Opposed-Piston Engine Licensing Agreement Signed
Fairbanks Morse engine: Courtesy of the manafacturers
Leading manufacturer of opposed-piston engines, Fairbanks Morse Engine, an EnPro Industries ) company, has signed a joint development and licensing agreement with Achates Power, Inc.
About the companies concerned
Fairbanks Morse opposed-piston engines have proven their reliability in a wide range of critical applications including nuclear standby power, emergency stationary power, telecommunications networks and commercial installations. Fairbanks Morse is also a provider of marine propulsion and ship service systems for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
Achates Power began modernizing opposed-piston engines in 2004, inspired by the record-setting Junkers Jumo 205 diesel aircraft engine. After more than 4,500 hours of dynamometer testing, the company has demonstrated brake thermal efficiency of 47.8 percent while meeting the most stringent, global vehicle emissions standards.
Benefits of two-stroke opposed-piston engines
Fairbanks Morse President Marvin Riley says that these engines have fewer moving parts, less maintenance and reduced operating costs. "Fairbanks Morse opposed-piston engines have logged millions of operating hours and proven their reliability and durability under a wide range of conditions. We anticipate that enhancing our field-proven opposed-piston engines with the latest fuel system technology and advanced combustion system from Achates Power will improve engine power and efficiencies and make these engines even more attractive for todays demanding marketplace. "
This announcement closely follows the recent selection of Fairbanks Morse by Ecopetrol, the primary oil and gas producer in Colombia, to provide five opposed-piston, two-stroke, dual-fuel engine-driven crude oil pump sets and auxiliary equipment for the Ayacucho-Covenas pipeline.
It also comes after news of key strategic Achates Power milestones, such as the close of its Series C financing, formation of an Industry Advisory Board, a joint contract with AVL Powertrain Engineering to develop the Next-Generation Combat Engine for the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and selection as the first runner up in Securing Americas Future Energy Energy Security Prize.
