Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System | ODMCS | Oil tanker | Merchant Navy Knowledge

Merchant Navy Knowledge

17 Mar 202306:04

Summary

TLDRThe Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCs) is a crucial maritime technology designed to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. It consists of components in hazardous and non-hazardous areas, including an analyzing unit, sample feed pump, converting unit, and a computer unit in the cargo control room. The system measures oil concentration in discharged water using a light beam and photodiodes, converting the optical data into electrical signals for processing. If oil discharge exceeds regulatory limits, the system triggers alarms and automatically adjusts valves to prevent overboard discharge. It also records and prints data such as oil discharge rate, content in ppm, total quantity discharged, and ship's speed, ensuring transparency and compliance.

Takeaways

📍 The Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCs) is designed to ensure compliance with regulations regarding the discharge of oil from ships.
🔍 ODMCs components are strategically placed in both hazardous and non-hazardous areas for safety and operational efficiency.
🛠️ The analyzing unit, which includes a sample water measuring unit and various connections for sample water and cleaning, is installed in the pump room.
🚀 A sample feed pump is mounted in the engine room bulkhead to facilitate the flow of sample water to the analyzing unit.
🔌 The electrical drive motor for the sample feed pump is also located in the engine room for easy access and maintenance.
🔄 The converting unit, which includes Zener barriers and a container for cleaning liquid, is installed in the engine room for signal conversion and sample cleaning.
💻 The system's computer unit, responsible for processing and controlling the system, is installed in the cargo control room for centralized management.
🚫 The system is initially operated with the overboard valve closed and the slop tank return valve opened to stabilize before operation.
🌐 The ODMCs uses infrared light scattering to measure oil concentration in the water, which is then detected by photodiodes and converted into an electrical signal.
⚠️ The computer unit activates alarms and closes the discharge valve when oil discharge rates exceed regulatory limits, ensuring environmental protection.
🔄 In case of ODMCs failure, the computer automatically closes the overboard valve and opens the return valve to the slop tanks, activating alarms as a safety measure.
📈 The computer uses data from the flow meter, oil concentration (ppm), and ship's speed to calculate the oil discharge rate and total quantity discharged.
🖨️ Regular automatic printing of key data, including oil discharge rate, oil content, total quantity discharged, time, date, and ship speed, ensures documentation for regulatory compliance.

Q & A

What are the two main areas where the components of the Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCS) are located?
-The components of the ODMCS are located in two main areas: hazardous and non-hazardous areas.
Where is the analyzing unit of the ODMCS typically installed?
-The analyzing unit of the ODMCS is typically installed in the pump room.
What is the purpose of the sample feed pump, and where is it mounted in relation to the ship's structure?
-The sample feed pump is responsible for taking a sample of the water being discharged and is mounted in the engine room bulkhead.
What is the role of the converting unit in the ODMCS, and where is it installed?
-The converting unit processes the optical information into electrical signals and is installed in the engine room.
How is the fresh water supply provided to the analyzing unit for automatic flushing of the measuring cell?
-A fresh water supply is provided either from the ship's fresh water service piping system or a small freshwater header tank, supplied by a check valve to the analyzing unit.
What does the converting unit consist of, and what are its main functions?
-The converting unit consists of two sections: one with Zener barriers for intrinsically safe signals and various electrical components, and the other with a container for cleaning liquid and a pump for feeding it to the measuring cell at controlled intervals.
What signals are used by the computer unit to calculate the oil discharge rate in liters per nautical mile?
-The computer unit uses the processed ppm (parts per million) information, discharge flow rate, and the ship's speed to calculate the oil discharge rate in liters per nautical mile.
What actions does the computer take when the oil discharge rate exceeds the permissible value?
-When the oil discharge rate exceeds the permissible value, the computer activates audible and visible alarms, closes the discharge valve, and opens the slop tank return valve.
How does the ODMCS ensure that the overboard valve is closed and the slop tank return valve is opened during initial operation?
-The ODMCS uses an interlock mechanism to ensure that the overboard valve is closed and the slop tank return valve is opened during initial operation, allowing the system to stabilize.
What information is printed out by the computer printer at regular intervals, and how often is this done?
-The computer printer automatically prints out information such as the discharge rate of oil in liters per nautical mile, oil content in ppm, total quantity of oil discharged, time and date, ship speed, effluent flow rate, position of the discharge valve, oil type, alarms or warnings, and any failure at regular intervals, for example, every 10 minutes.
What is the purpose of the light beam infrared light path in the measuring cell of the analyzer unit?
-The light beam infrared light path in the measuring cell is used to detect oil particles in the water sample. Oil particles scatter the light, and the amount of light scattered is proportional to the oil concentration.

Outlines

00:00

🛳️ Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCs) Overview

The Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCs) is designed to monitor and control oil discharge from ships to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The system is divided into hazardous and non-hazardous areas, with components such as the analyzing unit in the pump room, sample feed pump in the engine room bulkhead, and electrical drive motor in the engine room. The converting unit and computer unit are also strategically placed for optimal operation. The analyzing unit measures oil concentration in water samples using a light beam and infrared technology, with the results processed by the computer unit. The system is initialized with the overboard valve closed and the slop tank return valve open, and it stabilizes before taking water samples. The ODMCs calculates oil concentration in parts per million (ppm) and triggers alarms if discharge rates exceed regulatory limits, automatically closing the discharge valve and opening the slop tank return valve. In case of system failure, similar actions are taken to prevent unauthorized discharge.

05:01

📊 ODMCs Data Recording and Reporting

The ODMCs is equipped with a computer that records and prints out essential data at regular intervals, such as every 10 minutes. This data includes the discharge rate of oil in liters per nautical mile, oil content in ppm, total quantity of oil discharged, time and date, ship speed, effluent flow rate, position of the discharge valve, oil type, and any alarms or warnings. It also logs override actions, manual overrides, flushing, and calibration activities. The system uses pressure differential signals from a flow meter to calculate the overboard flow rate, which, along with the ppm data and ship's speed, helps determine the oil discharge rate and total quantity discharged overboard.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Oil Discharge Monitoring and Control System (ODMCS)

The ODMCS is a critical system designed to monitor and control the discharge of oil from ships into the sea. It ensures compliance with environmental regulations by measuring and controlling the oil content in the discharged water. In the script, the ODMCS is described as having components in both hazardous and non-hazardous areas, highlighting its importance in ship operations for environmental protection.

💡Analyzing Unit

The analyzing unit is a key component of the ODMCS, responsible for measuring the oil content in the water sample. It contains various elements such as a sample water measuring unit and photodiodes to detect oil concentration. The script mentions its location in the pump room and its integral role in the system's operation, emphasizing its function in assessing oil levels through the scattering of light by oil particles.

💡Sample Feed Pump

The sample feed pump is mounted in the engine room bulkhead and is responsible for taking a sample of the water being discharged. It plays a crucial role in the ODMCS by ensuring that the analyzing unit receives the sample water for measurement. The script describes its placement and function, illustrating its importance in the sampling process.

💡Electrical Drive Motor

The electrical drive motor is located in the engine room and powers the sample feed pump. It is essential for the operation of the ODMCS as it provides the necessary force to move the sample water to the analyzing unit. The script mentions its location, indicating its role in the mechanical aspect of the system.

💡Converting Unit

The converting unit is another vital part of the ODMCS, which processes the optical information from the measuring cell into an electrical signal. It consists of Zener barriers, power transformers, and a container for cleaning liquid. The script explains its dual function of signal conversion and facilitating the cleaning process, underlining its importance in both data processing and maintenance.

💡Computer Unit

The computer unit is the central processing component of the ODMCS, installed in the cargo control room. It receives electrical signals from the converting unit, processes them, and controls the operation of the system based on the oil concentration levels. The script describes its connections to various sensors and its role in activating alarms and controlling valves, emphasizing its central role in the system's regulatory function.

💡Pneumatic Solenoid Valve

Pneumatic solenoid valves are used in the ODMCS to control the flow of sample water and cleaning liquid through the measuring cell. They are activated by signals from the computer unit based on the system's operational needs. The script mentions their function in the valve control system, illustrating their role in the precise control of fluid flow.

💡Intrinsically Safe Power Supply

The intrinsically safe power supply is a specialized power source designed to prevent electrical sparks that could ignite flammable gases or dust in hazardous areas. In the script, it is mentioned as part of the analyzing unit, indicating its importance in ensuring the safety of the ODMCS components in potentially explosive environments.

💡Overboard Valve

The overboard valve is a critical component that controls the discharge of water from the ship into the sea. It is operated by the ODMCS based on the oil concentration levels to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. The script describes the interlock mechanism that initially closes the overboard valve, highlighting its role in preventing unauthorized discharge.

💡Slop Tank Return Valve

The slop tank return valve is used to redirect the oily water back to the slop tanks when the oil concentration exceeds permissible levels. It is controlled by the ODMCS to prevent the discharge of oil-contaminated water. The script explains its function in the interlock mechanism and its importance in environmental protection.

💡Alarm System

The alarm system in the ODMCS is activated when the oil discharge rate or oil content exceeds regulatory limits. It includes both audible and visual alarms to alert the crew of the ship. The script describes the activation of the alarm system by the computer unit, emphasizing its role in alerting personnel to potential environmental violations.

Highlights

The ODMCs system is designed for oil discharge monitoring and control, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

System components are strategically located in both hazardous and non-hazardous areas for safety and efficiency.

An analyzing unit in the pump room is responsible for the initial detection of oil particles in water.

A sample feed pump in the engine room bulkhead facilitates the transfer of water samples for analysis.

The electrical drive motor is situated in the engine room for easy access and maintenance.

The converting unit in the engine room processes signals from the analyzing unit.

The system's computer unit is centralized in the cargo control room for monitoring and control.

The analyzing unit includes a sample water measuring unit and various connections for sample intake and cleaning.

A fresh water supply system is in place for automatic flushing of the measuring cell.

The converting unit features Zener barriers for safe signal transmission and a flow meter for monitoring.

A cleaning liquid system is integrated for regular maintenance of the measuring cell.

Pneumatic signals are routed through approved bulkhead penetrations for safety.

The computer unit receives input from the ship's speed log and controls the valve system based on oil concentration.

Infrared light scattering is used to measure oil concentration in the water samples.

Photodiodes detect oil concentration by measuring the amount of scattered light.

The computer processes optical information into electrical signals for further analysis.

An alarm system is activated if oil discharge exceeds regulatory limits, ensuring immediate response.

In the event of system failure, the computer automatically redirects oil to slop tanks and alerts the crew.

The computer uses pressure differential signals to represent the overboard flow rate.

Data such as discharge flow rate, ship's speed, and oil content are used to calculate the oil discharge rate.

Regular automatic printing of relevant data ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.

Manual override, flushing, and calibration options are available for system maintenance.