Thousands of hours of virtual testing for Volvo Penta IPS

On the Swedish waters of the company’s Krossholmen Test Center, Volvo Penta is extensively testing the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform and setting new standards to examine and refine the offer. The goal is to ensure the system is market ready and delivers the ultimate experience at sea through flexibility, reliability, and performance. 

A crucial element of this rigorous approach to on-water testing is a vessel called Penta 40. This 37 m, 199-passenger ferry navigated the challenging waters of the Norwegian seas for nearly two decades before it was retired. Volvo Penta brought the ferry back to life by repowering it with the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform. 

Volvo Penta is testing the system to a level that marine platforms seldom see with thousands of hours logged so far. This includes stringent trials of the system’s fully integrated helm-to-prop experience, such as its intelligent dual power drive system, smart power sources, and integrated technologies. 

Engineered with efficiency at its core, the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform sets a new standard in the industry. Its intelligent Eco Mode feature is being tested extensively – a feature that automatically starts/stops individual engines based on the power needed, optimizing engine performance and fuel consumption.

Volvo Penta has tested the system aboard the Penta 40 vessel for more than 10,000 hours. This includes on-water tests, endurance rig trials, component fatigue tests, and computer aided simulations that scrutinize every aspect of the system’s efficiency, flexibility, and intelligent features.

In line with the platform’s innovation, Volvo Penta has expanded its testing approach to include a digital dimension. “We are conducting extensive virtual testing of the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform, utilizing a unique digital twin of the system,” said Petter Andolf, chief project manager at Volvo Penta.“This virtual testing has enabled us to achieve 9,000 hours of computer aided testing so far, supporting our efforts to enhance product quality and features, and provide greater flexibility for engineers during the test and development phase. Ultimately, this will shorten our time to market.”

“With the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform, the vessel is delivering better acceleration, improved maneuverability, and reduced emissions,” said Johan Inden, president of the marine business unit at Volvo Penta. “Extensive on-water tests of the Penta 40 will continue throughout 2024.  The experience so far proves that the system’s intelligence is unmatched and smart features like Eco Mode enable new levels of efficiency. We’re looking forward to integrating the learnings into our final development as we move closer to delivering the system in 2025.”