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Domestic water systems - Procedure for ship service systems
Pumps and substantial piping systems are provided in ships to supply the
essential services of hot and cold fresh water for personal use, and salt water or fresh water
for sanitary and fire fighting purposes.
Modern cargo ships are provided with a large low-pressure distilling
plant for producing fresh water during the voyage, as the capacities
required would otherwise need considerable tank space. This space is better
utilized to carry oil fuel, improving the ship’s range. Independent tanks
supplying the fresh water required for drinking and culinary purposes, and
fresh washing water, etc., may be taken from the double bottom tanks, the
pumps for each supply being independent also. Hot fresh water is supplied
initially from the cold fresh water system, through a non-return valve into a
storage type hot water heater fitted with heater coils, and then the heated
water is pumped to the outlet.
The sanitary system supplies sea water for flushing water closets, etc.,
and may be provided with a hydro-pneumatic pump in cargo vessels, but on
larger passenger ships where the demand is heavier, a continuously operating
power pump is required.
It is a statutory requirement that a fire main and deck wash system should
be supplied. This has hose outlets on the various decks, and is supplied by
power driven pumps in the machinery spaces. Provision may be made for
washing down the anchor chain from a connection to the fire main.
Domestic water system
Systems using gravity tanks to provide a head for domestic fresh and sanitary water, have long been superseded by schemes where supply pressure is maintained by a cushion of compressed air in the service tanks (Figure below). The trade name Pneupress is commonly used to describe the tanks and system,
Fresh water
The fresh water is supplied to the system, by one of two pumps which are self-priming or situated at a lower level than the storage tanks. The pump starters are controlled by pressure switches which operate when pressure in the service tank varies within pre-determined limits as water is used. The pump discharges through filters to a rising main, branched to give cold and hot supplies, the latter through a calorifier.
A circulating pump may be fitted in circuit with the steam or electrically heated calorifier. An ultra-violet light sterilizer is fitted adjacent to the Pneupress tank of some systems. Ultra-violet light acts in such an arrangement, as a point of use biocide. Although effective as a means of killing bacteria, it does not apparently provide protection in the long term. The Department of Transport requirement for protection of fresh water in storage tanks, is that chlorine dosing or the Electro-Katadyn method, be used. Guidance on the procedures to ensure that fresh water is safe for consumption is provided by M notices .
Figure : Domestic fresh water system
Sanitary water
The sanitary system operates on the same Pneupress principle as that described for fresh water. Pumps, if supplying sea water, are protected by filters on the suction side which require regular cleaning. A few sanitary systems use fresh or distilled water to reduce corrosion in pipes and flushing valves, particularly in vacuum systems where water consumption is minimal.
Treated liquid effluent is recirculated in the chemical sewage treatment system ; this also operates with a Pneupress system.
Figure : Domestic fresh and sanitary water system
Summarized below some of the basic procedure of machinery service systems and equipment :
- Ballast arrangements
The ballasting of a vessel which is to proceed without cargo to the loading port is necessary for a safe voyage, sometimes in heavy weather conditions. On arrival at the port the large amount of ballast must be discharged rapidly in readiness for loading....
- Cargo ships bilge systems
The essential purpose of a bilge system, is to clear water from the ship's 'dry' compartments, in emergency. The major uses of the system, are for clearing water and oil which accumulates in machinery space bilges as the result of leakage or draining, and when washing down dry cargo holds. The bilge main in the engine room, has connections from dry cargo holds, tunnel and machinery spaces.....
- Bilge system layout details
All bilge suctions have screw down non-return valves with strainers or mud boxes at the bilge wells. Oily bilges and purifier sludge tanks have suitable connections for discharge to the oily water separator or ashore. The system is tailored to suit the particular ship......
- Domestic water system
Systems using gravity tanks to provide a head for domestic fresh and sanitary water, have long been superseded by schemes where supply pressure is maintained by a cushion of compressed air in the service tanks....
- Reverse osmosis
Osmosis is the term used to describe the natural migration of water from one side of a semi-permeable membrane into a solution on the other side. The
phenomenon occurs when moisture from the soil passes through the membrane covering of the roots of plants,....
- Salinometer features
The condensate or product, if of acceptable quality, is delivered to the appropriate tanks by the distilled water pump. Quality is continuously tested by the salinometer both at start up and during operation. If the device registers an excess of salinity it will dump the product and activate the alarm using its solenoid valves. The product is recirculated in some installations......
- Sewage systems
The exact amount of sewage and waste water flow generated on board ship is difficult to quantify. European designers tend to work on the basis of 70 litres/person/day of toilet waste (including flushing water) and about 130-150 litres/person/day of washing water (including baths, laundries, etc.). US authorities suggest that the flow from toilet discharges is as high as 114 litres/person/day with twice this amount of washing water......
- Sewage zero discharge system
A retention or holding tank is required where no discharge of treated or untreated sewage is allowed in a port area. The sewage is pumped out to shore reception facilities or overboard when the vessel is proceeding on passage at sea, usually beyond the 12 nautical mile limit. ...
- Biological sewage treatment
A number of biological sewage treatment plant types are in use at sea but nearly all work on what is called the extended aeration process. Basically this consists of oxygenating by bubbling air through or by agitating the surface. ....
- Sterilization system
Sterilization by the addition of chlorine, is recommended in Merchant Shipping Notice M1214. A later notice, M1401, states that the Electro-Katadyn process in use since the 1960s, has also been approved. Another problem with distilled water is that having none of the dissolved solids common in fresh water it tastes flat. It also tends to be slightly acidic due to its ready absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2). .....
- Treatment of water from shore
There is a risk that water supplied from ashore may contain harmful organisms which can multiply and infect drinking or washing water storage tanks. All water from ashore, whether for drinking or washing purposes, is to be sterilized. When chlorine is used, the dose must be such as to give a concentration of 0.2 ppm....
- Water production low pressure evaporator
A considerable amount of fresh water is consumed in a ship. The crew uses on average about 70 litre/person/day and in a passenger ship, consumption can be as high as 225 litre/person/day. Water used in the machinery spaces as make up for cooling system losses may be fresh or distilled but distilled water is essential for steam plant where there is a water tube boiler.
Steamship consumption for the propulsion plant and hotel services can be as high as 50 tonnes/day.....
- Flash evaporator system
The evaporator , boils sea water at the saturation temperature corresponding to the uniform pressure through the evaporation and condensing chambers. With flash evaporators the water is heated in one compartment before being released into a second chamber in which the pressure is substantially lower......
- Oil content monitor system
In the past, an inspection glass, fitted in the overboard discharge pipe of the oil/water separator permitted sighting of the flow. The discharge was illuminated by a light bulb fitted on the outside of the glass port opposite the viewer......
- Oily water separator
Oil/water separators are necessary aboard vessels to prevent the discharge of oil overboard mainly when pumping out bilges. They also find service when deballasting or when cleaning oil tanks. The requirement to fit such devices is the result of international legislation....
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