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 This Classification News replaces No. 24/2009, originally issued on August 14, 2009. It has been updated to clarify the information relating to review of boilers, burners and fuel oil systems.
As a result of various environmental regulations, main and auxiliary boilers will be required to change from standard heavy fuel oil (HFO), for which many of them were specifically designed, to operate on low-sulphur fuel oils. These will almost inevitably be gas oil fuels. When using, and changing to and from, low-sulphur gas oils, it will be necessary to ensure that boiler safety and availability are not adversely affected.
This has been taken into account in Lloyd’s Register’s Rules since 2007. However, due to the current level of interest in using low-sulphur gas oils to meet the EU Directive 2005/33/EC ‘at berth’ requirements, the California Air Resources Board’s California waters requirements and the post January 1, 2015, revised MARPOL Annex VI SECA requirements, the following points are highlighted to owners and operators:
• Boiler and fuel system manufacturers should be consulted for fuel switching guidance and to confirm that the boiler, combustion control systems and associated fuel system components, such as pumps, are suitable for the intended types of fuel.
• The furnace purge process must be functioning correctly. It is essential that the whole of the furnace space is fully purged before re-lighting any fires.
• Burners, in general, and tips, in particular, must be appropriate to each type of fuel to be used.
• The spark igniters (or equivalent) must be correctly functioning and positioned so as to readily ignite the fuel spray on start up.
• All boiler flame detection and related safety systems must be operating correctly. In the case of flame detectors, they must be correctly positioned to pick out the particular flame pattern which is encountered with the types of fuel to be used.
• Manual and automated combustion control system functions should be checked as necessary to ensure they are operating correctly and reliably.
• Due to their searching nature, the use of gas oil fuels in systems which have generally previously operated with HFO can result in seepage of fuel from pipe flanges, equipment seams and other fittings.
• To ensure the minimum quantity of carbon deposition material within the combustion and uptake spaces, soot blowers should be operated at the latest possible opportunity before entry into coastal and port waters.
• The boilers, burner and fuel oil system, including the relevant automatic controls, should be reviewed by means of a HAZOP workshop, through which the action points for the operators and manufacturers can be identified. (A HAZOP workshop is the preferred approach. However, a suitable risk assessment may be undertaken by the system designer(s) and/or manufacturer(s) provided the results are distributed to all stakeholders for comments.)
• Oil fuel burning arrangements must be in accordance with the Rules of the relevant classification society.
The above list is not exhaustive. Owners are reminded that all modifications to main and auxiliary boilers and associated fuel supply and control systems must be appraised by the vessel’s classification society in order to ensure that class is maintained.
INFORMATION
Further information
Contact: Paul Lam
T +44 (0)20 7423 2673
F +44 (0)20 7423 2053
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