Service Bulletin RTA-74

08.01.2006
Technical Information to Owners / Operators (Supersedes
Service Letter 12/02)
of Sulzer RTA Engines

Condensate Drain Arrangement

of the Scavenge Air Cooler

Contents: Page

1. Introduction 1

2. Measures to be taken 1

3. Implementation 4

4. Related Service Bulletins 4

Wärtsilä Switzerland Ltd PO Box 414 Tel. +41 52 262 23 30

Wärtsilä Schweiz AG CH-8401 Winterthur Fax +41 52 212 71 03
Wärtsilä Suisse SA Switzerland E-mail: techservice.ch@wartsila.com
1 INTRODUCTION
A number of modifications have been developed and implemented in order to ensure optimum
piston running behaviour and reduce the possibility of Sudden Severe Wear (SSW). This Service
Bulletin addresses the issue of condensate drainage from the scavenge air cooler and water
separator.
Condensate water carry-over from the scavenge air cooler (SAC) to the cylinder is one of the
main contributing factors to unstable piston running conditions.
In order to prevent water carry-over the following measures should be taken:
• Sealing-off the gap between cooler and casing to prevent hot air by-pass
• Ensure adequate condensate drain of the SAC
• Each drain point to have individual piping arrangement leading to the venting pot
• Use of the latest water separator design

2 MEASURES TO BE TAKEN
2.1 Sealing-off hot air by-pass
In case the SAC drain pipes get noticeably hot, scavenge air is passing through a gap between
cooler bottom and casing, also through the holes in the ribs of the cooler bottom plate. This hot
air by-pass prevents free flow of the condensate to the drainpipes. A flexible, profiled sealing
strip has been developed to seal-off the gap underneath as well as on top of the cooler. The holes
in the ribs of the bottom plate also have to be closed.

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2.2 Ensure adequate condensate drain from the SAC
In order to achieve optimum performance of the water separator, condensate formed in the SAC
should be drained directly after the SAC as much as possible. The choice of the following
modifications depends on the execution of the SAC and water separator:
• Baffle plates to prevent condensate carry-over to the water separator.
• Modification of the casing to provide sufficient clearance for the condensate to flow to the
drain pipes.
• Cut-outs in the ribs on the cooler bottom plate to allow free flow of the condensate to the
drain pipes
• Adequate drain pipe flow capacity

Baffle Plates New drain holes

Sufficient Clearance

Cut-out

Drain holes to be closed

Drain pipe size

Example RTA 84C

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2.3 Individual drain pipe arrangement
In order to prevent interconnected drains from interfering with each other, individual drain pipes
should be fitted. Drains should only be joined together after the butterfly valves.
The butterfly valves feature a drilled orifice and should be in closed position during normal
operation. In order to prevent blocking of the orifice, the drains should be flushed daily by
opening the valve. Sight glasses should be installed to monitor the flow of condensate. The drain
pipes from the butterfly valves should be connected to a venting pot.

SAC Drain Water Separator Drain

LSH*

High Level Alarm

Sight Glass
Butterfly Valve with Orifice

Venting Pot

To Chemical Water Tank To Condensate Drain Tank

2.4 Water Separator

The latest water separator design should be used in order to ensure optimal water separation after
the SAC.

2.5 Oily water drain

During auxiliary blower operation, it may be possible for oily water from the piston underside to
flow back through the common drain pipes to the water separator. This causes contamination
and consequently a reduced efficiency of the water separator and auxiliary blower. In order to
prevent this backflow an orifice should be installed in the drain pipes of the water separator. See
Service Bulletin RTA-75 for detailed information.

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3 IMPLEMENTATION
The modifications described in this service bulletin should preferably be implemented as a
package and can be carried out by Wärtsilä service engineers during scheduled port stays.
Please contact your local Wärtsilä Service Network representative for an audit of the engine
condition and an offer for the work to be carried out.

4 RELATED SERVICE BULLETINS

Please also refer to the following related service bulletins published for large bore RTA-type
engines.

RTA-62 dated 21.05.2003 Prevention of Water Carry-Over and Liner Polishing

RTA-75 dated 06.02.2006 Oily Water Drain

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