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ENGINE MONITORING
EXERCISE
| Vessel - |
River Tow Boat |
| Engines - |
Twin ALCO 251's, 12 Cylinder, 1800HP Electronic
Control's |
| Course - |
New Orleans -Pittsburgh and Return |
| Purpose - |
Determine the effect, if any, of A
P L ™ on engine performance by computer electronic analysis on
both engines |
History:
This river towboat was chosen for this exercise because of the engine electronic
monitoring system, which is part of her regular equipment. This system consists of
electronic sensors attached to each engine, which feed electrical impulses to a computer,
which in turn translates these impulses into usable figures. A computer printout form
(Typical section from permanent printout is attached) is typed as well as broadcast on a
screen. Information presented each hour for each engine consists of RPM, Torque, and Brake
HP and fuel consumption in gallons per hour. |
The engines were a matched pair when installed, thus were of the same age and had the same
number of operating hours. Computer print out from previous trips were studied and
revealed the engines were almost identical in performance, level of fuel consumption, oil
consumption and torque.
By a flip of a coin, the PORT engine was selected for analysis and chosen to receive the A P L ™. The engine sump was filled
with 80% of its regular oil and 20% (35 gal.) of A P L
™. The gearbox was filled with 75 % of its regular oil and 25% (15 gal.) of A P L ™ .
From this point forward toward Pittsburgh and return, all procedures were standard. While
monitoring the computer printouts, the A P L
™ was making its presence known in a spectacular way, causing an increase in Torque
& Brake HP, while using less fuel and make - up oil. The exact averages for each
engine computed from the tapes is as follows: |
MN/DY/
Time |
PORT /STBD
RPM |
PORT /STBD
Torque |
PORT /STBD
HP |
PORT /STBD
Gal/Hr |
8/20-0900 |
startup |
startup |
startup |
startup |
Full |
Speed |
Ahead |
|
|
1000 |
849 / 863 |
29093 / 27634 |
1368 / 1321 |
97 / 104 |
1100 |
587 / 541 |
12363 / 8555 |
402 / 256 |
33 / 21 |
1200 |
895 / 941 |
33022 / 30357 |
1637 / 1583 |
104 / 119 |
1300 |
892 / 913 |
33612 / 31544 |
1660 / 1595 |
103 / 116 |
1400 |
923 / 927 |
33311 / 32186 |
1704 / 1653 |
104 / 117 |
1500 |
902 / 934 |
33630 / 31334 |
1681 / 1621 |
103 / 117 |
1600 |
931 / 924 |
33039 / 31542 |
1703 / 1614 |
105 / 116 |
1700 |
902 / 906 |
34132 / 32209 |
1706 / 1616 |
105 / 115 |
1800 |
909 / 923 |
33573 / 31672 |
1691 / 1620 |
104 / 116 |
1900 |
888 / 938 |
33735 / 31591 |
1660 / 1641 |
103 / 118 |
2000 |
927 / 920 |
33410 / 31679 |
1716 / 1614 |
106 / 116 |
2100 |
506 / 492 |
12875 / 10421 |
360 / 283 |
33 / 65 |
2200 |
931 / 923 |
31664 / 29945 |
1632 / 1532 |
107 / 115 |
2300 |
899 / 923 |
33234 / 31435 |
1655 / 1555 |
103 / 117 |
0000 |
858 / 866 |
32964 / 31049 |
1699 / 1582 |
106 / 116 |
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