Engines Flashcards
What is scavenging?
When air supply is at a pressure greater than the exhaust gas, the remaining exhaust gas is removed and new charge air administered.
What is uniflow scavening?
Fresh air enters through inlet ports on the lower end of the liner and exhaust gases leave from the upper exhaust valve.
Scavenging air enters through angled ports to generate rotational movement of the air, ensuring greater scavenging and fuel efficiency.
How does a turbocharger work?
A turbine wheel, driven by exhaust gases from the engine, is rigidly coupled to a centrifugal type air compressor. The air is sucked in through a filter/silencer and compressed, raising the temperature and pressure. The air must then be cooled to increase its density and avoid engine overheating when admitted to combustion space.
Two-stroke terminology?
Bedplate - The foundation of the engine and supports the crankshaft.
A Frame - Forms the crankcase, supports the cylinder block, provides mounting points for the guide bars and take side thrust of crosshead bearing.
Cylinder Block - Supports the cylinder liner and its retaining stud bolts and normally forms the scavenge space.
Tie Rods - Extends from the lower face of the bedplate to the upper face of the cylinder block and keeps the engine structure in compression.
Crosshead - Translates the reciprocating motion of the piston into semi-rotary motion at the connecting rod.
How do you react if there is a crankcase explosion?
1) Inform the bridge.
2) Slow down the engine, preferably stop.
3) Engage turning gear.
4) Stay in control room.
5) Review alarm trends.
6) Wait at least 20 minutes, allow cooling.
7) Inspect for fault.
How do you prepare an engine for sea?
1) LO, FO and JCW must be opened up and circulated to bring the engine up to the correct operating temperature.
2) Obtain permission from the bridge and turn the engine to ensure lubricating oil over all moving parts. Check the indicator cocks are open and leave running for twenty minutes.
3) Check the indicator cocks are blowing out air and not water. Water would indicate a fault in the cylinder head or liner and fuel with the fuel injectors.
4) Disengage the turning gear and drain air bottles of water and open air start valves to engine.
5) Start auxiliary blower fans to supply combustion.
6) Seek permission from the bridge to turn over on air, first in ahead then in astern. Check indicator cocks again.
7) Close indicator cocks and test again on fuel.
8) Pass control to bridge if all is good.
24 hours prior to departure checklist.
- Ensure fuel tanks are at correct levels.
- Open heating to service tanks to at least 40C.
- Ensure jacket water header tank is at correct level and all system valves are open.
- Start the jacket water circulating pump and check the pressure. Check returns to header are running freely.
- Preheat jacket water to at least 60C.
6 hours prior to departure checklist.
- Start lubricating oil purifiers to warm through the oil.
- Start the lubricating oil pumps for the M/E, camshaft and cross head system. Check sight glasses for oil flow and pressures.
- Check oil levels in the sump, turbochargers and shaft bearings.
1 hour prior to departure checklist.
- Test the bridge and local control of the steering gear by operating from port to starboard on each pump, then with both running.
- Start the CPP pump and test pitch control, checking pressures and levels.
- Start the main gear lubricating pump, checking pressures and levels.
- Start the standby generator and connect to the switchboard.
- Operate the cylinder lubricators and turn over the M/E, inspecting indicator cocks.
- Drain the air receivers of water.
- Switch on the OMD.
- Start the stern tube lubricating oil pump and check header tank levels.
- Take readings of fuel settling and service tanks and cylinder lubricating oil daily service tank.
15 minutes prior to departure checklist.
- Open the main air receiver valves and the main start air valve.
- Ensure all main air compressors are ready for use.
- Blow the M/E over on air ahead and astern with indicator cocks open.
- Close the indicator cocks, turbocharger drains etc.
- Set the auxiliary blower to automatic.
- Turn over the M/E on fuel, ahead and astern.
- Inform the bridge the M/E is ready for use and switch to bridge control.
What is a crankcase explosion?
An explosion that occurs due to an oil mist and a hotspot.
Causes of a crankcase explosion.
- The normal contents of a crankcase is air.
- If oil is atomised it becomes an oil mist, mixed with said air.
- If a hotspot occurs and the vapour reaches said hotspot and is within the range of flammability, then the explosion will occur.
Why do hot spots occur?
- Failure of lube oil to bearings, sprockets etc.
- Temperature is around 280-400 degrees above the LO flash point.
How can one tell if there is a hot spot?
- Hand feel to crankcase door.
- Abnormal noise in the crankcase.
- Irregular running of the engine.
- Bearing LO temperature increase.
- Bearing temperature sensors.
- OMD
- Smelling & appearance of dense oil mist.
How to prevent a crankcase explosion?
- There should be adequate cooling of the engine.
- Proper purification and analysis of lube oil.
- Lube oil filter to be changed over & cleaned as per schedule.
-Ensure proper cylinder lubrication by checking the condition of piston, piston rings and liner through scavenge ports.
-Clean scavenge space as per schedule & drain scavenges space regularly. - Maintain the stuffing box gland sealing in good condition.
- All running gears maintenance & checks to be carried out as per PMS.
- Be alert & rectify for any abnormal noise in crankcase.
- All safety trips & alarms fitted on M/E to be tried out for satisfactory.
- Proper watch on all running gears temperature & pressure to be maintained.
- Blow through all sampling tubes of Oil Mist Detector (OMD) regularly.
- Zero adjustment & sensitivity of OMD to be checked regularly.
- Check for oil leakage at crankcase explosion relief doors & check for the operation by hand.
- Check flame trap for cleanliness and intact condition.
Actions in the case of a crankcase explosion?
1) Inform CE and bridge.
2) Reduce engine speed.
3) Increase lubrication.
4) Keep clear of crankcase relief door, keep fire extinguisher ready and open skylight.
5) Stop engine, open indicator cocks, engage turning gear and turn engine with lube oil.
6) After 30 minutes, stop lube oil pumps and open crankcase door.
7) Try to locate the hotspot by hand and looking for change in colour.
8) Make permanent repair.
9) Make thorough inspection of the crankcase.
10) Pay attention to hot bearings, piston, bottom end bolts, guides and piston rod around stuffing box.
11) Start lube oil pumps and check for proper flow of oil from every lubricating point.
12) Gradually increase engine speed and outside feel over until satisfied.
What are crankcase safety devices?
1) Breather pipe with flame trap
2) Crankcase exhaust fan.
3) OMD
4) Crankcase relief doors.
5) Bearing temperature sensor.
6) LO return temperature sensor.
7) Routine LO tests for viscosity, flash point and contamination.
Why is breather pipe fitted to crankcase?
- To reduce pressure build up.
Why is the crankcase relief valve fitted?
- To release any sudden rise of internal pressure with large free escape area to prevent a secondary explosion.
Causes of high bearing temperature?
1) Improper oil viscosity.
2) Insufficient lubrication.
3) Misalignment of shaft or bearings.
4) Foreign matters in oil.
5) Score in journal.
6) Poorly fitted bearing.
7) Improper oil clearance.
What is a blow past?
Hot gas or flame passed through the piston rings and cylinder liner from the combustion space.
Sources of oil coming into the air bottle?
- Excessive oil level of compressor.
- Excessive cylinder lubrication.
- Defective oil scraper rings.
- Oil vapours inhaled from engine room atmosphere.
What is the purpose of the charge air cooler?
1) To reduce air temperature & increase density of charged air.
2) More fuel can be burnt and more power obtained.
3) Reduce exhaust gas temperature and engine thermal load.
4) Increase scavenging efficiency, safe working temperature.
What is the normal Pmax on a 2-stroke?
180-195 bar
Normal exhaust gas temperature after combustion in a 2-stroke?
600 degrees
Normal charge air pressure?
0.3-0.7 bar
Power ratio between 2-stroke and 4-stroke?
1.8:1
What is cross-flow scavenging?
Inlet and exhaust ports are opposite one another at the bottom end of the cylinder liner.
Simplifies the engine construction and minimises maintenance costs. Used in old sulzer engines.