Deck Water Seal – Inert Gas System on Tankers

Deck Water Seal

In an inert gas system onboard Tanker ships, Deck water seal is the principal
barrier.
A water seal is fitted which permits inert gas to be delivered to the deck main but
prevents any backflow of cargo gas even when the inert gas plant is shut down.
It is vital that a supply of water is maintained to the seal at all times, particularly
when the inert gas plant is shut down. In addition, drains should be led directly
overboard and should not pass through the machinery spaces.

There are different designs but one of three principal types may be adopted:
Wet type

This is the simplest type of water seal. When the inert gas plant is operating, the
gas bubbles through the water from the submerged inert gas inlet pipe, but if the
tank pressure exceeds the pressure in the inert gas inlet line the water is pressed up
into this inlet pipe and thus prevents backflow. The drawback of this type of water
seal is that water droplets may be carried over with the inert gas which, although it
docs not impair the quality of the inert gas, could increase corrosion. A demister
should, therefore, be fitted in tlie gas outlet from the water seal to reduce any
carry-over.
Semi-dry type

Instead of bubbling through the water trap the inert gas flow draws the sealing
water into a separate holding chamber by venturi action thus avoiding or at least
reducing the amount of water droplets being carried over. Otherwise it is
functionally the same as wet type.
Related Article: Intact Stability - Tankers

The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows
through a constricted section of pipe. The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni
Battista Venturi (1746–1822), an Italian physicist.
Dry type

In this type the water is drained when the inert gas plant is in operation (gas
flowing to the tanks) and filled with water when the inert gas plant is either shut
down or the tank pressure exceeds the inert gas blower discharge pressure. Filling
and drainage are performed by automatically operated valves controlled by the
levels in the water seal and drop tanks and by the operating slate of the blowers.
The advantage of this type is that water carry-over is prevented. The drawback
could be the risk of failure of the automatically controlled valves which may render
the water seal ineffective.

*Pictures are extracts from paper copy

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