11.3.

1
Explain
- Causes of Scavenge fires and remedial
actions
SCAVENGE FIRE
 SCAVENGE FIRE CAUSES

Excess / Under
CYLINDER OIL

FUEL OIL: Un-burnt

F. Oil + CARBON from  GAS BLOW-BY
Blow Past of Sparks / Hot
Combustion from Units Combustion Space
FIRE Gases

CRANKCASE OIL:
OXYGEN
 Oil Cooled Piston
Crown Crack
 SCAVENGE AIR
 SCAVENGE FIRE – Causes – Continued
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL: Thru Scavenge Ports / Blow-By
– Cylinder Oil
• Drained Cylinder oil
– (Large 2 Stroke Engines) Faulty Stuffing Box: C/case oil carried
upwards on Piston Rod. Eng Standby

– Fuel:
• Cylinder oil Residues may Contain Fuel oil
• Defective injectors
– Injectors with incorrect pressure setting
• Fuel particles striking the cylinders
• Un-burnt Carbon Residues
• Cracking of Fuel HEAT
 SCAVENGE FIRE – Causes …contd…
T/C: Scavenge Trunk Oily / Eng Room having Oil Mist

Blow back of Exhaust Gases

• Caused by exhaust back pressure or deposits on exhaust
ports,
• Fouling of grid before turbine inlet, fouling of turbine blades,
• Choking of EGB or economizer gas outlet.

OXYGEN: Scavenge air.

HEAT SOURCE:
• Piston Blow-by = Sparks / Hot Combustion Gases
• Slow Ignition and Afterburning
• Excessive Exhaust Back Pressure, causing Blowback through
Scavenge Ports.
• Stuffing Box Running Hot
 SCAVENGE FIRE – Causes …contd…
Blow past of Combustion products: caused by
• Poor Combustion:
• Leaky, sticky or broken piston rings,
• Exh Valve Leaking
• Worn out Liner ,P.Rings, Misalignment of Piston, Ovality of liner
• Less Cylinder Lubrication,
• In complete combustion due to prolonged slow speed operation of
main engine

Cracked Piston / Overheated Piston dissipates heat to the under

piston area
• Caused by faulty atomization and injection pressure, timing,
• Faulty fuel pump timing,
• Fuel viscosity not maintained
• Loss of compression,
• Engine overload,
• Failure of coolant circulation or insufficient cooling due to scale.
 SCAVENGE FIRE – Causes …contd…
• Piston-rod Packing Rings / Scraper Rings - regularly Adjusted –
Crank Case Oil Prevented from entering Scavenge / U.P. Space
• This may & does Occur Irrespective of +ve Pressure difference
between Scavenge trunk & Crankcase Space.
• Fuel injection equipment in good condition, timed Correctly, & MIP
balanced so that individual cylinders are not overloaded.
• Cylinder Liner wear, Piston Rings, & Piston Crown Thickness check is
in order
• Tie Rods / Foundations / Side Bracings / Piston Misalignment Check
SCAVENGE FIRE Indications, if there is a fire..
• Loss in Power
• Irregular running, Revolution drops as the power generation in the
affected cylinder is reduced.
• Surging of T/c
• > Exhaust temperatures of corresponding units
• > Local temp. in Scavenge trunk. (set at 200 deg C)
• Under Piston Space Alarms 60C & 200C
• Scavenge manifold relief valve lifting
• Jacket Water Temperature of affected unit high
• Piston Cooling Temperature high of affected unit
• Acrid smell-Paint
• Sparks & Smoke emitted from Scavenge Drains
• Black Smoky Exhaust: Sooty / Carbon particles
• Oily Scavenge trunk, Fire may spread to cylinders …. CONTD
SCAVENGE FIRE Indications, if there is a fire..
• Visible as areas of > temperature on scavenge trunk surfaces.
• Temperature Sensors in Scavenge spaces / U.P. Spaces
• 60 o C/200 o C alarm
• 200 o C alarm Activation causes Automatic Slow Down
• Pressure relief valves (self closing spring loaded valve) on scavenge
Trunk.
• Drains in scavenge Trunk & Under Piston Spaces
• Heat Sensitive
• Heat Sensitive Paint
SCAVENGE FIRE, What to do, when there is fire.

2 immediate objectives
1. Contain the fire
2. Prevent / Minimize Engine Damage.
• Inform bridge / Engineers alarm
• Reduce speed. Dead Slow Ahead
• All Scavenge/U.P. Drains SHUT - prevent Sparks / Burning oil.
• Cut Off Fuel to Affected cylinders / change-over to diesel (if
required).
• Cylinder lubrication is increased to avoid seizure of Piston/liner.
• Coolant flow thru Jacket and Piston is maintained.
• Keep clear of scavenge space relief valve to prevent human injury.
A Minor Fire in few minutes burns out without damage.
 SCAVENGE FIRE - IF MAJOR FIRE,
• Affected units Run on Reduced power till inspection of Scavenge
Trunk / Overhaul of unit possible & Cause of FIRE investigated
• STOP Shaft Alternator etc
• STOP ENGINE, engage turning gear
• STOP F.W. Evaporator
• Scavenge/U.P. Drains to be shut to prevent sparks into engine room.
• Stop fuel oil booster pump
• Stop Auxiliary Blowers of Main Engine
• Cover t/c air suction filter
• Coolant flow through jacket and piston is maintained, specially
affected unit.
• Normal cooling maintained / turning gear engaged & operated.
• Fire extinguishing Medium applied to Scavenge trunk / U.P Space
• Inject CO2 (diffuser head essential as gas required & not Liquid-
cracks), or Smothering Steam (drain off water - Avoid H2 Fire) from
line & use steam to extinguish fire).
 SCAVENGE FIRE - IF MAJOR FIRE,
• Fire extinguished before spreads to scavenge trunk where it may
cause paint to start burning (if special non inflammable paint has not
been used).
• Boundary cooling of Scavenge trunk May be Necessary.
• Keep clear of scavenge Relief Valves
• DO NOT open up for Inspection till Engine Cooled/Fire Off
 SCAVENGE FIRE - after fire off & cooling down
• Keep portable extinguishers standby near scavenge doors.
• Before Opening Scavenge door Ventilate space if CO2 used
• Open scavenge/ U.P. doors carefully, Clean
• Inspect – Trunk, Cylinder Liner & Water seals, Full Piston, Piston
rings, Gland, Piston Alignment – Turning Gear Ampere, Scavenge Valve.
• Heat causes Distortion, check Piston Rod Binding in Stuffing Box,
Piston in Liner, affected part Diaphragm plate & Frame by L.O. Pump
- check for L. oil leaks into scavenge spaces
• Tightness of Tie bolts checked. (Elongated)
• Inspect Reed valves if fitted, Scavenge Relief Valve Springs.
• Fire Extinguishers be Recharged
• Faults Diagnosed & Rectified.
• Inspect crankcase to check if affected by heat.
• Check Guides and Guide shoes