Ship&Offshore | Ausgabe 02/2017
Simulator support for ships’ engineers
As sensor technology becomes more widely applied in ship operations – notably in tracking engine performance – existing shipboard engineering staff must be familiarised with sensoring and condition-monitoring technologies to maximise efficiency and minimise the risk of breakdown. Germany’s IMES, a privately owned specialist in electronic measurement, monitoring and cylinder pressure testing of engines and compressors, has therefore launched a simulator for its EPM-XP range of electronic pressure indicators, of which more than 2,000 units have now been sold. The EPM-XP simulator, which provides full functionality, can be used without an operating engine and can simulate both two- and four-stroke engine performance in revolution ranges 40-300 rpm and 200-1,500 rpm, respectively. The simulator can be used for training purposes on ships at sea or in training establishments ashore. It can be programmed with different engine data to simulate a range of possible situations and generate “what-if” scenarios. An abnormal reading, for example, could alert engineering staff to excessive cylinder wear and tear and a service requirement. IMES’ customers include all of the world’s major marine engine builders, and IMES sensors, electronic pressure indicators and combustion monitoring systems have been installed on many diesel, gas and dual-fuel engines.