Operating procedures bilge separator machine USH-20 of the company Taiko Kikai

Hello friends! Today, the marine environment is strictly protected by the environmental protection organizations and national governments worldwide. So oil water separator is an indispensable device (almost obligatory) on the modern merchant ship. Therefore, each engineer operating the machine when working on a ship must understand operating procedures, maintenance of water and oil separator to ensure the equipment is operating safely and efficiently. So, I'll introduce you to operate the process separator bilge USH-20 of the company Taiko Kikai, Japan.

1. Preparation of Running

To carry out the first operation after the installation proceed in the following sequence.
+ Check that piping systems for the oily water separator have been completed as planned an are in compliance with the piping specification by manufacturer.
+ Check that wiring for each part of the oily water separator system have been completed as planned and the electric power source indicates proper values for each equipment.
+ Open all valves on the bilge drained pipe line from the bilge pump to the outboard valve, via the oily water separator, except valves on the bilge pipe line.
+ Open the clean water inlet valve, at the bottom of the second chamber, to fill the separator with clean sea water. While filling the sea water , turn the oily water separator on and open the cock at the upper part of the second chamber to promote air release. It is necessary to loosen the cap of the automatic air vent valve at the top.
+ Change the bilge pump suction pipe to one for sea water, start the bilge pump, check separator or the piping and perform trial operation on the separator.
+ In  case a 15 ppm bilge alarm is furnished, operate it in accordance with instructions by manufacturer and check its parts as well as operation performance
+ The oily water separator is necessary to be filled with sea water to a full level  even during it is stopped. If a leak from any part of the separator is found, eliminate the source of the leak immediately.
+ When an automatic stopping device for the oily separator treated water is provided, energize 15ppm bilge alarm  and operate it properly in order to check that the change over valve functions normally.

2. Running

To run the oily water separator daily, proceed  the following sequence:
+ Energize the automatic oil drain system of  the oily water separator to make in operation.
+ In case a 15ppm bilge alarm is furnished, energize it to make in operation. There are two types of 15ppm alarm, example: one can provide measurement of oil concentration as soon as it is energized and the other should  be energized always to be ready for measurement, in which case the measurement is takeen. Depending upon the cases, the operator should comply with the manufacturer's instructions.
+ Open all stop valve on the bilge drain pipe line and start up the bilge pump
Caution: Residence time and sampling designed residence time in the container of the bilge separator (inside capacity - flow rate) is about 15 minutes. Right after the operation start, clean water, which has flowed into the container is discharged. Specially, when a 15ppm bilge alarm is not equipped, the visual check of processed water is only way and is necessary. Therefore, at the operation, carry out the sampling frequently for least 20 minutes in order to confirm its function of bilge separator  and to confirm if treated water is within regulation value. After that, make sure to carry out the sampling timely until the shutdown of the equipment.
+  If the oily water separator has been stopped for a long time (more than one week), the oil content, suspended matter, deposits or bacterium might be decomposed, and, as a result, the oil concentration of treated water when drained could be unusually high at the initial stage of operation. Therefore, to restart, the bilge pumps should be started and sea water should be circulated for 5 to 10 minutes
Caution: Necessity of filling with sea water , this oily water separator utilizes the difference of specific gravity between sea water and oil. Therefore, when bilge is supplied into the separator, the separator must have been filled with sea water. If bilge is supplied with the separator being empty (or when the level of sea water is very low), no separation effect will be obtained. Moreover, bilge will be accumulated in the separator by passing through the coalescers as it is. As a result, the coalescers will become clogged, and not only the effect will be lost but also contaminated. Thus, pure treated water will not be secured. The purpose  leading clean water via the clean water inlet valve the bottom of the second chamber when the separator empty is to prevent contamination  of the second chamber. If the water by the bilge pump is caused to flow in from the first chamber via the used bilge line , the contaminated water in the first chamber will flow in the second chamber and the second chamber will be contaminated prior to use.
+ For the concentrated oil and the floated oil in the bilge tank, do not pass through the oily water separator but introduce into the waste oil tank directly.
+ When bilge is produced during in dock, land it and clean bilge tank and the restart to use.

3. Stop

To stop the oily water separator, proceed in the following sequence
+ When drainage of bilge is finished, pass sea water for 10 minutes so that the oil mixture which resides in the separator may be prevented from being decomposed.
+ If the separator is kept with the separated oil and is left without operation for long time, sludge will be caused to be deposited. To prevent it, open the oil drain valve manually during passing of sea water, discharge the separated oil outside the separator as much as possible, and then stop the bilge pump.
+ In case a 15ppm bilge alarm is furnished, turn off the electric power source. Depending on types, the 15ppm bilge alarm may require cleaning after use or may be turn off not entirely but just locally for next run. It should comply with the manufacturer's instructions.
+ If electric power source of the oily water separator is first turned off by means of a fail-safe function, the bilge pump will stop. Therefore, the electric power source should be turn off last
+ Shut the valve in the bilge drain pipe line.

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