ABSTRACT

The final year cadets (2004-2008) from B.E Marine engineering program studying at AMET UNIVERSITY, situated on ECR, south Chennai, have successfully completed a project on Alpha ACC (Adaptive Cylinder Oil Control), an innovative system of an engine cylinder liner lubrication demonstrating the excellence of saving high cost cylinder lubricant for ship owners. Spares for an engine, mainly the cylinder liner, which is one of the expensive has been saved by inducting this automatic with quantity monitoring technique with sulphur dependant and concentration online measurement in the bad bunkered, black-fuel supplied in the international market.  

 AMET University is the first deemed maritime university in Asia. The university, to date has trained numerous cadets and converted them as high trained shipping professionals to the shipping industry requirement. The training given to the cadets, has been of international standards, and have been placed in ships sailing in international waters around the globe in various shipping companies. 

 Alpha ACC was designed and installed on MAN B&W engines from 1992. The system helps in minimizing the wear and ensures longer running periods between engine overhauls. The Operating costs by inducting this system estimate to be very much low and thereby saving a huge packet to the shipping owners in a short time. The technique used to define all by itself an electronic interfacing for precise timing with online sensors for exactly computing the lube oil requirement of the engine. The efficiency of the system is more confined on the chart by connecting the complete system to work in automatic/manual mode selection for more accurate calculation. The entire data can be stored/reserved for future research and development. 

An intelligent and interested group of twelve cadets have come forward in warding the existing ship board system into a LIVE PROJECT to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the system. They have jointly worked for days during their final semester with minimum downtime to finish the project in time showing their talent and dedication in the maritime field. The complete project was carried out by hand picking, keeping the cost from within the limits of their pockets to be very much appreciated. The system functions with a simple and high tech sensing system to locate the lubricant injection position in a cylinder of the engine, from a flywheel - coupled to a motor and a proximity sensor. An injection unit comprising of a solenoid valve controls the injection of the lubricant oil. Both units are electrically coupled to a control unit, to control the injection unit along with a feedback signal. The engine Conditions at different stages are simulated on the control unit, thus lubricant quantity varies. This varying amount of lubricant injection provides a saving to the tune of approx.$340,000 USD annually.

We salute and are thankful to our HOD Mr.A.Venugopal of Marine Engine Department including all faculties, who stood by us to complete this fabulous project within a record time with low cost. I also thank the Vice chancellor Capt.S.Bhardwaj who has come forward to appreciate and to the attention of the media and press. I finally thank the Chancellor MR.R.Rajesh who has supported financially and motivated us throughout our involvement in the project, if not, which may not have come true.