The vessel air system comprises, normally, of Starting air system, Control air system and General service/working air system.The starting air system is supplied by two or three main air compressors which provide air, usually, to two main air reservoirs and is used to start the main engine and the generator engines. The generators may also…
Smoke detection systems are typically installed for cargo holds and work in conjunction with CO2 fire extinguishing systems. Additionally, hold sampling pipes are utilized to deliver CO2 into the cargo holds as needed and they are connected to three-way valves which are used to effectuate the changeover. Smoke detection panels are positioned in the CO2 chamber,…
Crankshaft is the main element of the motor mechanism and it sums up the rotational motion of all cylinders and transmits it to the consumers, which in the case of marine engine systems can be a propeller or a generator. For this reason, from a mechanical point of view, it has the higher load and…
I believe that many of you have heard lately, at least once, about the autonomous or “unmanned” vessels and thinking on how this will affect your jobs, life and your future. As I could see and understand, everyone of us tend to deny and refuse to believe that this will ever happen or that will…
Marine boilers are steam generators where heat resulted from combustion of a fuel, from nuclear reaction or thermal effect of electrical current is transferred to the water which is heated and vaporized. There are two types of boilers in marine industry: Fire tube boiler is the type of boiler where the exhaust gases resulted from…
Centrifugal pumps are hydraulically powered machines that transport energy to fluids (most notably liquids) via the action of a field of centrifugal forces. Their primary function is to move fluids by increasing pressure. Centrifugal pumps come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but its operating principle and fluid dynamic characteristics stay unchanged.Centrifugal pumps are…
Purifiers clean fuels and lubricants as well as processing bilge water and sludge, but onboard vessels they are mainly part of fuel and oil treatment system. Purifiers are usually under a junior engineer responsibility and, sometimes they proves to be real nightmares for some of them, mainly because of lack of knowledge regarding operating principle,…
Heat exchangers onboard vessels can be of the shell and tube type, plate type and fin type. Their type and model are adequate for particular systems and operating conditions taking into account all relevant ambient conditions that may affect their performance. Shell and tube type heat exchangers are generally used onboard as heaters for fuel…
Positive displacement pumps also known as volumetric pumps are very common and they are mainly used for high viscous fluids transfer, like fuel, oil and sludge. Gear pumps, reciprocating pumps, rotary displacement and vane pumps are the most known and common used onboard vessels. In these above pumps a special form allows an almost tight…
Regular engine performance test helps in evaluating the current condition of engine and optimizing engine performance. Performance test of engines will also help in identifying drop in its performance due to any deteriorating condition related to exhaust valve, fuel injector etc. If possible, the engine cylinder balance must be checked as often as possible. Measurements…