New propulsion condition monitoring service from Wärtsilä

PCMS's advanced data-collection and analysis, combined with Wärtsilä's understanding of marine propulsion, allows ship operators to prevent damage and lower life cycle costs, as well as limit their vessel's environmental impact by keeping propulsion systems operating at high efficiency. The need for periodical inspection of propulsion equipment can be eliminated by successfully integrating PCMS in the maintenance program, noted the power solutions.

The new system is adapted from the remote monitoring architecture Wärtsilä developed for its engine monitoring service, combining sensory data such as vibrations, pressures, and temperatures with the operational parameters of the propulsion equipment, such as pitch, steering feedback and set points.

In addition, it takes into consideration the nautical parameters like vessel speed, rate of turn and draught, thereby giving the customer the ability to accurately relate sensory data to the actual operating conditions.

The system has been developed to detect the operational states of the propulsion equipment through real-time comparisons of parameters from multiple sources. It can also measure vibrations on the inside of thrusters using sensors located right next to bearings and gears.