10 Points A Marine Engineer Should Take a look at In A Lab Analysis Report Of Fuel Oil

Every seafarer is acquainted with the time interval bunkering and has each participated in or in any case seen the operation of bunkering whereas he or she is on board. They could have moreover seen samples collected from the bunker manifold by the use of drip sampling. Taking 4 samples is the norm, 1 for the supplier, 1 for MARPOL, 1 for the ship and 1 for lab analysis.

Transport companies have a tie-up with bunker sample analysing labs, and the labs current ships with a sampling package deal. Using the package deal, samples are collected and despatched to the laboratory for testing. Most of the time, solely heavy gasoline oil samples are despatched to shore for analysis, nonetheless I’ve moreover seen on just a few ships the place we’ve been sending MGO samples. The sample analysis is shipped once more to the ship in about 3-4 days.

After I used to be a junior engineer and whilst a lot as fourth I certainly not truly paid loads consideration to the lab analysis. I used to check the density of the gasoline to control the gravity disc of my purifiers accordingly. Nevertheless there could also be far more to these analyses than merely that. A great deal of points are created, on account of improper treatment of gasoline, and these may be prevented by listening to the lab analysis.

Given underneath are 10 elements marine engineers ought to take a look at throughout the gasoline oil testing report.

Density: The supplier, on completion of bunkering, offers a BDN( bunker provide phrase), which has the density talked about on it, nonetheless that’s primarily to seek out out the load of gasoline delivered, it might not be very right. The suitable density is required for altering the gravity disc of the purifiers, to ensure proper purification. This is not required throughout the newer purification packages as they do not have a gravity disc.

Viscosity: HFO used to burn in marine engines has a viscosity of 380 cst, and for IFO it’s 180cst(That’s at 50 deg centigrade). Often, the viscosity required for combustion is between 13-15cst. Nevertheless it might be utterly completely different for varied engines. In most ships, the viscotherm is automated, which suggests it always screens the viscosity of the gasoline going to the engine and accordingly regulates the temperature. However, in older ships, the viscosity is regulated manually, and in such circumstances, it is required to know the very best temp to maintain viscosity. Most labs give a chart which might current utterly completely different temperatures for varied viscosity.

Water %: Fuel with extreme water content material materials will burn a lot much less successfully as a result of the calorific value is decreased. The extreme amount of water in gasoline is form of troublesome if the gasoline goes to be saved for a really very long time in a bunker tank. Over a time-frame, the water will decide on the bottom and set off points whereas transferring. It may be good to start out out heating correct from the start after bunkering, moreover when it is throughout the settling tank, it must be drained pretty typically. Moreover, be ready for sludge tanks getting stuffed up.

Carbon residue: It is the amount of carbon remaining when the gasoline sample is completely burnt. It signifies the usual of the gasoline. A greater carbon residue value means additional deposits on piston land and gasoline valve concepts. It moreover means gasoline oil has poor ignition prime quality, which causes ignition delay after burning. Steer clear of low-load operation when using such gasoline. Or if should run on low load as most ships for the time being are being run on lower rpm, the precept engine is to be run at extreme load for in any case 1 to 2 hours. Moreover, additional emphasis on right gasoline treatment.

Sulphur content material materials: Essential value to be checked, for MARPOL legal guidelines, notably when crusing in ECA areas. As of 1^st January 2015, the sulphur content material materials for gasoline on ships crusing throughout the ECA area is 0.10% m/m. Moreover, it’s important to check sulphur content material materials throughout the new intelligent engines, the place the cylinder lubrication is accomplished exactly as per the sulphur content material materials of the gasoline in use. Extreme sulphur content material materials ends in chilly corrosion, so the jacket water temperature is to be maintained on the higher facet, notably in standstill conditions.

Vanadium and Sodium %: Vanadium is a metallic issue current in crude oil. When it combines with sodium throughout the ratio of three:1, it varieties a low melting stage compound which causes high-temperature corrosion and the formation of localised scorching spots. This ends in the burning away of exhaust valves, seats and piston crowns. Although eradicating vanadium is hard, it’s easier to remove sodium by the use of purification and heating.

One different methodology of reducing high-temperature corrosion is by preserving exhaust valves and seats cool, nonetheless as soon as extra you’ll be able to’t cut back jacket cooling water temperature an extreme quantity of, or it may end up in chilly corrosion. Sustaining turbochargers and scavenge manifolds in good state of affairs will help cut back the implications of high-temperature corrosion as a result of it ends in larger scavenging, so routinely, the cylinder stays cooler.

Aluminium and silicon%: These are additional typically typically referred to as catfines and are elements that keep throughout the gasoline after catalytic cracking. These are strong small abrasive particles which may be very robust to remove. They will set off hurt to the surfaces of the plunger and barrel of gasoline pumps, cylinder liners and gasoline valves. Their focus may be decreased by working purifiers with very low throughput. Moreover, a extreme focus of catfines means your auto backwash filter will get choked often. In case your ship has a historic previous of bunkering gasoline with extreme catfines, yearly, it is larger to empty and clear the gasoline oil service tank completely.

Flash stage: The flash stage of all fuels used throughout the engine room must have a flash stage higher than or equal to 60. This information may be provided by the supplier sooner than bunkering, nonetheless it is always larger to substantiate this from the lab analysis.

Pour stage: The pour stage is the minimal temperature at which a liquid ceases to flow into. For pumping and coping with features it is always good to know the minimal temperature to be maintained.

CCAI: Calculated carbon aromaticity index is an indication of the ignition prime quality of the gasoline. Values above 870 normally should not advisable for a lot of kinds of fuels.

Moreover, take a look at if the gasoline is compliant with the necessities set as per ISO 8217

The above are the principle elements to be considered sooner than using the newly bunkered gasoline oil. Together with this, labs could conduct further additional checks resembling full sediment, or for lead, phosphorous, calcium and zinc, which might be indicators of the presence of waste lubricating oil, which typically may be added to the gasoline.

A laboratory analysis is an outstanding instrument to current us an indication of the usual of gasoline bunkered. Right coping with and treatment of gasoline oil should not be solely good for the engine however moreover offers us peace of ideas all through a voyage.

On a regular basis keep all gear involved throughout the swap and coping with of gasoline in good state of affairs. Auto backwash filters are to be cleaned ceaselessly and certainly not in any state of affairs to be bypassed.

Thanks, and please be at liberty in order so as to add your invaluable suggestions.

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