.surging .tcs .turbocharger surging
.tc surging
- Surging is a phenomenon that affects centrifugal compressor when:
- mass flow rate of air falls below a suitable level at a given pressure ratio.
- Surging is cyclic back flow of air into compressor when there is high resistance to air flow
- It is caused due to periodical breakdown of air delivery from blower
Indications of surging:
- Rapid surge in scavenge air pressure
- Howling Noise
- Alternate Suck-in & push-out at blower intake
- Gulping of air by blower
- Repeated irregular violent thud by blower
- Fluctuating T/C RPM
- Fluctuating Engine RPM
- High Exhaust Temperature
- Black Smoke
Causes of surging:
- Insufficient Engine room ventilation
- Dirty air filter
- Clogging of TC intake silencer
- Dirty blower
- Dirty scavenge air cooler
- Clogging of gas inlet protection grid
- Dirty nozzle ring/turbine
- Wear of TC components (nozzle ring, turbine blades, shroud ring)
- Increased back pressure due to dirty EGE/silencer
- Power imbalance between cylinders
- Unit cut-out & engine running above 40-50% load
- Engine racing
- Hull fouling – causing the engine to run at overload
- Faulty injection/misfiring
- Mismatching engine & T/C
Consequences of surging:
- Vibration
- Bearing damage
- Turbine blade damage
- Rotor damage
Minimizing the possibility of surging:
- Keep the turbocharger intake filter clean.
- Grit -wash the turbine and water wash the compressor side of the turbocharger.
- Efficient maintenance of air-cooling system
- Proper maintenance and checks should be done for different turbocharger parts periodically. If there are any issues, turbocharger repair to be done as soon as possible without loading the engine
- Soot blow should be done from time to time in case of economizer or exhaust boiler
- Indicator cards to be taken to assess the cylinder and power distribution of individual units
- Ensure the engine auxiliaries and parts which affect the turbocharger are maintained properly
- Regular cleaning and inspection of the exhaust manifold