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2. Air compressors
Interlocks on starting
In port
Ideally this has to be done unit by unit, taking each to TDC. Other wise a
minor leak cannot be detected if the unit is at BDC. The steps involved are
as follows:
Open indicator cocks
Engage turning gear
Take unit to TDC
Disengage turning gear
Shut off air to distributor
Pressurize main start air distribution pipe.
Check for air issuing out of indicator cock
Note: In the normal case the engine doesnt turn on air since the air to
distributor is shut. But in
case of a leaking start air valve the engine would turn. Hence the turning
gear has to be disengaged before the distribution pipe is pressurized.
At sea
Feel for hot start air inlet branch pipes.
Actions in emergencies
Action in case of engine failing to start due to a
sticking pilot or air start valve, during
Maneuvering: With a reversible main engine, the
easiest step to follow is to request bridge for an kick in
the other direction and get the engine out of the blind
spot. Note that this is possible since if one unit start air
valve or pilot is sticking and if that is the unit to receive
start air in one direction. (that is when start fails), then on
reversal of the engine. it will be definitely some other unit
which is to receive start air for the other direction.
Action in case of bursting disc burst.
The bursting disc hood can be turned to temporarily
regain maneuvering in case of a bursting disc burst.
Slow turning
Bridge control
Three repeated starts are usually carried
out automatically in case of start failure at
the first attempt. However the bridge start
is blocked at low level of start air pressure
which leaves sufficient air for the engineer
attending, to start locally. On bridge
controlled ships the start air from air
bottles is to be always left open during sea
passage also.
Air distributor
The air distributor may be basically of two kinds, the
rotary type, and the pilot valve and inverse cam type.
The rotary distributor designs are common in generators
and also is used in some main engines too. The pilot
valves may be mounted separately and the inverse cams
also separately mounted on the main camshaft next to
each unit instead of grouping them together as a
distributor. This arrangement is found in reversible four
stroke engines. The pilot valve along with the inverse
cam is termed the distributor which controls the timing of
air admission for a particular unit. Pilot valves are also
prone to getting stuck and hence of non corrodible
material
1. The operating air inlet is cut off by the piston 1 covering the hole
though which operating air was admitted, which traps the 30 bar
operating air pressure in the space between piston 1 & 2. This
means that even if the external operating air line is vented, the
trapped air keeps the pilot valve at the activated position till the
inverse cam mechanically pushes it back. This is the arrangement
that ensures that those units in the starting air range. at the instant
of changing over form air start to fuel run, continues receiving
starting air though external operating air is vented.
2. The line to start air valve which is vented is connected to the pilot
air line, This is by the piston 3 covering the vent and at the same
time allowing air into the start air valve line.
During normal running, the pilot valve is kept off the cam preventing
unnecessary wear.
There are as many pilot valves as the number of units. Reversal of
start air distributor is by shifting the shaft axially by a pneumatic
cylinder.