Visatron Oil Mist Detector Systems

Although different to other systems on the market, this technology is well proven and accepted by both, engine makers and ship owners and brings along some field advantages such as high operations reliability and low maintenance costs.

The VISATRON® Oil Mist Detection System is designed to last for the entire engine lifetime.

Surfaces that can generate intensive oil mist in addition to the crankshaft bearing system include:

• Pistons in cylinder liners
• Crankshaft bearings such as main bearings and big-end bearings
• Camshafts, their bearings and cams
• Timing gear shafts and their bearings
• Gear boxes with their bearings, and in some cases pumps
• Guide blocks and paths in cross-head engines

Oil mist in these sliding surfaces can only be monitored by an oil mist detection system, and therefore in the case of an overheating phenomenon starting in one of them, or a possible piston seizure occuring, an oil mist detection system should be employed.

According to the information of a major classification society, there are, on average, one to two crankcase explosions a week onboard vessels worldwide. Causing damage to human health and/or material; and this figure does not count cases where no visible human or material damage occurred, but expensive down-times of engine and vessel had to be accepted.

Taking measures against the severe damage caused to large diesel and gas engines by oil mist explosions has therefore become far more important, as has an awareness of the need to take responsibility in managing potentially dangerous technologies.