In the daily management and maintenance of ships, oil-water separators often encounter the following three types of common faults: During the daily management and maintenance of ships, oil-water separators may face a variety of common faults. Some typical problems include: continuous alarms from the concentration detection device indicating that the oil concentration exceeds the convention-stipulated 15 ppm limit; occasional tripping of the safety valve; and unsatisfactory internal heating of the oil-water separator, resulting in the temperature failing to reach the expected level. These faults may not only affect the normal operation of the ship but also pose potential risks to the environment. Therefore, timely detection and troubleshooting of these faults is crucial.
1. For the first type of fault
The first step is to check the working status of the oil discharge monitoring system. This system is usually installed in a control box, so the control box needs to be thoroughly inspected. The key is to confirm whether the equipment supplying power to each electrical control box is operating normally and whether the control is sensitive. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to whether the relevant indicator lights can display the on/off status normally. Next, test the alarm function of the control box. Put the monitoring system in "test" mode, wait a moment, and observe whether the pointer of the oil concentration detection instrument changes and whether it issues a 15 ppm audible and visual alarm. If inspection reveals that all equipment meets operational requirements, it can be inferred that there may be a problem inside the oil-water separator, namely, excessive oil content in the wastewater. In this case, the oil-water separator needs to be disassembled and inspected for further investigation.
2. Regarding the second type of fault
A thorough analysis of the cause of the safety valve tripping is required. Typically, safety valve tripping may be caused by the following three situations:
① A fault in the safety valve itself, such as spring fatigue and deformation due to prolonged use;
② A fault in the pneumatic control diaphragm in the oil drain device, or insufficient air pressure, causing the back pressure valve on the drain pipe to remain closed;
③ Severe blockage of the coalescing separation element.
3. Regarding the third type of fault
When the internal heating effect of the separator is unsatisfactory, resulting in the temperature failing to reach the predetermined requirement, the problem may lie in the heater connection lines, such as loose or detached connections. Simultaneously, a fault in the heater itself is also a possible cause that cannot be ignored.
① Disassemble the oil-water separator, thoroughly clean the separator's support, and repair any damaged parts using iron cement to ensure a tight connection between the coalescing element and the support.
② Using specialized tools available on board, refabricate the copper connectors of the air supply pipe, ensuring they are intact.
③ Thoroughly clean the interior of the oil-water separator, paying particular attention to each separation component, and replace the fine filter in the adsorption layer to restore its normal function.
Simultaneously, replace the shaft seal packing of the water supply pump one by one, and thoroughly clean the pump's suction inlet coarse filter to ensure smooth operation of the water supply system.
