Base Number Measurement on Marine Vessels
Today, marine engine suppliers recommend daily monitoring of the Base Number (BN) to optimize cylinder lubrication feed rate and determine the residual BN of the piston underside oil. Changes in vessel operation are driving innovation in engine monitoring .The shift to “slow steaming” and the resulting “cold corrosion” affects every vessel in operation. Increased instances of early failure due to cylinder scuffing & cylinder scaling are due to improper lubrication in constantly changing engine running conditions.
New sulfur emissions requirements are a secondary driver affecting some vessels. Running with multiple fuel types means major changes in lubrication BN to compensate for high fluctuations in acidic conditions in the cylinders.
The FluidScan is the one device that will ensure your engine is running efficiently. Daily control of the cylinder oil BN at the inlet and drain is the most effective way to prevent “cold corrosion.” (Note: Wärtsilä Services technical bulletin RT-161.)
Benefits | Features |
Reduce lubrication oil costs |
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Increase component lifetime |
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Innovative BN measurement and maintenance |
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Easily upgradeable to enable oil analysis for other shipboard equipment |
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Large, two-stroke diesel engines are used in over 30,000 ships worldwide. Due to over lubrication, they waste in excess of US$2 billion of cylinder oil every year. This creates more than 1.25 million tons of contaminated drain oil that needs proper disposal. This over-lubrication in slow speed, two-stroke marine diesel engines can cost ship managers and owners more than $100,000 per year per ship.
Cylinder under-lubrication leads to cold corrosion and early failure of expensive engine components like pistons, piston rings and cylinder liners. Careful monitoring of cylinder oil BN allows the operator to use enough oil to prevent cold corrosion without wasting valuable oil and additives.
Recommended by the engine designer
240 mm x 140 mm x 70 mm
9.5 in. x 5.5 in. x 2.75 in.
Weight 1.4 kg (3 lbs.)