Exam Marine engineering knowledge general class 1 SWK310B

10 questions to be attempted.
All answers in blue or black ink. Sketches may be in pencil
Marks may be deducted for poor quality sketching.

1.The following are part of a normal fuel analysis as carried out by any reputable oil
company when supplying an analysis for a main diesel engine.
Discuss each test and give a brief description of its purpose.
a) Viscosity.
b) Closed flash point.
c) Cloud point.
d) Total acid number TAN.
e) Total base number TBN.

2. a) Sketch a line diagram of a system producing fresh water from sea water.
b) Describe how the system in Q2(a) operates.
c) State the method to make the water potable and pleasant tasting.
d) Is the water safe to drink? If not how is the water is made safe to drink.

3. Sketch and describe the operation of a Ward Leonard electric steering gear.

4. With reference to a variable pitch propeller:

a) Explain how the hydraulic signal is transmitted from the pump system to the
hydraulic piston.
b) How are the propeller blades adjusted?
c) Explain the purpose of the combinator control.
d) What fail safe practice can be found in some variable pitch propellers?

5. State three methods used to control the emission of nitrous oxides in a vessels
main exhaust system giving a brief description of each.

6. a) Sketch a section through the rotor of a screw type, refrigerating compressor.

b) Describe the operation of a screw type compressor.
c) How is the compressor capacity controlled.

7. Describe an emergency generator plant making reference to the following:

1. Starting arrangement.
2. Lubrication and cooling systems.
3. Fuel system.
4. Main board connection/isolation.
5. Position on ship.
8. a) What is meant by the term keyless propeller?
b) what improvement has been made to the tail-shaft with the introduction of
keyless propellers?
c) How is slippage between shaft and propeller prevented in a keyless propeller?

9. a) Describe a main engine test procedure to be carried out within 12 hours

before departure.
b) Describe a steering gear test procedure which must be carried out before
departure.
c) Describe an emergency steering drill, state the time frame it should be
carried out within.

10. Describe a dry-docking procedure, including pre-dock preparation, vessel

underwater section inspection and undocking.

11. Explain the purpose of the following, with reference to a tank boiler, and give a
brief description of each:
a) An accumulation test.
b) A hydraulic test.
 Memorandum Marine engineering general class 1 Date.

1.a) Property of a fluid which is related to its ability to flow. Shear resistance.
b) Lowest temperature at which sufficient inflammable vapour is given off to
produce a flash when a small flame is brought to the surface of the oil.
Open/closed.
c) Cloud point in an oil indicates the temperature at which waxes begin to form
Clogging due to wax crystals.
d) Measurement of the amount of acid in a lube oil. Titration.
e) Alkali

2. a) Line diagram of F.W. generator.

b) Description of low temperature boiling. Boyle/Charles.
Main engine cooling system heat source.
Venturi effect.
c) Neutraliser add alkali.
d) No low temperature boiling. Chlorine type treatment. Ultra-Violet.

3. Sketch of basic Ward Leonard system.

Two rheostats, Wheatstone bridge, Equal voltage no current flows.
Move bridge rheostat system unbalance current flows until system balanced.
Motor driven generator. Current excites generator, rudder motor supplied,
Turns until system in equilibrium no current, no excitation, no generator effect
and no rudder motor power.

4. a) Via H.P. piping to a sleeve that surrounds shaft but does not turn. Annular
grooving lined up with radial holes in the shaft. Holes connected to bore in
shaft.
b) Blades attached to crosshead/yoke which is moved by a hydraulic piston via
a pin on inside face of blade carrier which fits into a hole or slot in the yoke,
creating angular movement when the hydraulic piston moves the yoke fore or
aft .
c) Controls engine load and propeller pitch giving optimum loading /R.P.M.
d) Spring holding blades in a loaded condition, engine can be started safely
Without overloading.

6. Catalitic conversion with cell and urea mixture, producing nitrogen.

Water and fuel injector i.e. both in one body.
Separate water and fuel injectors.
Homogenised mixture supplied to injector.

7. Auto-start at power failure on main board e.g. no volt coil/solenoid air

start. Own air bottle with compressor.
Engine driven with priming arrangement from main board supplied el.
Pumps. Large fan/radiator to cool the jacket water.
 Totally separate system with own tanks and heating, gravity fed.
Breaker connection at main boards, main board trips at blackout.
Must be mounted at least, on uppermost continuous deck or above.

8. Keyless propeller means a propeller mounted on the tail shaft without either
a keyway in the shaft or propeller boss. I.e. no key for location and turn
prevention.
Dispensing with key/keyways takes away the weakest part of propshaft,
Key and keyways being the source of much cracking due to stresses and
shape.
Hydraulic expansion using hydraulic pressure between shaft and propeller
Removal of pressure ensures shrink fit/friction contact.

9. Telegraph test, blow through main engine, start on fuel ahead and astern
from the control room then the bridge. Whistle. Communication.

Steering, communication test, One motor/pump unit at a time swung to port

and back to zero, then to starboard and back to zero. Then full port to
starboard. Repeated with both units running. Times checked.

Disengage hydraulic system and bypass. Connect manual control to

Servomotor receiver and operate manually via valve wheel and gear wheels
Which move the receiver and pump control rod. Swing as in main system
Test. Advisable to reduce revs.

10. DRY DOCK Preparation:

Support blocks for hull. Original plan supplied by builders yard. Areas
covered by blocks during first drydock means these areas not cleaned/painted
because they are inaccessible, second docking support blocks must be arranged so
that these spaces are clear for cleaning and painting. Ballasting arranged
accordingly.
Support blocks support the weight of vessel in drydock.
Before on blocks and still has enough depth for cooling water the following should
be carried out:
Ships power shut down when shore power is available and correct connection
sequence ascertained (avoid reverse supply), carried out step by step, main
switchboard isolated and generators stopped and shore breaker on main board
closed. Check voltage/speed of motors.
When on blocks and dock is dry the following should be inspected/carried out:

1. Shore-side water supply to fire main connected.

2. Condition of hull, condition of paint. Bilge keels if fitted.
3. All grids on suctions, these are removed for cleaning of the water boxes.
4. Depth and speed transponders.
5. Bow and stern thrust tunnels, anodes, cleanliness, propellers, oil seals.
 6. Condition of rudder, rope guards, remove rudder bottom plug to check for
water ingress (would indicate leaks),check rudder pintles, pintle bearings,
check condition of stern seals, remove oil if any repairs/renewals necessary
(use integral system), check wear down of stern tube.
7. Remove propeller and polish, pull tail shaft-taper to be crack detected.
8. Remove old anodes and replace with new. Coat anodes with soap until in
water (will wash off). Check any impressed cathodic protection devices.
9. All shipside valves to strip for inspection and overhaul if necessary.
10. Meetings with shore-side authority to agree joint procedures-fire fighting-
safety rules-security of ship.
11. Boiler could be kept warmed through on a daily basis.
12. Remove tank bottom plugs and store in safe place.

Vessels engines still on diesel.

When undocking and before flooding all dry-dock work to be inspected for
completion and ensure all parts are in place and properly secured.
Original ballast condition restored.
All tanks closed and secure. Replace any removed bottom plugs.
All shore connections air supply/water supply hoses etc.
Close inspection of all shipside fittings while dock floods, all valves checked for
proper function when water level is appropriate.
Trip shore, power supply off main switchboard.
Start generator, put on board and immediately start necessary cooling pumps
etc.
Disconnect shore power supply.
Return engine room plant to normal operating conditions.

11.Accumulation test of safety valves.

This test is carried out on new boilers, with full fire and the safety valves lifted,
i.e. blowing down, and the steam stop valves shut the accumulation of pressure
should not exceed more than 10% of working pressure over a 15 minute period.
(in other words the steam pressure on the gauge should not rise above maximum
working pressure plus 10%).

Hydraulic testing of a boiler.

When a boiler has repairs carried out, on completion of repairs, the boiler
should be subjected to a hydraulic test.
The boiler should be thoroughly cleaned first and the repair(s) closely examined.
Welded repairs should be struck repeatedly with a hammer because sudden
shocking increases internal stresses and this tends to reveal any cracks which may
exist in the weld.
Safety valves require to be gagged, all boiler mountings closed with the exception of
the feed check and the air vent. With the boiler filled and all the air purged, a
hydraulic pump unit is connected to the boiler, preferably directly, and pressure
gradually increased, the air vent and feed valve are also closed. The pressure is
taken normally to 1.5 times the boiler working pressure and while the pressure is
held a thorough inspection of the boiler is carried out and the repairs closely
inspected.