How Marine Propulsion Engine of the Ship is Protected?

A ship’s propulsion engine is what keeps the ship going at sea. Considered as the heart of any
vessel, the marine engine of the ship takes the entire load to propel the ship forward. Of course,
without an engine a ship is almost a “dead ship.”

Throughout its life, the propulsion engine of the ship goes through various loads and stresses
from rough weather to harsh manoeuvring and breakdowns.

To avoid any major loss or damage to the marine engine, several protective devices are fitted to
safeguard the engine from major damages and breakdown.

Different Types of Protections on a Ship’s Marine Engine

Basically there are four main types of protection systems used to safeguard propulsion
engine:

1. Alarm: In case of deviation of engine parameters from a set value, an audible and visual
alarm will sound which will give an early warning of the problem.

2. Slow down: It is the next stage of protection when actions taken are not sufficient to control
the ongoing problem; hence engine slow down is done to counter the disturbed parameter.

3. Shut down: When there is a higher fluctuation in the engine parameters which can harm
other systems of the engine, the shut down protective devices cut off the fuel supply and the
engine stops.

4. Starting Interlock: This will not allow the engine to start from the stand-still condition if
some important system within the engine has not been operated or arranged properly.

Different Engine Slow Down Situations

In this situation the main engine will come to dead slow RPM i.e. below 30 RPM as the slow
down protection gets activated. Following are different slow down situation for main engine:

 Lube oil pressure falls to 1.5 bar

 Cam shaft pressure falls below 2 bar

 There is no flow of piston cooling media (water or oil)

 Oil mist detector or Main bearing sensors has been activated

 Lube oil temperature at the inlet of engine is high > 60 deg C

  Piston Cooling temperature is high > 75 deg C

 Jacket water Temperature is high > 88 deg c

 Engine cylinder exhaust temperature is high > 450 deg C

 Scavenge air temperature is high > 65 deg C

 Thrust block temperature is high > 75 deg C

 Low flow of Cylinder lube oil

Control air pressure is low < 5.5 bar

Different Shut down Situations

 Lube oil inlet pressure to engine is very low <1 bar

 Cam shaft Lube oil pressure is very low < 1.5 bar

 Very high Jacket cooling water temperature >95 deg C

 Low Jacket cooling water pressure < 0.1 bar

 No flow of Cylinder lube oil

 Thrust block temperature very high > 90 deg C

 Lube oil inlet pressure for turbocharger is low < 0.8 bar

 Over speed of the engine which activates shut down at 107 % of Max. continuous rating
MCR

Different Starting Interlocks are

 Turning gear engage interlock

 Auxiliary blower off interlock

 Lube oil and other important pump not running interlock

Apart from safety protections on a ship’s engine, various other systems to ensure that various
other operations are not affected.

Different types of protection on the marine engine of a ship.

Generally four major types of protection systems are used to secure the
propulsion engine:

1. Alarm: When the engine parameters deviate from a defined value, an audible and visual alarm
will sound, giving an early warning of the problem.

2. Slow down: It is the next safety stage when steps taken are not adequate to regulate the
existing problem; therefore, the engine is slowed down to counteract the disrupted parameter.

3. Shut down: The shut down safety devices cut off the fuel supply and the engine stops when
there is a greater fluctuation in the engine parameters that can affect other engine systems.

4. Starting Interlock: This will not allow the engine to start from the stand-off condition if the
engine has not properly operated or arranged some important system.

Alarms

1.Cooling water High temperature alarm,

2.Jacket cooling water low pressure alarm,
3.Air cooler high temperature alarm,
4.Fuel oil high temp,
5.Fuel oil Low pressure

6.Expansion tank low level alarm

7.Control air is also used for stopping the engine
8.Thrust bearing high temp trip
9.Jacket cooling water high temp alarm
10.High exhaust alarm,
11.High scavenge air temp alarm and slow down,
12.Oil Mist Detector alarm and slow down crankcase relief valve
13.Thrust bearing high temp alarm

Different Slow down situations

Lube oil pressure falls to 1.5 bar

Cam shaft pressure falls below 2 bar

There is no flow of piston cooling media (water or oil)

Oil mist detector or Main bearing sensors has been activated

Lube oil temperature at the inlet of engine is high > 60 deg C

Piston Cooling temperature is high > 75 deg C

Jacket cooling water Temperature is high > 88 deg c

Exhaust temperature Engine cylinder is high > 450 deg C

Scavenge air temperature of Engine is high > 65 deg C

Thrust block temperature is high > 75 deg C

Low flow of Cylinder lube oil

Control air pressure is low < 5.5 bar

Main Diesel Engine slow Down devices are following :-

•L.O High Temp

•JCW High Temp

•Piston Cooling High Temp

•OMD Alarm (1 pass)

•Thrust Bearing L.O Low Press

•Control Air Low Press

•Scavenge Air High Temp

•Exh Gas High Temp

Different Shut down situations

Lube oil inlet pressure to engine is very low <1 bar

Cam shaft Lube oil pressure is very low < 1.5 bar

Very high Jacket cooling water temperature >95 deg C

Low Jacket cooling water pressure < 0.1 bar

No flow of Cylinder lube oil

Thrust block temperature very high > 90 deg C

Lube oil inlet pressure for turbocharger is low < 0.8 bar
Over speed of the engine which activates shut down at 107 % of Max. continuous rating MCR

Main Diesel Engine Shut Down Safety Devices

●Low lube oil pressure

●JCW High Temperature

●JCW low Pressure

●Thrust Bearing High Temperature

●Over Speed

nterlocks
Interlocks are given so that only when certain conditions have been met, the engine can be
started or reversed.

It is important to have interlocks when there is a remote control of engines.

It decreases the working personnel’s risk for engine damage and any hazards.

Different Starting Interlocks are

1.Turning gear engage interlock :-If the turning gear is engaged, this system prevents the engine
from starting.

2.Running Directions Interlock :-It avoids the supply of the fuel if the engine’s running
Directions is not in line with the Telegraph.

3.Auxiliary blower off interlock :-In case of constant pressure turbo charging, the Auxiliary
Blower is provided.

4.Starting Air Distributor in end position:- This prevents starting from taking place if
the shifting of the Distributor has not been completed.

5.Air Spring Pressure Interlock:- The Air Spring Pressure must always be controlled in the
present generation of engines using exhaust valves shut down by Air Springs, otherwise the
exhaust valve can not be closed.

Note :-Main Lube. Oil pressure, piston cooling pressure, jacket water pressure, and significant
parameters must be above the minimum required.

Check Out Other Important Topics

Home IC Engine Electrical Important PDFs Boilers Synergy Maritime Exam Naval Arch
Interview Questions Difference Between Types of Pumps Types of Valves MEO Class 4
Auxiliary Machines