Main Engine Control System for Internal Combustion Marine Diesel Engines

Main engine control system is used for automatic remote control and protection of main ship's diesels. It permits to change direction and speed rotation of propeller directly from the bridge by navigators. The system consists of the equipment installed on the bridge, engine control room (ECR) locally mounted near the engine.

The set of Engine Remote Control equipment in ECR essentially consists of a panel fitted up with the various signalling, alarm and control facilities, in addition to the electronic modules (both logic and analog).

Electronic Control Modules Rack comprises:
a) Engine starting and reversal logic module, with LED display (direction of rotation indicator) of logic status and starting set-point adjust potentiometer status;
b) Digital/analog engine RPM converter with cut-in thresholds and LED display of the status of the thresholds and thresholds adjusting potentiometers.
c) Engine control programmer with LED display of stand-by, RPM reduction, emergency, etc. and acceleration gradient adjusting potentiometer.
d) RPM controller with potentiometers for variables and operating limits adjustment.
e) Torque lirniter, with limit indicator.

Locally Mounted Equipment comprises electro-hydraulic type actuator, for remote control of the fuel linkages; the said actuator is continuously linked mechanically to the lever and is therefore driven by the manual handwheel when it is deenergized.

The equipment also comprises induction type pick-ups to monitor the number of RPM's and rotating direction, as well as a five-position servo-motor, complete with four devices to position the engine local control lever for reversing gears and starting air distributors for engine stop, running ahead, starting ahead, running astern, starting astern. Equipment on Bridge comprises:

1. Engine telegraph.
2. Automatic control panel. It has the following items mounted on panel front:
a) Manual power limiter.
b) Engine speed fine adjustment potentiometer.
c) Illuminated push-button for bridge control demand.
d) "Control transfer inhibited" signal display.
e) "Control on the bridge/ECR" signal display.
f) Direction of engine rotation indicator (LED).
g) Engine RPM indicator.
h) Fuel oil lever actuator position indicator.
3. Shield push-button for emergency stop and emergency manoeuvring.

Digital Computer Integrated Automation Systems

Digital Computer Applications. There are such applications of minicomputers as: Supervision of plant operating data with alarm recording, data logging and process monitoring of the process.

Automation and control systems can be conveniently integrated with minicomputer digital processors. 

Unmanned Machinery Spaces (UMS) Ships — Control and Alarm Requirements

The number of UMS ships has increased rapidly over the past few years. Control systems are much more reliable now than they were when first applied to ships. Educating the crew to understand control functions is now undertaken by most shipowners. More ships will, in future, be fitted with remote-control systems as a means of reducing crews.

Nowadays, however, far more UMS ships are in operation. Crews have grown familiar with the systems and training is more prolific. In the immediate future more owners will adopt UMS, not only as a means of cutting crew to a minimum and thus cut operational costs, but also for reasons of safety.

Automatic Control System (Power Management System) of Electrical Power Plants

Automatic Control System for Ships Electrical Power Plants. The automatic control system is designed for controlling turbo- and diesel-driven electric generating plant, predominently onboard ships.

The purpose of the automatic control equipment is to ensure that the power demand of a ship is generated in an economical manner and also to ensure that any faults occurring will not cause damage to the machinery.

During fully automatic operation the equipment carries out starting, synchronizing and load sharing on one or several diesel alternators as the power demand increases, as well as disconnecting and stopping the diesel alternator in the event of excessive power being available.

Control Systems. General Requirements

Automated machinery provided with automatic or remote control system, as well as, to the necessary extent, with monitoring systems, is in addition to be provided with means of local control.

In each case of failure in automatic or remote control systems, the possibility of local control is to be maintained.

Where machinery or installation is remotely controlled, it should be possible for the operator to check, with sufficient reliance, from his control station whether his command has been carried out by remote control system.