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Operating Methodology

Figure 1: air starting system of a two-stroke diesel engine (Personnel 2009)

Air compressors feed compressed air into the receivers. The receiver has a capacity of twelve

times the starting air for reversible engines and six times for non-reversible engines. The air then

passes through a wide open pipe towards a remote operating non-return or automatic valve and

after to the cylinder air start valve. The air start valve regulates the amount of air entering the

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Measures ta'en to mitigate explosions in the system include the installation of isolating non-

return valves, flame traps, relief valves, bursting caps and high-temperature alarms or fuses. An

additional cause of the explosion is inadeuate compressor cooling water that causes an

overheated air charge which increases the possibility of an explosion.

BibliographyCompton, P 1997, Troubleshooting Marine Diesel Engines, 4th edn, McGraw-Hill.

Personnel, !"O# $%%9, Fundamentals of Diesel Engines - U. S. Navy, .!.

Go&ernment Printing O'ce, Michigan.