- Anti-freezing compounds are added to the emergency generators to ensure it will start even at very low temperatures (-ve temperature).
- When mixing anti-freeze solution to the system, avoid pouring it alone in the radiator. It should always be mixed in the prescribed ratio with water before pouring into the cooling water system of the generator. This is because the potential of the ant-freeze liquid to remove heat is not as good as that of water and putting the anti-freeze compound alone in the cooling system may contribute to overheated condition before the liquids are completely mixed together.
- Coolant is used in the engine cooling water system to control the overheating of the generator. They are added mixing with water. Never add coolant mixture at a low temperature to a hot engine. This may lead to damage to the engine casting.
- When adding the coolant mixture after a major overhaul or draining the cooling system, ensure to open the engine and aftercooler vent while filling the coolant to the system to allow air to escape and avoiding airlock.
- It is not a good practice to test the cooling water used in the emergency generator after a long interval of time. Ensure to test the cooling water quality every week and maintain it at a pH of 8 – 10.5 to avoid excessive scaling problem.
- Unlike auxiliary engine generator, the emergency generator should not be idled for a long period. Long idle timing (more than 10 minutes) will affect the fuel burning as combustion chamber temperature is very low.
- If the engine is idled for a long and the coolant temperature becomes too low (50-60 deg C), the fuel in the combustion chamber will remain unburnt and will wash the lubrication between piston and liner, causing damage to the moving parts.
- The most common problem found in the belts used in the engine to drive the water pump are cracks. Transverse cracks (cracks generated across the belt width) on the surface of the belt are acceptable within the prescribed limit. When the transverse crack is seen intersecting with longitudinal cracks, it is advisable to immediately change the belts
- The most common problem found in the radiator fan is the loosening of the screw, which connects blades to the rotor. Never try to rotate the engine using fan blades to avoid injury or breakage of blades itself. Always stop and isolate the engine before tightening the screw on the blade or doing any other maintenance on the fan.
- It is always advisable to fill the lube oil filter with lube oil (or fuel filter with fuel oil) before fitting the same to the emergency generator to avoid dry start-up.
- If an emergency generator provided with compressed air start system, ensure the compressed air unit does not have any lube oil carryover.
- After a major overhaul, it is important to vent the air trapped in the high-pressure fuel line (of injectors). Each high-pressure fuel line to be vented separately by slightly opening the vent screw provided in the fuel line and by cranking the engine.
- Avoid running with oil mixture atmosphere to prevent overspeeding of the generator or explosion of the internal parts. Such atmosphere is possible while loading hazardous cargo on the ship which can go inside the emergency generator through its air intake. Never mix gasoline or alcohol as it can cause an explosion.
- After a major overhauling of the engine or when the Top Dead Centre (TDC) of the unit has to be marked, a locating pin is provided in most of the emergency generators which will sit in the hole of the gear drive attached to the camshaft, ensuring the first unit is in TDC. Once the TDC is located, ensure to remove the pin, else starting the generator will damage the pin and the locating hole.
- When the ship is plying in a low-temperature region for a longer duration, there is no provision to keep the emergency generator warm when it is not operational. It is advisable to use synthetic lubricating oil with low-temperature properties with low sulphated ash limit.
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Source: marineinsight
