GENERAL PROCEDURESOperate the plant with the minimum variation inspeeds, pressures, and temperatures consistent withoperational commitments. A variation in the output of asingle component can upset the steam cycle balance andrequire adjustments on stations throughout the plant.You can see the truth of this when you compare fuelconsumption during economy trials with that duringnormal operations. Teamwork among watch personneland competition between watches can improve fueleconomy and overall plant performance and reliability.The following pages contain brief descriptions of thegeneral procedures common to most engineering plants.• Follow prescribed acceleration procedures.Built-in safety factors will protect the equipment if youaccelerate rapidly only in emergencies, but routineabuse will overload the plant and reduce reliability.Correct use of the acceleration tables saves fuel andextends machinery life. It also provides a time standardthe engine-room and fireroom watches and the officerof the deck (OOD), can use to develop into a smoothlyfunctioning team.. Combatant ships frequently operate belowmaximum speed, and they use only a fraction of the mainturbines’ power at those speeds. Determine the mosteconomical speed and boiler combination for anyoperating condition that might arise. In doing so, followthe type commander’s directives but allow for anycontingencies that may override the need for economy.. Keep accurate records of boiler feedwater andpotable water consumption. Determine the ship’snormal consumption and post it in tabular form at mainengine control, where it will serve as a ready reference.Any unexplained or marked increase over the normalmeans a leak or faulty operation of the engineering plant,and you should correct the problem immediately. You canhold feedwater losses to a minimum if you take thefollowing precautions:– Be sure the engineering crew is trained in theprocedures used to transfer condensate andfeedwater.– Be sure watch personnel keep a close watch onpump shaft glands, valve glands, drain collectingtanks, atmospheric exhaust, and all other possiblesources of leakage.—Be sure operating personnel consult the watch inthe spaces concerned before they take onmake-up feed, run water down from deaeratingfeed tanks (DFT), or shift feedwater suctions.. Keep boilers clean, inside and out. Soot and scaleare efficient insulators that prevent optimum heattransfer and require a progressively increasingcombusiton rate to maintain a steady steaming rate. Theengineer officer should give this need his personalattention. He may delegate preliminary inspections, buthe must make the final inspection.. The use of distillate fuel reduces the need forfireside cleaning and maintenance, and it improvesreliability. If the condition of refractory at 1800 hours issatisfactory with little or no deposit, and if you makeperiodic inspections, you often delay fireside cleaninguntil overhaul.. You will nearly always have clean boilers if youfollow the Naval Ships’ Technical Manual (NSTM)instructions that are summarized in the followingparagraphs:———lInspect boiler firesides every 1800 hours ofsteaming or more often if needed. Inspect andclean watersides between 1800 and 2000 hoursof steaming or more often if needed.Blow tubes before entering and after leavingport, and at least once each week underway.(Always get the OOD’s permission beforeblowing tubes.)Blow down boilers as needed to maintain thespecified water analysis and avoid highconcentrations of scale-forming salts. Surfaceblow steaming boilers as needed.After you secure a steaming boiler and allowenough time to reduce circulation caused bygeneration, give the boiler a series of bottomblows to remove suspended impurities andscale-forming salts.Take all possible measures to prevent oilcontamination of the feed system and boilers. Besure all engineering operating personnelunderstand the seriousness of oil contaminationof boiler water, its possible causes, and theconsequences.Dirty atomizers, contaminated fuel, and fuel atimproper temperature may require excess air tomaintain acceptable stack conditions. You must watchthe condition of the fire (it should be yellow-orange orgolden yellow in shade), as well as the condition of the4-2
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