Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Dtorque111 (Dtorque111 - world’s first turbodiesel outboard engine below 100 HP)

Teaser

\"Today the maritime sector faces a dilemma. Often smaller boats with safe, economic and ecological outboard engines are demanded. In this case, the diesel engine would be the preferred boat propulsion because of the easy availability of the fuel, powerful propulsion, economic...

Summary

\"Today the maritime sector faces a dilemma. Often smaller boats with safe, economic and ecological outboard engines are demanded. In this case, the diesel engine would be the preferred boat propulsion because of the easy availability of the fuel, powerful propulsion, economic efficiency as well as durability, safety and reliability. But traditional diesel engines are characterized by high weight and high vibrations in operation. Currently there are no suppliers for diesel outboard engines below 100 hp for the commercial usage.

The whole \"\"Dtorque 111\"\" is based on a completely new and innovative engine concept and belongs to the double crankshaft-system patent by Neander. Only this technology allows a lightweight diesel engine to be almost vibration-free. “Dtorque” will offer a new approach to the waterborne transport question. The most important aspects of the Dtorque 111 turbodiesel outboard engine will be safety on the water, efficiency, economy and durability. A fisherman expects dependable performance and economic efficiency in his daily business. The forces of police, coastguard and army, as well as the captain of a cruise ship or a container vessel expect stable performance also from their tenders. With the “Dtorque 111” the Neander Shark GmbH combines all of these requirements: power, torque, high durability, simple maintainability and low emissions. With the “Dtorque111” a commercial user can save about 12 to. CO2 p.a. by each engine!

The aim of this project is to transfer the “Dtorque 111” prototype after validation to a marketable product and build up the series production & logistics incl. integration of regional suppliers and dealers.
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Work performed

\"\"\"Dtorque 111\"\" is the result of a research and development project of Neander started in 2009. The prototype phase concluded in March 2015 where three prototypes proved its technology by running 700 hrs in continuous operation with reliable performance without any sign of wear and tear. The emission targets were even overachieved. Before the start of the pre-series & series production, the validation phase of the Dtorque 111 engine needs to be passed. The validation is split into two phases (V1 and V2). The V1 phase included the build-up of 5 validation engines, each passing an endurance program of 500 hrs. V1 has been completed successfully. Following this, all findings of this phase have been analyzed and transferred into the design of the V2 engines. The V2 phase contained the build-up of another eight validation engines; each passing an endurance test by running 1.000 hrs in continuous operation in different fields of operation (high or very low ambient/water temperatures, salt water, full-load (WOT), average load, different boats, different propellers etc. ). This phase is currently in progress. The results and findings of this validation endurance program will again result in improvements in form of design changes and bring the engine nearer to the target of the pre-series and series production.

Within the project Neander works parallel on a validate business plan. Particularly the international market as well as the possibilities for an optimal production were determined. Especially in the production environment, the validation of existing partners has shown weaknesses, which have now been remedied by new additional partners. In accordance with the detailed business plan, which was developed within the framework of the project, future production will gradually be built over the next few years. In the first stage together with two partners from the EU (Austria, Italy) at a later stage, there is the possibility to carry out a partial manufacturing or final assembly directly at Neander. In addition, an exclusive, worldwide partnership has been signed with Yanmar Marine International BV to distribute the engines. Due to these changes, improvements & impacts, Neander successfully completed Phase 1 funding.\"

Final results

\"Neander offers with “Dtorque111” a highly innovative outboard for commercial usage. This closes the existing gap between gasoline outboards (with higher risks, higher consumption and higher emissions) and heavy diesel inboards (big boats, often oversized) very well. With Neander´s “Dtorque111” the highest ecological standards of the automotive industry will be reached for the first time in the maritime area. Additionally the “Dtorque111” Neander sets the highest safety standards for maritime outboards combined with a high economic impact.
Identified user needs are e.g.:
1. High durability (10.000+ running hours) – The \"\"Dtorque111\"\" is laid out on terms of 10,000 hours and more. A petrol outboard motor is laid out rather for the leisure area with a lifespan of about 4.000 hours. Thus the lifespan will increase by more than 200%.
2. Low fuel consumption/high range – The fuel consumption of the \"\"Dtorque111\"\" is significantly lower (approx. fuel reduction of 35%) in comparison to the petrol outboard motor. Consequently, the range will extended to the same degree.
3. Easy maintainability – In comparison to an inboard the outboard motor is easy to repair and to maintain. Even the exchange of the complete aggregate which is practically impossible with an inboard is very simple.
4. Fuel logistics – To store only one type of fuel on board of ships has several advantages. If, for example, tender boats / lifeboats with petrol-outboards on cargo ships are carried along, special safety measures (special tanks, arcing protection) must be implemented, because petrol is highly inflammable. Such investments would be unnecessary, if you could use the diesel that is still carried by each vessel, for the outboards too. Due to the clearly lower risk of fire aboard, large insurers have offered lower insurance premiums for customers who switch from petrol to diesel aggregates.

Economic benefit for users:
The main economic benefit for the user will be the lower operating costs. Various tests have shown that comparable petrol outboard motors clearly show higher fuel consumption. With a WOT (wide open throttle) fuel consumption of the „Dtorque 111“ with 10,1 litres/h (fuel consumption of a comparable petrol outboard: 16,5 litres/h), the return on investment will be reached after 1.500 hours (e.g. 1.5 years for a fisherman). First advantage is the lower fuel consumption. Secondly diesel instead of petrol is tax-privileged for commercial usage within the EU. So, although the price for the Dtorque 111 engine will be significantly higher than for a comparable petrol outboard, the ROI will be reached very fast. Additionally the expected lifetime of the “Dtorque111” is 10,000 h. The comparable petrol outboard usually has an expected life-time of a maximum of: 4,500 h. The cost savings after 5 years will be approx. 65,000 €! Herewith these savings and even the ecological impact are a unique selling point.

Ecological Impact:
By comparison the „Dtorque111“ has lower consumption and clearly fewer emissions which were approved by the validation engines. Due to the lower fuel consumption and lower CO2 output, any “Dtorque111” engines saves up to 12 t CO2 p.a.! The total savings of the whole “Dtorque111”- fleet five years after market entry could possibly be approx. 740 Mto. CO2!

Type of market & market size:
The total global market for outboard engines amounts to about 600,000 units p.a. The segment of our envisaged market (40-60 hp) is about 48,000 units per year. Neander‘s potential in the relevant output class in the short term is estimated to be 10% (i.e. a sales potential of estimated 4,800 units p.a.) increasing to 25% in midterm. During the market entry of “Dtorque111” Neander will develop another outboard engine based on the same principle for the class of 70 – 90 HP. Based on the actual structures, the \"\"Dtorque111\"\" currently serves in a niche market. In the midterm many commercial users will recognize\"

Website & more info

More info: http://www.neander-dtorque.com/dtorque/.