Fuel Oil System

Summary

This video explains the operation of a typical fuel oil system, which includes bunker tanks, settling tanks, purifiers, service tanks, and booster pumps. The system ensures proper fuel oil transfer, purification, and delivery to engines. Key safety devices such as temperature, pressure, and level transmitters monitor the system's parameters, providing alerts for deviations, which may signal issues like clogged filters or incorrect viscosity settings. These devices trigger alarms, shutdowns, or isolations to prevent breakdowns, ensuring smooth and efficient system operation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fuel oil systems typically consist of bunker tanks, settling tanks, purifiers, service tanks, and transfer pumps.
• 😀 Bunker tanks are located at the bottom, and the oil is transferred to settling tanks for water separation.
• 😀 After the initial water separation, oil moves to purifiers for further purification before entering service tanks.
• 😀 Individual settling and service tanks are used for diesel and heavy oil supplies, with booster pumps for both.
• 😀 Booster pumps are positive displacement pumps, which are duplicated for redundancy in the system.
• 😀 The supply pumps transfer purified oil from service tanks to a mixing column, where flow is regulated.
• 😀 A flow meter is used to measure oil consumption in the system.
• 😀 The purified oil is then supplied to heaters, viscosity regulators, full-flow filters, and the fuel main.
• 😀 Full-flow filters use very fine mesh elements and are supported by a bypass filter to clean them during operation.
• 😀 Unused oil is returned either to the service tank or the mixing column during operation to maintain system efficiency.
• 😀 Deviations in system parameters, such as oil temperature or pressure, signal changes in the system's process, prompting safety alerts and shutdowns.

Q & A

What are the components of a typical fuel oil system?

A typical fuel oil system consists of bunker tanks, settling tanks, purifiers, service tanks, supply and booster pumps, mixing columns, heaters, viscosity regulators, full flow filters, and safety devices such as temperature transmitters, pressure transmitters, and level transmitters.

What is the purpose of bunker tanks in the fuel oil system?

Bunker tanks store the fuel oil, and can include double bottom tanks or wing tanks, into which the oil is bunkered before being transferred to settling tanks for further processing.

How does the fuel oil get processed in the system?

The fuel oil is transferred from the bunker tanks to settling tanks where water is separated from the oil. After primary separation, the oil goes to purifiers for further purification, then it's sent to service tanks for use.

What is the role of the supply pumps in the fuel oil system?

Supply pumps transfer the purified oil from the service tanks to the mixing column, where it is prepared for use in the fuel system.

What are booster pumps used for in the system?

Booster pumps supply the purified oil from the mixing column to the heaters, viscosity regulators, full flow filters, and the fuel main for engine use.

What function do full flow filters serve in the system?

Full flow filters remove impurities from the oil using very fine mesh elements. They ensure that only clean fuel enters the system, maintaining optimal engine performance.

Why is a bypass filter necessary?

A bypass filter is provided to clean the full flow filter during operation, ensuring that the filter continues to function effectively without needing to be taken offline.

How is oil consumption measured in the system?

Oil consumption is measured using a flow meter located on the suction side of the booster pump, which tracks the amount of oil being used.

What indicates a problem with the viscosity regulator in the system?

If the temperature of the oil at the engine inlet is higher than normal, it indicates that there may be an issue with the viscosity regulator settings.

How can low oil pressure at the engine inlet be interpreted?

Low oil pressure at the engine inlet usually indicates that the filter is clogged and needs to be cleaned or replaced to restore proper flow.

What role do safety devices play in the fuel oil system?

Safety devices, such as temperature transmitters, pressure transmitters, and level transmitters, provide early warnings about deviations in the system. These devices can trigger alarms, shutdowns, or isolations to prevent system breakdowns.