Jacket Water System

Shown above is a typical cooling water circuit for a slow speed engine.
Water is pump via one of two centrifugal pumps. One is normally in use with the other stand-
by. The water passes through to the distributing manifold on the engine side.
Jacket Water Heater In the line is a steam jacket water heater. When the engine is shut down steam
heating maintains the engine in a state of readiness reducing the time needed for starting. ttempting to
start the engine without heating can lead to poor combustion! poor lubrication and thermal shocking.
modern variation on this is the "blend" water from the stand-by au#illiary alternator engines into the main
engine circuit increaseing plant efficiency
The water enters and leaves the engine via a series of cylinder isolating valves. In this way
each cylinder may be individually drained to prevent e#cessive water and chemical loss. In addition dual
level drains may be fitted which allow either full draining or draining of the head only. portion of the
water is diverted for cooling of the turbocharger.
Deaerator Was an essential part of engines incortporating water cooled pistons were air was deliberately
introduced in to the system to aid the "cocktail shaker" cooling action. ir or gas entering the system can
lead to unstable and even total loss of cooling water pressure as the gas e#pands in the suction eye of the
circulating pumps. In the event of gas leakage via the head or cracked liner rapid loss of jacket water
pressure can occur. The deaerator is a method to try to slow this process sufficiently to allow the vessel to
be placed in a safe position for maintenance. This system also allows the vessel to operate with minor gas
leakage.
Jacket Water Cooler The hot water leaving the engine passes to a temperature controll vlave were a
portion is diverted to a cooler. Temperature is controlled using both a feedback signal $temperature
measured after the cooler% and a feed forward signal $temperature measured at outlet from the engine%.
In this way the system reacts more &uickly to engine load variations.
EvaporatorIncreases plant efficiency by utilising heat in jacket water to produce fresh water. 'odern
systems sometimes rely on the evpaorator to supplement a reduced si(e main cooler.
Expansion or header tankr 'aintains a constant head on the circulation pumps reducing cavitation at
ellevated temperatures. llows the volume of water in the system to vary without need for dumping. cts
as a reserve in the event of leakage.
HT/LT systems