Turbochargers provide an important function on a marine two-stroke diesel engine by

supplying scavenge air. The turbocharger turbine is rotated by the exhaust gasses from
the engine, driving a compressor on the same shaft. Pyrometers are fitted at locations in
the engine exhaust gas streams.

Introduction to Diesel Pyrometers Gauges for Monitoring Turbocharger

Health

Turbochargers are essential to the efficient operation of a two stroke marine diesel
engine. They supply the scavenge spaces with cooled air under pressure, enabling
complete combustion of diesel or heavy fuel oil in the engine.

This is an article in marine engineering; in particular marine diesel engine

turbochargers. We shall look at their operation and the function of pyrometers located in
the turbocharger exhaust streams, used in measuring the turbochargers' health.

We begin then with an overview of the operation of a marine engine turbocharger.

An Overview of the Operation of a Marine Engine Turbocharger

When I was serving my apprenticeship at Harland and Wolff Belfast in the sixties, I
spent some time in the engine-works department. Here the engines components were
produced, assembled, and the engines tested, before being stripped for transport to the
fitting-out berth.

The engines were large marine diesel two-strokes built under license to Burmeister and
Wain engines, a Danish Shipyard, and B & W supplied the turbochargers.

Operation Overview

In a modern large two stroke diesel engine, the exhaust gases from the cylinders or
exhaust valves in the heads are directed to an exhaust gas manifold. From here they
are fed into the turbine drive end of the turbocharger, driving a compressor through a
direct drive shaft.

The compressor draws air through a filter from the engineroom, and whilst compressing
it, the air is heated. For efficient combustion, the air should be as cool as possible,
therefore the pressurized air is then passed through an air cooler before being directed
into the scavenge manifold.

From here the air is supplied to the individual cylinders, via the scavenge ports in the
cylinder liner.

A modern turbocharger setup is shown below from Wartsila.

Locating and Fitting of Diesel Engine Exhaust Pyrometers and Gauges

Pyrometers are not only a tool of choice for monitoring engine health, they can often
provide first warning of impending operating faults in turbochargers.

The gases from the engine exhaust system are very hot, so it is here that we locate
the first pyrometer, to measure this temperature. The engine manufacturer will have
stipulated the maximum temperature, and this should not be exceeded. In my time at
sea as an engineer, all the Chief Engineers were very careful not to run the engines
above this temperature except in an emergency.

So now we have our datum temperature and, as we have seen the exhaust gases pass
through the turbine. Here the heat is extracted and converted from thermal energy to
mechanical energy, rotating the turbine. The more heat we can extract from the gases,
the more efficient the turbine is, so the second pyrometer is located after the turbine,
before the exhaust gases are fed to the waste heat boiler or flue. (Please click image to
enlarge.)

I have shown the location of the various pyrometers and temperature gauges required
to check the efficient operation of the turbochargers on the above sketch.

When drilling the ducting and fitting these to the unit, it is imperative that drill chippings
are prevented from entering the turbine, compressor, or air cooler.

Therefore I have drawn the relevant sections below with a few notes of explanation on
the methods employed, some of which I used over fourty years ago on older models of
turbo-blowers.
Pyrometer No. 1 – Exhaust gas temperature at inlet to turbine

1. Remove expansion bellows from exhaust duct.

2. Bolt circular blank to bottom duct flange.

3. Drill hole in ductwork above top duct flange to suit pyrometer screwed fitting.

4. Insert pyrometer into hole and secure screwed section with nuts each side of duct.

5. Wire-up and fit pyrometer gauge.

6. Carefully remove all drill chippings from top of blank, then remove blank.

7. Replace exhaust gas bellows, ensuring gaskets are in good condition.

Pyrometer No. 2 – Exhaust gas temperature after turbine

1. Remove turbine examination/inspection cover.

2. Drill hole in cover to suit pyrometer screwed fitting.

3. Insert pyrometer into hole and secure screwed section with nuts each side of duct.

4. Replace inspection cover, ensuring gasket is in good condition.

5. Wire-up and fit pyrometer gauge.

A typical probe for a pyrometer is shown below from sensor connection and a gauge
from Brannan

The Use of Diesel Pyrometer Gauges for Monitoring Turbocharger

Health

Purposes of the Exhaust Gas Pyrometer

The exhaust gas pyrometer located before the turbocharger turbine will give the
temperature of the gases leaving the engine, with a typical large slow speed marine
diesel having an exhaust temperature of around 400°C (750°F).

A rise in this temperature will indicate a number of faults in the main engine, such faulty
fuel valves, sticking exhaust valves or scavenge fire; it can also indicate overloading the
engine due to head-on seas or strong currents.

The second pyrometer measures the exhaust temperature after the turbine has
extracted its energy. Depending on the engine design parameters and conditions, the
exhaust gas temperature can drop as much as 200°F. A large divergence in these
temperatures can indicate the blades of the turbine sooting up, or even a few blades
broken. Both of these conditions lower the efficiency of the turbine and require
immediate investigation. Modern turbochargers have integral water-wash elements that
clean both the turbine and compressor blades whilst the turbochargers are running.

The manufacturer’s manual will give the turbochargers' turbine exhaust inlet and outlet
temperatures. These will be the maximum and minimum temperatures for optimum
engine performance, in terms of fuel and power efficiency.
Exhaust gas pyrometers are the main instruments in determining the health of the
turbochargers, but the air temperature is also an indication. The engineroom
temperature inlet to the compressor, along with the outlet temperature and pressure
from the air cooler will also signify whether the exhaust gas turbine is driving the
compressor efficiently