Learning chapter

Aux Engines

13 lessons

The whole auxiliary engine and its generator: structure and moving parts, valve gear and fuel injection, starting, governing and load sharing, cooling and lubrication, the alternator and switchboard, the emergency generator, operation, maintenance and safety.

This chapter collects 13 illustrated lessons on Aux Engines as part of Auxiliary Machinery & Shipboard Systems, ordered as they are best studied. It opens with What the Auxiliary Engine Is — Why It Is a Four-Stroke Medium-Speed Machine, The Diesel Generator Set — Bedding Down, Coupling and Driving the Alternator, The Engine Structure — Bedplate, Frame, Crankshaft and Main Bearings, The Moving Parts — Liner, Piston, Gudgeon Pin and Connecting Rod Wear, The Valve Gear and Fuel Injection — Valves, Camshaft Drive, Pumps and Injectors, Starting the Engine — Air Start Valve, Distributor and the Four Interlocks and 7 more. Each lesson is written for MEO oral and written preparation: definitions first, then how the system behaves, then the checks and figures used in practice.

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01 What the Auxiliary Engine Is — Why It Is a Four-Stroke Medium-Speed MachineWhat the auxiliary engine is and why it is almost always a four-stroke medium-speed machine: its job, the ship's power supply and the structure.6 sections 02 The Diesel Generator Set — Bedding Down, Coupling and Driving the AlternatorWhat a diesel generator set is made of: bedding the set down to the ship, driving the alternator from the engine, and why it is a constant speed machine.4 sections 03 The Engine Structure — Bedplate, Frame, Crankshaft and Main BearingsThe stationary parts of an auxiliary engine: the bedplate, the frame and cylinder block, the crankshaft and the main bearings with their housings.4 sections 04 The Moving Parts — Liner, Piston, Gudgeon Pin and Connecting Rod WearThe moving parts of an auxiliary engine: the cylinder liner and its wear, the piston and its rings, the gudgeon pin and the connecting rod assembly.5 sections 05 The Valve Gear and Fuel Injection — Valves, Camshaft Drive, Pumps and InjectorsThe valve gear, camshaft drive and fuel injection equipment of an auxiliary engine: the valves, the operating gear, the injection pump and injector.5 sections 06 Starting the Engine — Air Start Valve, Distributor and the Four InterlocksStarting an auxiliary engine on air: the air start valve, the distributor, where the starting air comes from and the four safety interlocks.6 sections 07 Governing and Speed Control — Droop, Load Sharing and the Overspeed TripHow an auxiliary engine is governed: speed droop, load sharing between generators, hydraulic and electronic governors, and the overspeed trip set at 115 %.9 sections 08 Cooling, Lubrication and Fuel — Systems and the Tanks Checked Before StartingThe cooling, lubricating oil and fuel systems of an auxiliary engine, and the nine tanks and levels that must be checked before the engine is started.4 sections 09 The Alternator and Switchboard — AVR, Load Shedding and the Automatic PlantThe alternator and main switchboard of a ship: excitation and the automatic voltage regulator, essential and non-essential load, and the preferential trip.7 sections 10 The Emergency Generator — Location, Starting, Fuel and the Emergency BoardThe emergency generator: what it is for, where it is located and why, how it starts, its fuel and cooling, and the emergency switchboard and its interlock.7 sections 11 Operating the Plant — Preparing, Starting, Watchkeeping and Keeping WarmOperating an auxiliary engine plant: preparing to start, starting, watchkeeping, stopping, unmanned machinery space operation and keeping the engine warm.7 sections 12 Maintenance and Troubleshooting — Overhauls, Tappet Clearance and Reading a FaultMaintenance and troubleshooting on an auxiliary engine: cylinder head and valve overhaul, tappet clearance, valve timing, fuel injection and liner wear.9 sections 13 Safety — Crankcase Explosion, Scavenge Fire and Starting Air Line ExplosionThe three hazards peculiar to a diesel engine: the crankcase explosion, the scavenge fire and the starting air line explosion, and how they are prevented.6 sections