MAIN ENGINE STARTING PROCEDURE - SIMULATOR TRAINING

Aim:

Study about the preparing, starting and running of marine propulsion engine .

For various types of main engines of ships, it is important to carry out proper checks,
take necessary precautions and maintain parameters for trouble-free operation. Good
watchkeeping and maintenance results in higher efficiency, fewer breakdowns, and
smooth operation. In this article, we will go through some generalised and most
important points for all types of main engines.

Preparing To Start Ship’s Main Engine

Before starting the main engine, the following checks and procedures are to be

undertaken.

All components that have been overhauled are to be checked and wherever possible
“function tested”. All equipment, tools, and rags used during overhaul are to be removed
from the engine.

1. Air systems

a) Drain any water present in the starting air system

b) Drain any water present from the control air system at the receivers
c) Pressurise the air systems and ensure that the pressures are correct
d) Ensure compressed air is available at the exhaust valve ‘air spring’ closing cylinders

2. Lubricating oil systems

a) Check the oil level in the main engine sump and replenish if necessary
b) Start main engine LO pump and a turbocharger LO pump
c) Ensure all of the oil pressures are correct
d) Ensure there is adequate oil flow for piston cooling and turbochargers
e) Check the oil level in the cylinder LO tank and that the supply to the lubricator is
open. Check cylinder oil flowmeter is properly functioning and note the counter of the
flowmeter

3. Cooling water systems

a) Ensure Main Engine Jackets are under normal circumstances, the main engine jacket
water is continuously circulated through a preheater during the stay in port and are
never allowed to cool down
b) Ensure that the cooling water system pressures are correct and that the systems are
not leaking. Checks should be made again when the engine is at its correct operating
temperature
c) Check the level of the expansion tank. An evident decrease in the water level of the
expansion tank indicates leakage.

4. Slow turning the engine with the turning gear

Slow turning of the engine must be carried out to prevent damage caused by fluid
leaking into any of the cylinders. Permission from the bridge must be sought before
turning the engine. Pre-lubrication should be carried out. Always carry out the slow
turning operation at the latest possible moment before starting.
a) Ensure the regulating handles are in the FINISHED WITH ENGINES position
b) Ensure all of the cylinder indicator cocks are open
c) Turn the engine one revolution with the turning gear. Check to see if fluid flows out of
any of the indicator valves
d) Disengage the turning gear and ensure it is locked in the OUT position
e) Check that the indicator lamp for TURNING GEAR ENGAGED extinguishes

5. Slow turning the engine on starting air (blow through)

Permission must be sought from the bridge before turning the engine. The bridge
should be asked for propeller clearance. Always carry out the slow turning at the latest
possible moment before starting and within the last 30 minutes. Bring Main Engine to
standby mode.

a) Select SLOW TURNING on the main engine operating panel if present or give a kick
from engine control room by moving the regulating handle to dead slow momentarily.
When operating telegraph from engine control, communicate with the bridge, they
should follow your command on the telegraph. As the engine turns, check to see if any
fluid flows out of the indicator cocks

b) When the engine has turned one revolution, move the regulating handle back to the
STOP position

c) Close all of the indicator cocks. Also, close the turbocharger drains

6. Fuel oil system

a) Check fuel oil supply pump and fuel oil circulating pump. If the engine was running on
heavy fuel oil when stopped, the circulating pump and fuel heaters should still be
running
b) Check the fuel oil pressures and temperatures. Check fuel oil flowmeters are properly
functioning and note the counter of the flowmeter

7. Miscellaneous

a) Check that all of the engine instrumentation is reading correctly. If not, check the
instruments and replace as necessary
b) Check that all scavenge air receiver and box drains are open and that the test cocks
are closed
c) Check that the engine top bracing system is in service
d) Check the thrust bearing temperature and lube oil pressure is in range. Check axial
vibration damper and torsional vibration damper lube oil pressure is in range
e) Check the fuel leak off alarm is functional. Check the level of fuel leak off tank to
notice any rise in level later due to leakage
f) Check the level of scavenge drain tank, the tank should not be full or else will lead to
overflow of scavenge spaces of Main Engine
g) Check the governor is responding efficiently

Normal Operation Checks

1. During normal running, regular checks have to be made and precautions are to be
taken
2. Regular checks of the system and engine pressures and temperatures
3. The values read off the instruments compared with those given in the commissioning
records, taking into account engine speed and/or engine power, provide an excellent
datum for estimating the engine performance. Compare temperatures by feeling the
pipes. The essential readings are the load indicator position, turbocharger speed,
charge air pressure and exhaust gas temperature before the turbine. A valuable
criterion is also the daily fuel consumption, considering the lower calorific value
4. Check and compare between cylinders the mean indicated pressure, compression
pressure and maximum combustion pressures
5. Check the operation of the oil mist detector
6. Check all of the shut-off valves in the cooling and lubricating systems for
correct position. The valves for the cooling inlets and outlets on each engine
must always be fully open in service. They serve only to cut off individual
cylinders from the cooling water circuit during overhauls
7. When abnormally high or low temperatures are detected at a water outlet, the
temperature must be brought to the prescribed normal value very gradually.
Abrupt temperature changes can cause damage
8. The maximum permissible exhaust gas temperature at the turbocharger inlet
must not be exceeded
9. Check the combustion by observing the colour of the exhaust gases
10. Maintain the correct charge air temperature after the air cooler with the
normal water flow. In general, higher charge air temperatures will result in
less oxygen in the cylinder, which in turn will result in a higher fuel
consumption and higher exhaust gas temperatures
11. Check the charge air pressure drop across the air filters and air coolers.
Excessive resistance will lead to a lack of air to the engines
12. The fuel oil has to be carefully filtered before being used. Open the drain
cocks of all fuel tanks and fuel oil filters regularly for a short period to drain off
any water or sludge which may have collected there. Maintain the correct fuel
oil pressure at the inlet to the fuel injection pumps. Adjust the pressure at the
injection pump supply manifold with the pressure-regulating valve in the fuel
oil return pipe, so that the fuel oil circulates within the system at the normal
delivery capacity of the fuel oil circulating pump
13. The heavy fuel oil has to be sufficiently heated to ensure that its viscosity
before the inlet to the fuel injection pumps lies within the specified limits
 14. Determine the cylinder lubricating oil consumption. Extended service
experience will determine the optimum cylinder lubricating oil consumption
15. The cooling fresh water pumps should be run at their normal operating point,
ie, the actual delivery head corresponds with the designed value. If the
pressure difference between inlet and outlet exceeds the desired value, the
pump overhaul should be considered
16. The vents at the uppermost points of the cooling water spaces must be kept
closed
17. Check the level in all water and oil tanks as well as all the drainage tanks of
the leakage piping. Investigate any abnormal changes
18. Observe the condition of the cooling fresh water. Check for oil contamination
19. Check the charge air receiver drain manifold’s sight glass to see if any water
is draining away and if so, how much
20. Check the scavenge space test cocks to see if any liquid is flowing out with
the charge air
21. Check the pressure drop across the oil filters. Clean them if necessary
22. The temperature of the running gear should be checked where possible by
listening and observing the crankcase externally and monitoring the oil mist
detector readings. Bearings which have been overhauled or replaced must be
given special attention for some time after being put into normal service
23. Listening to the noise of the engine will reveal any irregularities
24. The power being developed by the cylinders should be checked regularly and
adjustments made via the control system to preserve cylinder power balance
25. Centrifuge the lubricating oil. Lube oil samples should be taken at frequent
intervals and sent ashore for analysis
26. Check the exhaust valves are rotating and operating smoothly. If not, the
valve not rotating normally has to be overhauled at the next opportunity

Result:

Study about the preparing, starting and running of marine propulsion engine is carried out.