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ME236
Main Engine Startup Failure
Technical committee

Ship type Bulker

Date of build February 1989 Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
Navigation route Tramper (Japan ~ North America)
Trouble machinery
Category Automated ･ Instrumentation
Name Governor booster
Type Main engine: Mitsubishi Sulzer 6RTA62
Speed governor: Woodward PGA-200
Date of trouble August 8, 1992 during S/B operation for port departure

1. Outline of breakdown

During S/B operation for port departure on August 8, 1992, a main engine start up failure occurred.
Operation was made possible after restarting. Considering the start up failure, although the engine
would increase to fuel ignition revolving speed via air introduction, as the load indicator would only
increase to 1 ~ 2 (normally pointing at 4,) it was determined that shifting to fuel operation was not
possible. However, after an ignition failure signal automatically initiated air introduction for the sec-
ond time, the load indicator started rising in stages.
Although each part was inspected, there was no sticking or leakage of control air. Furthermore, al-
though overhaul inspection of each control valve and adjustment of the governor booster was carried
out, the cause could not be determined. The same start up failure would occur occasionally for the
same reasons (the frequency showed an increasing tendency).

2. Causes

The direct cause of the problem was hardening of the bright ring (7.23) and O-ring (6.24) of the gov-
ernor booster (refer to the governor booster expansion plan.) This caused the pressure oil produced by
the concerned booster to become deficient. However, the reason why start up was not rendered com-
pletely disabled, such that the second restarting was made possible, is related to the structure of the
speed governor.
As indicated in the diagram (speed governor oil pressure system diagram,) the pressure oil from the
governor booster was connected from the No. 2 outlet port to (A) of the speed setting servo mecha-
nism (*1). While the engine is stopped, the control land on the left side of the concerned mechanism is
lowered. If it is stopped at the position where the intermittent oil supply port and bushing hole coin-
cide, the power cylinder oil pressure-side and governor pump oil pressure-side will be open. (while the
speed governor is revolving, the concerned bushing is also revolving, and the speed governor oil pres-
sure intermittently opens to the power cylinder oil pressure.) If the engine is started up in this condi-
tion, the governor booster will instantly operate due to the control air signal, and pressure oil will be
supplied to (A). However, when the introduction of start up air causes late engine revolution, the pres-
sure oil will escape into the accumulator, and the action of the governor output shaft will not extend to
the point required for fuel operation. In other words, if the capacity of the governor booster is normal,
as the amount of pressure oil will be sufficient, start up in this condition will allow for shifting to fuel
operation. However, if its capacity drops, it will not be able to shift into fuel operation. When start up
is executed in a condition where the intermittent oil supply port and bushing hole do not coincide, if
pressure oil for speed setting piston action is sufficient, the engine will start up even if there is de-

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creased governor booster capacity. This is surmised to be the reason for occasional start up failure.
Again, the reason why start up was possible was because the engine was not completely shut down at
time of restarting air introduction, and also because there was residual pressure within the power cyl-
inder oil pressure.

3. Repair

Although this is a breakdown which can be prevented through regular maintenance of the governor
booster, if start up failure occurs due to inability to shift to fuel operation, it is necessary to pay atten-
tion to the operation of the load indicator. In vessels outfitted with a governor of the same type, if
there is no abnormality with the governor itself and the same kind of trouble occurs, an inspection of
the governor booster will be necessary.

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