October 2007

On smaller engines the connecting rod links the piston and the crank directly, but this transmits transverse forces to the piston, since the crankpin (and thus the direction the force is applied) moves from side to side with the rotary motion of the crank. These transverse forces are tolerable in a smaller engine; a larger engine's much greater forces would cause an intolerable degree of wear on the piston and cylinder, as well as increasing overall friction in the engine.

Large diesel engines (such as those fitted to ships) often are of this pattern using special cross head bearings which are designed to prevent an intolerable degree of wear on the piston and cylinder. In large ships, unnaceptable  water contamination  in the lube oil system may lead to corrosive wear of the overlayer and this could eventually cause mechanical damage to the crosshead bearing . These damages can cause alot of unwanted inconvenience to ship managers and owners.

It is a known fact that a high water content could lead to untold damage within a few days if not checked. The water content must be controlled and monitored to within acceptable levels as a the water contamination will cause corrosive wear and change the bearing geometry. Obstruction of the oil film formation which is needed for the correct functioning of the crosshead bearing can cause excessive wear and scuffing which in turn will mean immediate maintenance and additional unwanted repair or replacement costs.

The EASZ-1 water in oil monitor is a loop powered inline device which measures the ppm or percent water contamination in the lube system. The unit works on any type of oil and can be calibrated to ASTM-D methods during set up. The sensor is prone to any kind of drift and is temperature compensated, giving it the ability to work at different temperatures. When used in conjunction with a remote display/alarm , it is possible to have a trigger set to warn operators of a problem e.g  high alarm 0.2% and high /high alarm at 0.5% water content in oil.

When the EASZ-1 water in oil monitor gives an alarm, the water leakage can be immediately investigated e.g. cooling water leaks, heat exchangers, separators/purifiers . This gives a chance for the operators to inspect and rectify problems in real time, problems that they may not be aware of until it is too late. The EASZ-1 will report the water in oil content during the problem and after the problem has been remedied. The sensor is not damaged by an increase in moisture /water content. It will measure an increase in dissolved water and the presence of free water. The range for the device can be set by the operator on the vessel . User selectable ranges for water in oil contamination are 0-0.1%, 0-1%, 0-3% , 0-10% and 0-25%.  In most cases, the default range of 0-1% is selected. A corresponding 4-20mA output is provided which correlates to 0-1% water in oil contamination.

The EASZ-1 works on the principle of changing dielectric constant of a fluid and can be calibrated to work on any oil and any range of water in oil. It measures the total water content in the oil whether dissolved, emulsified or free.  The EASZ-1 also measures water content in fuel.