Hyundai awards Ricardo new V16 natural gas engine contract

This major 26 month programme of work will involve the design and development of a new V16 gas variant of the H32/40 series of medium speed diesel engines for operation on compressed natural gas fuel.

The new contract builds on a long-standing and highly successful relationship between Ricardo and the Engine & Machinery Division of Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (HHI) on advanced diesel and gas engine development. Established in 1972, HHI is now the world’s largest marine diesel engine builder with an estimated 35 per cent share of the global market. The scope of work will see Ricardo UK Ltd assist HHI with a complete new engine development programme. The first phase of work will involve the concept design of the new engine, which will range from market surveys, outline component and system specification and initial supplier selection to the production of a full concept design layout. In the second phase of the programme the design of the new engine will be developed in detailed form, supported by extensive use of computer aided engineering methods. The penultimate phase will see the procurement of parts and build of the first V16 gas variants of the H32/40 series power generation and marine propulsion family of engines. The programme will then be completed with a rigorous schedule of engine development testing.

The new contract with HHI is a further demonstration of the rapid growth of Ricardo’s gas engine business, a sector in which the company is facing unprecedented level of enquiries from all parts of the world. Commenting on the award of this significant new order, Ricardo CEO, Dave Shemmans, said: “The award of the H32/40 V16 gas engine contract builds upon the very strong business relationship existing between Ricardo and HHI, one of Korea’s leading industrial companies. The fact that Ricardo has been selected for this key new engine programme demonstrates both the depth of our skills and engineering expertise, and the global reach of our services. We look forward to working with HHI on what we fully expect will be another world-class product.”