLSFOs relate to the co-mingling of incompatible bunkers and can be managed through tank segregation until compatibility can be confirmed through testing. Stability refers to each individual fuel blend being a stable product. A contributing factor underlying both is asphaltene stability. Asphaltenes are present in all crude petroleum residues but vary in content and characteristics depending on the crude’s origin. Asphaltenes are sensitive to changes in the aromaticity of the total fuel matrix, which changes when fuels are blended. Combining a residual stream with a paraffinic refinery stream (such as a low-sulfur distillate) to reach the 0.5% sulfur limit would therefore increase the risk of the final blend being unstable.

One way of characterising fuel composition is by determining the quantity of saturate, aromatic, resin and asphaltene (SARA) fractions. These components are each associated with asphaltene stability and so this technique can be useful in identifying fuels with the potential for stability issues.

As well as establishing the SARA measurements, Lubrizol also probed the stability of the commercial VLSFOs using a proprietary bench test. Fuel B showed higher instability than Fuel A which indicated this could be a contributing factor to the deposit differences in Figure 1. By mixing a portion of the fuel in to the marine diesel cylinder lubricants (MDCLs) tested in the engine, it was found the instability test directionally aligned with the piston cleanliness. This provided a screening tool to evaluate different cylinder lubricant additives. Figure 2 shows the instability results for the three most unstable fuels tested B,D and E when mixed with two different MDCL formulations. One contains a detergent known to be effective in deposit control and asphaltene stabilisation (additive 1) and the second contains a novel dispersant known to be effective in deposit and varnish control and asphaltene stabilisation (additive 2). The lubricant containing the novel dispersant was shown to be the most effective in the engine by controlling deposit formation on piston lands and in piston ring grooves with these fuels.

Lubricant Base Number Selection for VLSFODetermined in a stationary 2-Stroke marine diesel engine test

3025201510

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Res

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40 base number cylinder lubricant provides adequate TBN retention

40Fresh cylinder lubricant BN (mg KOH/g)

TBN lower advisory level

Additive Effects on Instability TestLess

Stable

Fuel + Additive 1 Detergent

+ Additive 2Lubrizol Novel

Dispersant

Fuel B Fuel D Fuel E

MoreStable

Figure 2: Lubrizol novel dispersant significantly increased fuel stabilisation in each of the three most unstable VLSFOs tested

Figure 3: Lubrizol testing concludes that 40 BN is more appropriate than 25 BN cylinder lubricant for VLSFOs

Piston Ring Groove Cleanliness Clean

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3Dirty

Figure 1: Lubrizol testing showed a measurable difference in piston ring groove cleanliness for a reference oil tested with different <0.5%S fuels

AS

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Fuel A

Fuel B

Lubricant Base Number Selection for VLSFODetermined in a stationary 2-Stroke marine diesel engine test

3025201510

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40 base number cylinder lubricant provides adequate TBN retention

40Fresh cylinder lubricant BN (mg KOH/g)

TBN lower advisory level

Additive Effects on Instability TestLess

Stable

Fuel + Additive 1 Detergent

+ Additive 2Lubrizol Novel

Dispersant

Fuel B Fuel D Fuel E

MoreStable

Figure 2: Lubrizol novel dispersant significantly increased fuel stabilisation in each of the three most unstable VLSFOs tested

Figure 3: Lubrizol testing concludes that 40 BN is more appropriate than 25 BN cylinder lubricant for VLSFOs

Piston Ring Groove Cleanliness Clean

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3Dirty

Figure 1: Lubrizol testing showed a measurable difference in piston ring groove cleanliness for a reference oil tested with different <0.5%S fuels

AS

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Fuel A

Fuel B

Page 26: Assessing the added

www.lubrizol.comThe Lubrizol Corporation

© 2019 The Lubrizol Corporation. All rights reserved. 19-214232-EN

5. Lubricating for VLSFOs

“Detergents are not the only additives in the formulator’s tool kit,” explains Harriet Brice. “Dispersants are very good at piston cleanliness. They have been used in automotive applications for many years but are not commonplace in marine cylinder oils for deposit control.”

In order to determine the appropriate BN and deposit control requirements of cylinder lubricants for use with 0.5% sulfur fuels, Lubrizol formulated a series of BN25 and BN40 oils and tested these with commercially available VLSFO blends in a stationary 2-Stroke marine diesel engine. Scrapedown samples were used to tell if the lubricant was delivering enough protection from corrosive wear.

To maintain corrosion protection, residual BN of scrapedown oil should be maintained at around 15 or higher, according to OEM guidance at the time of development. The average residual BN for the BN25 oils across all tests was 12.5 compared to an average of 24.2 for the BN40 oils (see figure 3). Lubrizol therefore concluded that BN40 was the most appropriate level for oils used with VLSFOs, providing enough base reserve to meet OEM guidance while allowing some margin for more corrosive engine types and operating conditions.

A Lubrizol advanced dispersant known to be effective at addressing piston groove deposits and varnish was used to formulate one of the BN25 oils for comparison with a conventionally formulated oil. The lubricant with advanced dispersant had superior piston cleanliness with lower deposit formation in the piston ring grooves and on the piston lands. The BN25 oil with advanced dispersant also offered improved performance than a conventionally formulated BN40 oil, demonstrating that performance can be delivered independently of BN.

The testing demonstrated that BN40 oils previously developed for use with fuels with a sulfur content of up to 1.5% may not provide the performance required to handle VLSFOs. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of dispersants to bring additional performance in the area of piston cleanliness compared to conventionally formulated oils when using these fuel blends.

These findings have fed into the development of Lubrizol’s newly developed additive package for cylinder lubricants

to be used with VLSFOs. In line with engine designer recommendations, the additive package provides basicity at BN40. It also offers deposit handling performance through the novel dispersant additive technology. This technology, deployed for the first time in marine lubricants, has been balanced with detergents to offer robust protection from the expected wide variability in VLSFO fuel characteristics.

The new robust BN40 package has been verified through Lubrizol’s four-step product development cycle: formulation, bench testing, fired engine testing, and field trial assessments. Product managers define the performance targets while considering feedback from customers, engine manufacturers and users in the field. Marine lubricant formulators then draw on extensive knowledge of additive performance characteristics to design a lubricant that meets those requirements. In addition to existing additive technologies, new and innovative additives are developed in conjunction with Lubrizol’s world-class research scientists.

“It is clear that some features of VLSFOs introduce variability that will require lubricants with improved deposit handling performance,” says Harriet Brice. “We have been able to identify and address these issues.”

6. Conclusion

After extensive research into new fuels and a rigorous development process, Lubrizol’s findings are clear: the additive chemistries found in traditional marine diesel cylinder lubricants may not suffice for the challenges of handling VLSFO blends. More advanced solutions are needed to tackle deposit formation without relying on the high base detergents that were a mainstay of cylinder oils used with high-sulfur fuels. Lubrizol’s new BN40 additive package, deploying novel dispersant technology to marine cylinder oils, is specifically formulated for handling low-sulfur fuels.

But development of additive chemistries for marine lubricants will not stop there. As shipping looks beyond IMO’s sulfur limits to its long-range carbon-cutting initiatives, notably its commitment to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% on 2008 levels by 2050, more new fuels will enter the market. These may include hydrogen, ammonia and other gas and liquid fuels generated by using biomass or renewable energy. Each new fuel will bring its own challenges to engine conditions, requiring new, sophisticated chemistries to counter them. Advanced lubricants themselves could also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by, for example, reducing friction in engines to cut fuel consumption.

Simon Tarrant, global business manager, large engines, Lubrizol, concludes: “As a global company spanning multiple sectors – including automotive, industrial and agricultural – Lubrizol already has experience of deploying many of the additives that will be the basis of marine solutions tomorrow. By harnessing that cross-sector experience and applying its marine-focused research and product development processes, our customers – and ship owners and operators worldwide – can be confident that we will be able to deliver the right additive packages to treat these emerging challenges.”

Lubricant Base Number Selection for VLSFODetermined in a stationary 2-Stroke marine diesel engine test

3025201510

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40 base number cylinder lubricant provides adequate TBN retention

40Fresh cylinder lubricant BN (mg KOH/g)

TBN lower advisory level

Additive Effects on Instability TestLess

Stable

Fuel + Additive 1 Detergent

+ Additive 2Lubrizol Novel

Dispersant

Fuel B Fuel D Fuel E

MoreStable

Figure 2: Lubrizol novel dispersant significantly increased fuel stabilisation in each of the three most unstable VLSFOs tested

Figure 3: Lubrizol testing concludes that 40 BN is more appropriate than 25 BN cylinder lubricant for VLSFOs

Piston Ring Groove Cleanliness Clean

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3Dirty

Figure 1: Lubrizol testing showed a measurable difference in piston ring groove cleanliness for a reference oil tested with different <0.5%S fuels

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