New advanced condition-based monitoring technology
08/04/2020
For the past 15 years, Datum Electronics has been providing Marine Shaft Power Meter systems that measure the torque, power and speed generated by engines and used by propellers. Early systems used average data over long voyage cycles and only looked at simple efficiency changes. This data has been used by customers such as Oldendorff Carriers to improve efficiency and validate changes to their operations and ships.The marine industry is faced with challenges such as increasing fuel costs and the implementation of new and stricter environmental regulations. To reinforce this situation, the addition of a new chapter in the IMO MARPOL regulations made the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) mandatory for all ships from 1 January this year. These measures are aimed at improving the operational energy efficiency of existing ships in an attempt to reduce global emissions created by the shipping industry.
Datum has been collecting and analysing data, looking at the signal data in greater depth and at much higher sample rates and resolutions. From these studies, the company has recognised that changes to engine and propeller performance can be identified much earlier if measured in a dynamic way, which is how the new solution was born. Datum Hawk, an advanced condition-based monitoring (CBM) system, uses state-of-the-art condition-based monitoring technologies in order to maximise performance in all conditions and under all loads, providing an indication of the true engine performance at all times.
By delivering dynamic data at rates of up to 2000 sps, Datum Hawk offers a unique insight into the entire shaft line, while producing averaged data for specific fuel oil consumption (SFOC) in parallel. Unlike other CBM systems on the market, Datum Hawk is installed directly on the shaft as part of the vessel’s shaft line, providing significantly earlier detection of any potential failures or downtime, well in advance of any off-shaft sensors (such as vibration or optical sensors) and at much higher amplitudes.
Additionally, by using the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques, the system can observe every cylinder strike through the ground-breaking dynamic torque data profile and deliver engine condition diagnostics in real time. This data, presented in a visual format aboard the ship as well as onshore, enables ship owners and fleet operators to operate a vessel to its ultimate potential.
Mark Gladdis, Marine Product Manager at Datum Electronics, explained: “Over the past 30 years, Datum Electronics has become the world leader in torque and shaft power measurement solutions. In the automotive industry, we have been sampling torque signatures at speeds in excess of 20,000 sps and now Datum Hawk is bringing our advanced technology and years of sensor knowledge to the marine marketplace. By transferring the dynamic profiling technique to our already highly successful Marine Shaft Power Meter systems, we can give a completely new insight into vessel performance. The dynamic torque sampling enables us to observe what is happening with every cylinder stroke, monitor the condition of the engine and predict events before they occur. Being an integral part of the shaft, Datum Hawk is able to detect changes in the live rotational torque signal significantly earlier than any off-shaft sensor.”James Lees, Managing Director, added: “Following years of research and development and working closely with our partners from the University of Strathclyde in conjunction with the world’s leading engine modelling specialists, Datum Electronics has developed an innovative solution that is a quantum leap in engine health monitoring and vessel optimisation. We believe Datum Hawk is the future of real-time condition-based monitoring and failure prediction for the marine industry. We look forward to being a major part of maritime history, working towards providing a cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable future for the shipping industry.”
