Automation service for ship berthed at CUD SHIPYARD : On board pressure sensor calibration for Boiler and Air Bottle 

1. Marine Boiler Pressure Sensor function 

Ø Real-time steam pressure monitoring :

 Continuously collect the pressure of the boiler steam drum /steam outlet, provide operators with real-time pressure readings, and verify whether the pressure is within the normal operating range.

Ø  Participation in automatic control：

Transmit signals to the control system for:  

（1）Automatically adjusting the high/low fire of the burner

（2）Controlling feed water supply and steam output Stabilize pressure and avoid excessively high or low pressure.

Ø Overpressure protection and alarm：

 When pressure exceeds the preset upper limit:
（1）Activate audible and visual alarms

（2）Interlock to cut off combustion and trigger safety protection Prevent boiler over pressure explosion and equipment damage.

Ø Low-pressure alarm and interlock

Trigger an alarm when pressure is too low to avoid insufficient steam affecting the normal operation of main engines, auxiliary engines, heating systems, etc.

Ø Recording and monitoring

Provide pressure trends for the engine room monitoring system and recorders, facilitating fault tracing and management.

2. Air Bottle Pressure Sensor

Ø Monitoring compressed air reserve pressure

 Air bottles serve as the power source for starting main engines, generators, pneumatic valves, whistles, etc. The sensor displays the internal pressure in real time.

Ø Starting safety guarantee

A minimum starting air pressure must be met before starting main/generating engines. The sensor signal determines whether starting is permitted, preventing startup failure or equipment damage due to insufficient air pressure.

Ø  Automatic control of air compressors

Automatically start the air compressor for charging when pressure is low; Automatically stop when pressure reaches the set value to avoid overcharging.

Ø High and low pressure alarms

Low-pressure alarm: Remind air replenishment to prevent pneumatic equipment failure High-pressure alarm: Prevent cylinder overpressure rupture and protect pipelines and accessories

Ø Emergency and safety monitoring

 The pressure of emergency air bottles is critical to the reliability of emergency startup and operation, serving as a key monitoring point for navigation safety.

3. Well noted the importance of pressure sensor for boiler and air bottle:

(1) For the boiler,  Prevents over pressure explosions and dry firing due to water shortage, serving as a core safety monitoring component for the boiler.

(2)For the air bottle: Monitors pressure to prevent insufficient pressure, which may result in the ship’s main engine failing to start and inability to operate during berthing or un-berthing, directly affecting navigation safety.

4. Quickly response

Arrange 2 technician with professional calibration equipment on board, commence the calibration procedure as per standard guide, along with ship side assistance

For Boiler sensors: overcome the difficulties lie in high temperature & vibration,  eliminating common issues: drift, blockage, interlock malfunction.
For Air bottle sensors: Solving difficulties in high-pressure control; eliminating common issues: leakage, inaccurate alarms, abnormal compressor operation.
Finally found the The pressure sensor malfunction is mainly caused by component aging and sensor circuit damage with below Troubleshooting Methods:

(1.) Replace the aging pressure sensor directly.

(2.) Check and repair the damaged sensor circuit and wiring. 

(3.) Reconnect loose terminals and ensure good insulation. 

(4.) Re-calibrate the sensor after repair to ensure normal reading.

Once the Boiler and Air bottle pressure sensor resume normally working condition, high appreciation and satisfaction from ship crew and on site superintendent

From such matter, there is strong feeling in our mind :

No detail is trivial in ship navigation.

By fully applying our professional knowledge and equipment to safeguard the safe navigation of vessels,

we fulfill not only our responsibility and honor,but also our mission to live up to the trust placed in us by shipowners.

 
Every pressure data point on board matters to vessel safety， so does liquid level monitoring: 

In daily maintenance, typical cases include *Bilge-Well Sensor Replacement & Water Ingress Testing* to ensure accurate liquid level monitoring.