ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE MISC QUESTIONS

MISC QUESTIONS

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Explain advantages and disadvantages of steam, electric and hydraulic drives for
winches.
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Steam
 It was widely used on tankers since it presented no fire or explosion risk.
 The disadvantages are many, because of which, steam is seldom used on
ships as drive for winches.
1. Steam engines are large and heavy, slow to operate and not very
efficient.
2. Arrangements must also be made to counteract the fluctuations in main
steam line pressure as a result of other users of steam.
3. The lengths of deck pipe work would increase maintenance tasks.

Hydraulic:
 It can provide step-less control, i.e. smooth changes in motor speed.
 Easy to operate, maintenance is simple and they are also reliable systems.
 Where considerable amounts of hydraulic machinery are fitted, the live-
circuit can be used, where it is supplied by a centralised hydraulic power
system, sufficient to operate all deck machinery. It is also found to be most
economical.
 However, the disadvantage is that it is comparatively larger and overheats
after prolonged use. Also, there is always risk of hydraulic oil leakage on
deck.

Electric:
 If using Ward-Leonard control system, the system is highly efficient but high
cost and its maintenance is a considerable disadvantage.
 Machines operating on AC supply require a means of speed control. This is
done either by slip-ring motors or pole changing motors. Slip ring motors
require less starting currents but waste power at less than full speed and

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require regular maintenance. Pole changing motors provide for three

different speeds and require larger starting currents, although maintenance
is negligible.
 All electric drives have difficulty with heavy continuous overloads. Hence, an
overload slip clutch has to be provided for safety.
 Because of these disadvantages, electric drives are only used on small ships.

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Describe the propeller mounting method with a neat sketch.
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Methods of Shaft Mounting

A propeller is mounted on the taper located at the tail shaft in two ways:
(A) With-key arrangement
(B) Keyless arrangement.

(A) With Key Arrangement

 In a with-key arrangement, a key is inserted through the propeller and the
taper on the tail shaft. A large nut is used to fasten and lock this key in the
place, at the end of the tail shaft. Once done, a cone is mounted over the
end of the tail shaft to provide a smooth flow of water from the propeller.
This method causes high stresses on the taper which can lead to shaft
failure. Hence, the keyless method is commonly used.

(B) Keyless Arrangement

1. Wet Method: (Using Hydraulic Fluids between the propeller boss and shaft
taper)
 In this arrangement, the propeller bore has a series of axial and
circumferential grooves machined into it. The propeller is mounted on the
tapered section of the tail shaft and high - pressurized oil is pumped through
these groves in between the tapered section of tail-shaft and the propeller.
The oil is injected mainly to reduce the friction and for the absorption of
heat.

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 First, high pressure is built between the two parts and the propeller is
pushed up the shaft taper by a hydraulic jack ring or hydraulic nut placed
between the shaft nut and aft face of the propeller boss. The propeller is
then pushed up the taper. When the propeller is properly aligned on the
shaft, the oil pressure is released and the oil runs back. The release of oil
pressure leaves the shaft and propeller fastened together. To remove the
propeller, oil is injected between the shaft taper and the propeller boss to
float the propeller. It does not require heating or withdrawal equipment.

2. Dry Method: Pilgrim Nut Operation

 Pilgrim nut is basically a hydraulic jack with threads used for mounting and
withdrawal of the propeller. It is screwed into the slot provided on the tail
shaft. It consists of an internal nitrile rubber tube. This tube is inflated
hydraulically thereby forcing out a steel loading ring against the propeller hub.
The steel ring moves outwards from the flush position.

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 In this dry push up

method, the friction
increases between the
propeller boss and the
shaft. Friction increases
the temperature. The
temperature of the hub
and shaft are traced
such that it does not
exceed limits. The same
process can be revered,
by using an additional
withdrawal plate
attached to the
propeller boss by studs,
in order to take the
propeller off the shaft.
When the tyre is pressurized the propeller will come off the tapered region.

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Sketch and describe any two of the indicator cards taken for a M.E
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Four types are indicator diagram can be obtained.

1. Power card: It is the

measurement of the variation of
pressures in a cycle. It is taken
with the drum rotation in phase
with the piston movement. It is
used to calculate the power
produced or the mean indicated
pressure for the cylinder.

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Compression diagram: It is
taken in a similar manner to
the power card but with the
fuel shut off from the cylinder.
The height of this curve shows
the maximum compression
pressure. Low compression
would indicate wear of
cylinder liner, faulty piston
rings, insufficient scavenge air
pressure or leaky exhaust valve.

Draw Card: It is also called out

of phase diagram. It is taken in
a similar manner to the power
card with fuel pump engaged
but with the indicator drum
turned 900 i.e. perpendicular
to piston stroke. It shows more
clearly the pressure changes
during fuel consumption. Fuel
timing or injector faults may be
detected from its shape.

Light or weak spring diagram:

It is again similar to the power
card & in phase with the
engine, but with a light
compression spring fitted to
the indicator, showing
pressure changes during
exhaust and scavenge to an
enlarged scale. It is used to
detect faults in these
operations.

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Describe the safety and protection system of main engines. Also list the
indicators and alarms provided with Bridge Control of Main engine.
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All engines are fitted with surveillance systems that monitors important engine
parameters and provides visual and audible alarms for watchkeeper to arrest such
a situation going beyond control. If the situation is not arrested by the
watchkeeper, the engine will shut down by the protection system in safeguarding
the life of the main engine.
Four types of protections are:
1. Alarm: In case of deviation of engine parameters from the set value, an
audio-visual alarm will sound which will give an early warning of the
problem.
2. Slow Down: It is the next stage of protection when actions taken are not
sufficient to control the ongoing problem. Hence engine is slowed down to
counter the disturbed parameter.
3. Shut Down: When there is higher fluctuation in the engine parameter which
can harm other systems of the engine, the shut down protective device cuts
off the fuel supply and the engine stops.
4. Starting Interlock: This will not allow the engine to start from the stand-still
position if some important system within the engine has not been operated
or arranged properly.

Slow Down situations:

1. Lube oil pressure falls below set value.
2. Cam shaft pressure falls below set value.
3. There is no flow of piston cooling media (water or oil)
4. Oil Mist detector or M/E bearing sensors have been activated.
5. Lube oil temperature at the inlet of M/E is high.
6. Piston cooling temperature is high
7. Jacket water temperature is high
8. Engine cylinder exhaust temperature is high
9. Scavenge air temperature is high
10. Thrust Block temperature is high
11. Low Flow of cylinder lube oil
12. Control air pressure is low

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Different Shut down situations

1. Lube oil inlet pressure to engine is very low
2. Cam shaft Lube oil pressure is very low
3. Jacket water temperature very high
4. Jacket water pressure very low
5. No flow of cylinder lube oil
6. Thrust block temperature very high
7. Lube oil inlet pressure for turbocharger is low
8. Over speed of the engine (shut down at 107% of MCR)

Different interlocks:
1. Turning gear engage interlock
2. Auxiliary blower off interlock
3. Lube oil and other important pump not running interlock

LIST OF INDICATORS AND ALARMS PROVIDED ON BRIDGE:

 Maine Engine Load
 Main Engine RPM
 Indicator showing which Control is in use (Bridge or ECR)
 Automatic Emergency shut-down alarm
 Telegraph Indicator
 Critical Speed Range Alarm
 Miss ignition alarm
 Repeated Start indication
 Limited Speed indication
 If UMS is activated and the UMS engineer on duty.
 E/R Dead Man alarm
 Telegraph Alarm

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Describe working of an air whistle with a simple sketch.
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 An air-operated whistle is shown in the Figure below. The compressed air

acting on the diaphragm causes it to vibrate and the sound waves are
amplified in the horn.
 The control system associated with the whistle can provide whistle
operation as long as any of the operating switches is in the 'on' position.
 Alternatively short blasts can be given by on-off operation, since
instantaneous cut-off occurs after each blast.
 A more sophisticated control system incorporates timing gear which
provides a prolonged blast every two minutes, or other arrangements as
required.
 The whistle switches are usually on the bridge wings and inside the bridge.
The auto-fog signal is provided only inside the Bridge, where the operator
can set it for one prolonged blast or two, as per the situation.
 The whistle is also arranged for direct (emergency) operation from a lanyard
which when pulled will operate the valve open and sound the whistle.
 The compressed air supply can vary in pressure over a considerable range
without affecting the whistle operation.

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What could be the causes of discoloured exhaust from a main engine?
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The ideal color of the smoke should be transparent to slight grey.

Black Smoke:
 Black Smoke from the funnel is a sign of poor maintenance and malfunction
of the machinery. The dark color of the smoke is caused by suspended fine
carbon particles due to incomplete combustion taking place. Poor
combustion is basically due to two main reasons viz. insufficient air supply
and incorrect fuel injection.
 Air related problem could be due to the following:
1. The turbocharger air filter is choked.
2. The turbocharger turbine blades are dirty, fouled and damaged
3. Turbocharger is running at low speed.
4. The scavenge ports of the engine may be dirty and choked.
5. The scavenge valves may be faulty or damaged.
 Fuel related problem could be due to the following:
1. Low temperature of the fuel causing poor atomization and penetration.
2. The fuel injectors may be faulty
3. The timing of the fuel pumps may be wrong.
4. Wrong grade of fuel or low fuel quality.

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Black Smoke can also be due to scavenge fire or economizer fire or boiler
problems.

White Smoke:
 It can be due to presence of water vapor in the fuel.
 It can be also due to Coolant and/or water being vaporized in the
combustion chamber.
 It can be due to partial combustion that occurs due to combustion
temperature being low. The partially burned fuel exits the exhaust is in the
form of a white vapory smoke.

Blue Smoke:
 Blue colored smoke indicates the presence of lubricating oil in the smoke.

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What is a turning gear? Why is it used?
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 The turning gear or turning engine is a reversible electric motor which drives
a worm gear which can be connected with the toothed flywheel to turn a
large diesel.
 A slow-speed drive is thus provided to enable positioning of the engine
parts for overhaul purposes.
 The turning gear is also used to turn the engine one or two revolutions prior
to starting. This is a safety check to ensure that the engine is free to turn
and that no water has collected in the cylinders. The indicator cocks must
always be open when the turning gear is operated.

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