Musings and Thoughts

[Malcolm G]

Junkers flugmotor 205C (yes I know it's only one...)

https://youtu.be/MuvJIoUTA8k

[Engine Serang]

Originally Posted by Tim Gibbs

I was asked to look at an insurance claim involving 2000 tonnes of duff fuel and that was seriously interesting :

Sharpen your pencil Tim because Duff Fuel is a growth industry. Off-Spec fuel can indeed be seriously interesting for Supers and Chief Engineers.

[Makko]

I'll second that, ES!

Going way back, we started to get reports of problems with Diesel plants throughout Latin America: Panama, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Colombia et al. The fuel pumps were wearing out very quickly and MAN B&W couldn't produce them fast enough. Just one plant, in Honduras, was the largest Diesel plant in the world when built, with 14x 16 cyl. engines, heat recovery and a steam turbine for an extra dozen MW. What was puzzling there were the deposits inside the pumps, on the injector nozzles an sticking piston rings.

With the first claim (Honduras), while I suspected microbial contamination, testing did not find this. The fuel preparation was good, quality certificates in order, so on and forth. All the plants received fuel from a major fuel broker based in Switzerland. Hmmm....Having joined the dots, the breakthrough came with one plant that collected and sent samples to Houston for independent testing. The testing facility kept witness samples of all the fuel that they tested. The plant was therefore able to get analyses of fuel samples prior to the problems starting and afterwards.

It resulted that the fuel was being "cut" with styrenes, industrial waste which costs money to dispose of safely. The fuel was being supplied from the USA, the worst culprit near New Orleans.

The problem was so serious that the plants were resorting to combing scrapheaps for any half-good pumps as MAN B&W couldn't produce them fast enough! Just in Honduras, the needed 224 fuel pumps, injectors and many pistons/rings/liners.

A very interesting case and challenging as an adjustment.

Rgds.
Dave

[Tim Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Engine Serang

Sharpen your pencil Tim because Duff Fuel is a growth industry. Off-Spec fuel can indeed be seriously interesting for Supers and Chief Engineers.

Interestingly,(depending on how much of a sad person you are!) the 2000 tonnes of fuel was duff but it hadn't damaged the engine as the owner claimed because it was possible to demonstrate that fuel hadn't actually been used at the time of the claim.
It is true that the engine was indeed knackered - primarily because it had run c25k hours without any maintenance, been using inappropriate cylinder oil and had probably used some pretty horrible fuels previously
Be careful what you claim for!

[Makko]

What was up with the fuel, Tim?

[Tim Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Makko

What was up with the fuel, Tim?

Can't remember the full details but there was certainly was a problem with the cetane number and I think also fines but once it was established that fuel couldn't be part of the engine related claim I wasn't involved

[Engine Serang]

Don't think I've ever been supplied with off-spec Lubricating Oil but Fuel Oil is a different kettle of fish. One wonders if the office cleaner fills out the BDN.

[Makko]

I have a feeling, ES, it is just a "stock form" with a few details changed!

BTW, in Ocean/BF, we had a small and efficient fuel test kit. It was just to check the bare minimum characteristics but worked. We also had one for LO after microbial contamination became known.

Then there was the Alaska HO, just a smidgeon over 1.0 relative density, the east arabian HO full of sand and the Texas HO full of waxes!!!

Best Rgds.
Dave

[Tim Gibbs]

Originally Posted by Makko

I have a feeling, ES, it is just a "stock form" with a few details changed!

BTW, in Ocean/BF, we had a small and efficient fuel test kit. It was just to check the bare minimum characteristics but worked. We also had one for LO after microbial contamination became known.

Then there was the Alaska HO, just a smidgeon over 1.0 relative density, the east arabian HO full of sand and the Texas HO full of waxes!!!

Best Rgds.
Dave

And Bass Strait waxy oil It wrecked 3 Peilstick 2.2s (actually not that difficult) and resulted a 100 metre long wax candle in the bunker fuel pipe work

[Makko]

Yes, Tim! Hard times but, boy, did we learn a lot! Not only cause, but repair/remedy and future recommendations!

I remember the Honduras claim. When I asked if they were testing for microbial contamination, even though the plant engineers were very well experienced and qualified, I was met with blank an puzzled faces!

Rgds.
Dave

[BobClay]

As you get older this becomes more and more appropriate ....

[Makko]

Originally Posted by BobClay

As you get older this becomes more and more appropriate ....

Oldest daughter recently got married..........! That, or change the lock and garage door code!
Rgds.
Dave

[Malcolm G]

Omicron is an anagram of moronic.
If Greek letters are being used for covid variants, I wonder whether politicians will allow the use of Xi

[John Rogers]

Talking head on TV said they would not.

[Dartskipper]

Originally Posted by Malcolm G

Omicron is an anagram of moronic.
If Greek letters are being used for covid variants, I wonder whether politicians will allow the use of Xi

They could use Diotis, if they persist with anagrams.

[BobClay]

...... or Watts.

[Engine Serang]

Or twats.
9 10

[BobClay]

Relativity explained:

[BobClay]

Technology advances ... but there are side effects:

[Tim Gibbs]

[QUOTE=Makko;40532]Yes, Tim! Hard times but, boy, did we learn a lot! Not only cause, but repair/remedy and future recommendations!

I remember the Honduras claim. When I asked if they were testing for microbial contamination, even though the plant engineers were very well experienced and qualified, I was met with blank an puzzled faces!

Rgds.
Yes, I could have once said The bugs ate my crankshaft. Well, actually was the City of Colombo's crankshaft - her third in 13 years. The first changed because of a design problem, the second 'cos it broke and this one just survived with a few bearings reground. A great engine the Doxford 75LB6

[Ron Stringer]

My mate is looking at starting up his own business, recycling discarded chewing gum.


He said “I just need help getting it off the ground.”

[BobClay]

Knock knock.
"Who's there ?"
"Doctor"
"Doctor who ?"

...

...

...

EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE !!

[Malcolm G]

Don't you point that sink plunger at me - it might be loaded.

[Engine Serang]

Would that it were.

[Julian N]

Xi was due to be used but WHO chickened out so as not to offend the despotic Chinese Leader.⅜