Two Stroke Crosshead

Diesel Engine
The two stroke crosshead type diesel
engine works on the same principle as
two stroke trunk type diesel engine.
The majority of two stroke diesel
engines at sea are of the Crosshead
type. In this type of engine, the
combustion space (formed by the liner,
piston and cylinder head) is separated
from the crankcase by a diaphragm
plate.

The piston rod is bolted to the piston and

passes through a stuffing box mounted in
the diaphragm plate. The stuffing acts as a
seal between the two spaces; stopping oil
from being carried to the scavenge space
and preventing scavenge air from leaking
into the crankcase. The foot of the piston
rod is bolted to the crosshead pin. The top
end of the connecting rod swings about
the crosshead pin as the downward load
from the expanding gas applies a turning
force on to the crankshaft.

To ensure that the crosshead

reciprocates in alignment with the
piston in the liner, guide shoes are
attached on either side of the
crosshead. These shoes are lined
with whitemetal, a bearing material
and a reciprocate against crosshead
guides, which are bolted to the frame
of the engine.

Using the crosshead design, allows the engine

to be built with very long strokes. This enables
engines to burn greater quantity of fuel/stroke
and develop more power and also enables
engines to run at slow speed so that it can be
directly coupled to screw propellers, which drive
ships without the use of reduction gears (higher
the speed of these screw propellers, the lower
their efficiency today the rpm of these engines
about 100 and lower). Non use of reduction
gears results in savings in cost, space and
weight.

Also the fuel used in the engine can be of

an inferior grade having higher sulphur
content than used in a trunk type engine.
Higher alkalinity and viscosity cylinder oil
having different specification from
crankcase oil are used to lubricate the
cylinder liner and piston rings and combat
the affect of acid attacks and high
temperature of the combustion space.

The most powerful diesel

engines are two stroke
crosshead type engines. Some
of these engines have bores
reaching upto one metre and
strokes over 2.5 metres. The
crankshaft may weigh upto 300
tons and engine may weigh over
2000 tons.