FILTERS AND STRAINERS ON A SHIP

Dulc tefan, Tomooiu Tiberiu

Mircea cel Btrn Naval Academy,
Constanta
 Filters used onboard a ship

1. The Air filter: it is a device of the intake system that connects

the environment and the intake manifolds of the engine. The role of
the air filter is to allow the intake of purified air, respectively to retain
solid particles. In order to achieve his role, the air filter asks for some
constructive requirements:
- high efficacy of retention;
- low aerodynamic resistance;
- compact construction and easy service.(1)

Figure 1.(1)

The filter parts shown in Figure 1 are:

1 air intake
2 air exhaust
 3 housing
4 cover
5 filter element

2. The fuel filter: they are used to retain solid impurities from
fuel. Some filters are provided with the possibility of water separation
and sedimentation from fuel. This is the how injection equipment is
protected against wear and grip.
Fuel filters can be divided as following:
- filters that provide pre-filtering;
- Crude filters;
- Fine filters;
- Prevention filters.

Filters that provide pre-filtering are using a filter screen fitted in

the fuel tank feed port and allow the retaining of the big solid
impurities to enter in the fuel tank.
Crude filters ensure the retaining of solid impurities with
dimensions between 15 150 m, which can block the sprayer needle
or can obdurate the spraying holes.
Fine filters retain the solid impurities which have larger
dimensions than 10 m.
Prevention filters are fitted at the injector entry to avoid the
penetration of the sprayer with solid impurities like metal chips. These
filters ensure the retaining of particles between 40 100 m being
designed like metal rods which are fitted in the injector coupling. (1)
 Figure 2. (1)

3. The Sea chest strainer: It is fitted in the main suction line of

the sea water inlet system to the ship. Normally a strainer is used in
the sea chest so that the flow of water in the sea line is always
maintained. (2)

Figure 3. (3)

4. The Diplex filter: its used to combine the signals from and
AM and FM-TV antenna, eliminating one coaxial cable run to the
head end. Unwanted AM-signals from FM-TV antenna is attenuated
by the filter. The AM input is protected against high voltages by a
surge arrester.
 This is particularly beneficial to prevent damage to underlying
equipment when using a passive antenna.(4)

Figure 4. (4)

5. The Water strainer: to retain the solids which can penetrate

sea water in the open circuit of cooling system, between the pump and
bottom sockets water strainers are fitted.
For taking over the water from outside the board of the ship are
used at least two sockets, one between board of the ship and keel, and
the other on the ships keel. (1)

Figure 5. (5)

In conclusion for the proper running of the main engine,

auxiliaries and other machineries of the ship, filters and strainers are
more than important and must be changed in time for a long using of
all installations.

Bibliography

1. Dragalina, A. (2003), Motoare cu ardere interna Vol. I,

Constana, Editura Academiei Navale Mirceal cel Btrn
pag. 92-94, pag. 123-124, pag. 174-175
2. http://www.marineinsight.com/guidelines/filters-and-
strainers-types-and-uses-on-ship/
3. https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/sea-chest-strainer-
10428950362.html
4. http://www.naval.com/navalab/FI%2030%20Combining%20
Duplex%20Filter%20Product%20Sheet.pdf
5. http://www.go2marine.com/docs/7/7/5/0/77501F-p.jpg