The role of an engine is to generate power without taking up too much space. With these words, BU Power Systems, the official distributor of the Perkins brand, introduced at Eima the solutions from the English manufacturer dedicated to the agricultural mechanization sector. This product line has undergone significant technological advancements and updates in recent years, offering engines designed to meet the performance demands of machine manufacturers while maintaining compact packaging, reliability, low emissions, and minimal fuel consumption.
The latest example of this development trend is the new “2600 Series”, a six-cylinder, 13-liter engine launched by Perkins in recent months to replace the previous 18- and 15-liter engines in the 450 to 700 horsepower range. The engine, delivering a maximum torque of 3,200 Nm, was showcased in Bologna with the “2606J-E13TA” model. Its development began with a complete redesign of all components, starting with the engine block, which has been reinforced to withstand the increased mechanical stress caused by cylinder pressure peaks reaching up to 240 bar, driven by a compression ratio of 18:1.
Among its engineering highlights are the newly designed cooling channels that intersect the cylinder liners in the head and block areas, ensuring optimal cooling and maximizing thermal efficiency.
Hydraulic Lifters and VGT Turbo
The cylinder head has been developed to incorporate valves with hydraulically compensated tappets and features a common rail fuel system operating at pressures of up to 2,500 bar. This system works directly with multi-hole injectors controlled by a proprietary ECU and is protected by patented solutions that prevent contamination by solid particles in the fuel. The turbocharging system has also been upgraded, employing a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to ensure rapid response during transients. This innovation contributes to the downsizing design of the engine, which achieves a specific power output of 55 horsepower per liter while maintaining a power-to-weight ratio slightly over 1.5 kg per horsepower.
The engine’s high efficiency results in fuel consumption of less than 185 grams per kWh and emissions compliant with Stage V and Tier 4 Final regulations. Notably, the engines are already prepared for future fuels, including natural gas and hydrogen, with only minimal component adjustments required.
Additional Models: “904 Series” and “400 Series”
In addition to the “2600 Series,” Perkins also showcased the “904 Series”, with the “904J-E36TA” model on display. This engine features a unitary displacement of 905 cc, derived from a bore and stroke of 98 mm and 120 mm, respectively. It delivers 100 kW (136 hp) at 2,000 rpm, with a maximum torque of 550 Nm available at 1,500 rpm. This version, with a structural base, is specifically designed for agricultural applications and comes with a wide range of optional features and component configurations to facilitate maintenance and installation.
Three Architectures and Three Displacements
Finally, Perkins presented the “404J-E22TA” from the “400 Series”, a four-cylinder engine representing the top performance of a lineup that also includes two- and three-cylinder models with displacements ranging from 500 cc to 2.2 liters. At EIMA, the “404J” was showcased as the highest-rated model in the series, delivering 75 hp at 2,800 rpm and a torque of 270 Nm at 1,800 rpm.
Title: Perkins engine range, technologies for demanding times
Translation with ChatGPT
