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…
A while ago we have experienced frequent black outs due one of the vessel’s generators trip while running on load. The generator used to trip if load went more than 50 % while was running as a single generator and especially when a large consumer starts when the generator was close to 50 % load….
Aside from being important components for enabling designed heat transmission, boiler tubes play an important role in preserving pressure integrity in boilers. The nature of their service, as well as their exposure to heat loads and corrosive conditions, creates a demanding operational profile for the tubes in order to keep their designated life term.Defective tubes…
Vessel’s bunker line pressure test is a procedure of the outmost importance which cannot be emphasizes enough, although is ignored and avoided by many engineers sometimes due lack of time, lack of knowledge or fear that something would go wrong during test. Is very important to remember that the whole purpose of this periodical test…
This post is about temporary repairing the cylinder liner in case of scoring which if is detected at an early stage and if appropriate countermeasures are taken, sudden severe wear (scuffing) , losing liner and piston rings, can be avoided and the reliability improved. Visual piston underside inspection is recommended to be carried out at…