Hi all, As a new member let me introduce myself first: For about 3 months now I am a system engineer for a ship yard in Holland and with that also just 3 months in the marine world. I design the systems for our megayachts i.e. fuel oil system/ fresh water system/ cooling water system and others. As a newby I am already happy to be able to make a difference between a bulwark and a bulkhead. So far for my (lack of) knowledge regarding terminology. (one of) My issue(s) here is the exhaust system. In previous systems I have seen waterlocks, water/gas separators and mufflers/silencers being used. Usually in the range of generator > waterlock > exhaust separator and main engine > water injector > waterlock. Since I do possess the intelligence to type those words in the wonderworld of Google, I found some info. Like a muffler/silencer reducing the auditive emission of the exhaust gas probably due to the construction which makes collision of soundwaves possible. Somehow when I search on waterlocks and separators they tell me that both devices cool the gas as well as damp the sound effect. My question is logically why someone would use a waterlock and separator in 1 line and how to distinguish the three products? If someone can answer this, I would be grateful! Thanks in advance! Dennis
A typical system on a generator will have a lift muffler and then a water separator muffler. The exhaust gases exit above waterline while the water exits below. For the mains, most European builders like to use a dry muffler and then cool the gases. American builders for the most part like to cool the gases and then use a good wet muffler on the bypass. I have seen as many different systems as there are boats floating around. Most do what they need to as long as there is some good engineering behind it. Unfortunately, a few builders see at as just "stainless plumbing" and then they find out they have issues during sea trials. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Just on a Meridian; the OhNo gen-set exhaust went straight into a tall round muffler and two exits; one below the waterline and the other just above the waterline. This eliminated two units. The Vetus web site list waterlocks, mufflers, and gas separators. All single unit (some with movable parts) designs. Marketing & factory sales (for new builds) I'm sure plays into it. Engine mfg may have a say into a new build spec also. Back pressure, HP exhaust volume, cost, installation room and just how quiet the owner wants it to be may be of more driving forces,
If you have been at this work for 3 months is there not someone where you work who can advise you as to what is the best and why? I would personally be very dubious about anything designed for a megayacht in the way of the systems you mention by someone with 3 months in the marine world asking for advice on the internet. There are many rules for the design of most systems on a megayacht and these change as the size of the vessel increases, start reading LY3 and SOLAS where applicable, your IACS Surveyors should be able to tell you if what you have desigedn is any good at the plan approval stage.
K1W1, I have a person on the ship yard who is one of the actual builders who I ask a lot and some project managers who I ask stuff too. Asking both of them, I got two separate answers. Off course I wouldn't just go on the web and ask around without doing so with my direct collegues. But things were a bit unclear to me, so what's the problem with throwing the question in a group of experienced people in the marine world? Also all of the work is subcontracted, meaning another company is actually designing the systems. But thanks for the info anyway.
There is no problem with it as such as long as you have enough of an understanding to sort fact from fiction - even well intentioned fiction ( I not saying that anything posted here so far is fiction) Maybe it is the way you described your position that got my attention, I have done a number of builds over 50m and sailed on them all as Chief Engineer. I am yet to see a yard where junior designers ask Project Managers for advice on what to use in a system. The system should be specified to do whatever it is required to do, drawings showing the system should be produced, not so detailed at first while general dimensions are checked and comments made, then ones it can be made from come next. The sub contractor is then engaged to build and sometimes fit/ install it. There will also often be a FAT ( Factory Acceptance Test) where the equipment is demonstrated to work correctly at the manufacturers facility and an acceptance can be offered with any points noted on a punch list to be corrected prior to final acceptance if only minor and not affecting function as such.
Ah yes, I understand, that is true. Probably, yes. I guess I tend to leave parts out some of which could be vital to the story. But that is food for another sort of forum I think, haha. In our case the subcontractor is also an engineering company. So they design and route the systems, they don't physically build or install it. Again, thanks for the information. Slowly the technical heart of the boat and the boat itself becomes less of a mystery and more of daily routine to me. As a just graduated mechanical engineer it's always fascinating to see that happen. To the other reply-ers: thank you also. I will reply a.s.a.p.!
There are other companies who do more than just design and route the system. They can fabricate the exhaust to class requirements and also recommend the sizing and do preliminary backpressure calculations.