Engine Room Plant consists of various machineries, arranged according to their
functions and in some other way integrated to a single control system to ease the
operation in one location.
Main Propulsion Plant
The power is being develop from the main engine and transfer the torque to the
propeller via the shafting arrangement. This is the main plant in the engine room that
provides power to propel the ship. When in operation, the watch keeper’s monitors
and records various parameters such as pressure, temperatures etc. Any
discrepancy of parameters from operating standards is being rectified.
3.1.1 Shafting Arrangement
To transmit the power of the main engine to the propeller, shafting arrangement is
provided. The number of shafts and bearings varies depend on the design of the
ships. In the modern ships, there is one thrust shaft, one or more intermediate shaft and a propeller shaft which are all supported by bearings.
a. Thrust shaft is the shaft next to main engine which is connected to the flywheel
and supported by the thrust bearing. The main purpose is to transmit the
rotational thrust of the main engine connecting rod to the propeller. The thrust
bearing maintains the alignment of the thrust shaft and absorb the axial thrusts
that are being generated during transmission of force.
b. The intermediate shaft is the intermediary shaft between the thrust shaft and the propeller shaft. One or more intermediate shaft is connected and the number
depends on the length of the engine to the propeller. The intermediate shaft is
supported by an intermediate bearing and the plummer block.
c. The propeller shaft is the last shaft connected in the shafting arrangement. One
end of the shaft is tapered and where the propeller is seating. The propeller shaft
is supported by the stern tube bearing with seals to prevent sea water leakage to
the engine room.
3.2 Main Propulsion Plant Piping System
Main propulsion plant requires various piping system for operation. The piping
systems provides fuel oil, lubrication/cooling oil, cooling water, starting and control air,etc.
Various equipments are also installed in the piping system such as pumps, tanks,
filters, valves, sensors etc. These equipments provide the proper amount of lube
oil/cooling water/fuel oil supply, correct pressure, temperature and flow direction to the engine are maintained. They are arranged systematically in the engine room
according to their purpose and had provisions for easy facilitation of maintenance
procedures.
3.2.1 Lubrication Oil Piping System (yellow)
Main purpose is to provide lubrication to reduce friction and resistance to sliding
parts, provides cooling and prevention of corrosion to various moving parts of the
diesel engine such as bearing’s, piston rings etc. Various lubrication piping systems is also connected, such as cylinder oil and piston cooling which has different function during operating condition. Hydraulic oil system is also provided for the operation of main engine exhaust valves and others.
3.2.2 Central Cooling Fresh Water Piping System (blue)
Main purpose is to provide cooling water to the cylinder liner, cylinder head, exhaust valve, etc., during running operation of the diesel engine. It also allows warming procedure of the engine while on idling condition and provides heating to fresh water generator. In addition, the system also provides cooling water to L.O. Cooler and other heat exchangers.
3.2.3 Fuel Oil Piping System (red)
Provides fuel oil to the engine during running condition and facilitate warming
condition of fuel oil at required temperature during idling condition. The fuel oil is circulated in the system to maintain the required temperature and to be readily
available at all times.
3.2.4 Starting Air and Control Air Piping System (grey)
The system provides compressed air for starting of the engine and for instrumentation purposes of various controls.
3.2.5 Central Cooling Sea Water Piping System (green)
The system provides cooling sea water to various coolers/condensers in the engine
room. Sea water is taken directly from the sea, passes through the coolers/condenser and discharged overboard. Sea water is the primary cooling
medium of the engine room machineries. In this system, the sea water is mainly
supplied to Central Cooling Fresh Water Cooler.
3.2.6 Steam Service Piping System (grey)
Steam being generated by Exhaust Gas Economizer or Boiler is supplied to various
heaters and other equipments for heating and maintenance purposes. There are two
ways that steam is being generated onboard; by means of exhaust gas economizer
or the auxiliary boiler. Exhaust gas economizer produces required steam while the
main engine is in navigational operation and auxiliary boiler is normally used during maneuvering or in port condition.
3.3 Plant Condition
Plant condition differs according to the ship operational requirements and it is also corresponds to the ship situation and/or location. Plant condition commonly classified as:
3.3.1 Navigational Condition (At Sea)
When the ship is navigating at sea, the main engine is in full operational condition
and all main equipments are in full running condition. Intensive monitoring of various parameters is required.
3.3.2 Maneuvering Condition (Entering and Leaving Port)
The ship is in maneuvering operation for entering or leaving Port, channels etc. Main propulsion plant is use for maneuvering and speed varies from stop to full power as required. Reversing of propeller rotation is available and most of the machinery is in stand-by condition.
3.3.3 In-Port Condition (Idling Condition)
Main propulsion plant is not in used and keeps in warm condition. Minimum
machineries are in running condition. Electrical generating equipment is maintained
to supply power to various machineries as required.
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