Ventilation

An ocean-going ship is required to operate in a variety of very different climates.

Air temperatures may range from -15oC to 50oC and sea water temperatures may
range from 0oC to 38oC. The moisture content of the air will vary considerably.
The air from the air-conditioning and ventilation plants is therefore required to
provide an acceptable climate for the crew to live and work in, sufficient air for
machinery use and to maintain temperature and humidity at acceptable levels to
the cargo. The design of suitable systems will therefore require information about
the ships trade routes, types of cargo and machinery installation.
Types of Systems
There are two basic types of ventilation systems; natural and mechanical. In the
natural ventilation system, air movement is created by the difference in
temperature and density of inside and outside air and the trimming of cowls or
scoops towards the wind.

Most modern ships utilize mechanical ventilation for reliability, improved

performance and the reduced size of cowls necessary.
The mechanical ventilation system may be either:
a- Mechanical-supply / natural-exhaust type, or
b- Mechanical- exhaust / natural- supply type, or
c- Mechanical-supply / mechanical- exhaust type
Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

Depending upon the location of the fan or fans within the system. In general type
(a) will maintain a slight positive pressure within the spaces served. Type (b) will
maintain a slight negative pressure within the space served. This type of system
is used in spaces such as galleys, toilets, and pantries where a positive pressure
might dispel the heat and odors into adjacent spaces. Type (c) may produce
either a slight positive or negative pressure within the spaces served depending
on the relative ratings of the supply and exhaust fans.
Mechanical ventilation can also be classified as open or closed system. The open
system uses axial flow fans fitted in the inlet and exhaust trunks. The air is
supplied along trunking and ducts to the bottom of the hold.

The air is drawn from the top of the hold just below the decks. The exhaust fans
can be reversed if condensation is likely near the deck heads, for example with a
low outside air temperature.
The closed system recirculates air and a controlled amount of fresh air can be
admitted. The ventilation air is distributed around the hold and cargo, forming an
insulating wall or curtain between the two. Exhaust air is drawn from the bottom
of the hold.

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

Ventilation of Refrigerated Cargo Holds

These require a carefully controlled air-replacing system for each individual
space. Cooled air is supplied to the refrigerated hold where it gains heat from
ripening cargoes and entrains the gases produced. This air is then exhausted
and a careful balance must be maintained between inlet and exhaust gas
quantities, regardless of the outside climatic conditions.
In figure this is achieved by drawing outside air down to a bank of cooler tubes
via a central unit. The dehumidified air then passes into the cargo holds. The
exhaust gases are drawn from the hold through ducts to the central unit and then
returned to the outside atmosphere.

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

Machinery Spaces
The machinery space requires an air supply for the operation of boilers,
combustion engines, compressors, etc., and to maintain a satisfactory climate for
the operating staff to work in.
Certain machinery consumes or requires air for its operation and sufficient air at
as low temperature as practically possible should be provided. Under pressure
occurring in the machinery space will affect the efficiency and performance of
I.C.E. Over pressure may lead to leakage of hot air into the accommodation.
Ventilation is also necessary to remove the heat generated within the machinery
space and thus provide a reasonable climate for the staff to work in. This very
difficult task is achieved by the provision of ducted supplies of filtered but
uncooled air to as many regions as possible. Particular areas such as workshops
and control rooms, being small, may be air conditioned and more readily
provided with an acceptable working climate.
Various systems of air supply to the machinery space and casing are shown in
the figure.
Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

(a) Machinery space

ventilation using medium
pressure axial flow fan

(b) Machinery space

ventilation using low pressure
axial flow fan and high
pressure centrifugal fan

(c) Machinery space

ventilation using medium
pressure axial flow fans and a
through trunking system

Figure (a) utilizes a medium pressure axial flow fan supplying air down a
trunking, which is proportionally released at the various platform levels and
exhausts through the top of the casing. Figure (b) uses a low pressure axial flow
fan to supply air into the casing area. Also a high pressure centrifugal fan
provides air through ducts to outlets at the various platforms. Figure (c) uses
medium pressure axial flow fans to provide a through trunking system to the
various outlets at the various platforms. This method has proved to be the best.
Double-Bottom Tanks

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

Ventilation of double-bottom tanks is provided by means of an air pipe situated

remote from the filling pipe and usually at the highest point in the tank to avoid
unventilated pockets. The air pipe is led up to the weather deck to a gooseneck
or patent type of head. Air pipes from fuel tanks are positioned in low risk areas
and have flame screen gauzes fitted (see figure).
Cargo Tanks
Ventilation of cargo tanks avoid overpressure or partial pressure conditions which
could occur during loading and unloading of cargo. Temperature fluctuations
during a voyage could have a similar effect. Vapor pipelines from the cargo hatch
are led to pressure/vacuum relief valves which are usually mounted on a
standpipe some distance above the deck. Individual vent lines are fitted for each
tank on large tankers and a common venting line is led up a mast or Sampson
post on smaller vessels.
Design Criteria
The criteria include the recommended ventilation system, the temperature rise
which is the maximum difference between exhaust air and supply air temperature
(6oC for the galley and toilets), and the maximum air change which is the time in
minutes for the supply of a quantity of air equal to the space volume (2 for the
battery room, 10 for the emergency generator room, 1 for the galley, 4 for the
toilets and showers).
In designing a ventilation system, the aim of the designer should be to run the
duct in as nearly a straight line as possible, avoiding sharp bends, abrupt
changes in duct sizes or shapes to minimize excessive pressure losses. Crosssectional areas of ducts should be large enough to permit the air to flow at
moderate velocities to avoid power waste and to reduce noise. Maximum duct
velocity of 10 m/sec for areas where quiet operation is essential and 18 m/sec for
areas where quiet operation is not essential, are good values.
When smaller ducts are taken off the main supply duct to serve individual
spaces, the air quantity is divided in proportion to the area of the duct.
Construction Details
Ducts may be constructed of galvanizes sheet steel in order to withstand
corrosion and vibration, or ducts may be constructed of aluminum in order to
save topside weight. Vertical and horizontal ducts in general cargo holds are
usually constructed of 6.5 mm and 4.8 mm plates respectively.
Because of headroom requirements, most ducts are rectangular; round ducts
being used only in the smaller sizes. Usually a heavy section of ductwork is
Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

welded into the penetrated structure where structural compensation is required.

Hand holes, access holes, and portable sections are provided to permit cleaning,
painting, and inspection. Ducts passing over electrical equipment are made
watertight. Ducts are made with either riveted, welded, or hook seams and are
airtight.
To maintain habitable temperature in machinery spaces and for the removal of
fumes, spot cooling with large quantities of air at high terminal velocities, 13-15
m/s, is used at operating stations and other strategic locations. Exhaust terminals
should be located in the vicinity of heat-producing equipment, and on the upper
levels of the machinery space.
Ventilation Components
a) Types of Fans
Axial flow fans are used widely because of compactness and high efficiency and
are well adapted for ventilation of cargo spaces, machinery spaces and other
spaces where noise is not a significant consideration. Centrifugal fans are used
for ventilation where quiet operation is desired and also for galleys, battery room
exhaust, and areas where explosive vapors are removed, where the motor is not
to be located in the air stream. Propeller fans are used in bulkhead installations
and sometimes in a cowl for machinery space supply and exhaust systems
where the pressure is small.
b) Weather-Terminal Openings

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

These include cowls, goosenecks, mushrooms, louvers and air lift boxes on deck
or in bulkheads. All of these devices are fitted with wire mesh for rat-proofing.
Weather terminals should be so located that exhaust air or stack gasses do not
contaminate supply air.

c) Interior Terminals
High velocity directional terminals are used in galleys, pantries, laundries,
machinery spaces, and similar heat-producing spaces where spot cooling is
desired. Slotted outlets may be used in front of galleys hoods and switchboards.
Ceiling or wall type diffusers are used for ventilated living spaces, with terminal
Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

velocities so as to provide diffusion and throw, without objectionable air

movement and air noise in the space.
Terminals for holds and storerooms are merely open-ended ducts or a cut in the
side of the duct fitted with wire-mesh screens for rat proofing.
d) Exhaust Terminals
These are located close to heat sources and are usually an open-ended duct
covered with wire-mesh or grilles where appearance is important. Exhaust inlet
velocities should be about 5-8 m/s in living spaces and up to 10 m/s in other
places.
e) Dampers
They are sometimes used to control the volume of air delivered at terminals.
Manually operated dampers must be provided on passenger ships at the weather
opening in all ventilating systems to shut off the passage of air in the event f fire.
Automatic dampers are required in exhaust ducts over potential sources of fire in
galleys and are required to operate by melting a fusible link.

Air Conditioning Systems

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya

10

These are used to modify the outside fresh air to improve the ships interior
environment by heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and contaminant removal
processes. Air conditioning is used almost exclusively for living spaces and
sometimes for spaces containing electronic equipment. Conditioning of the air is
accomplished by a cooling medium of chilled water or Freon and a heating
medium of steam, hot water or electricity.
Types of Systems
a) Combination heating and cooling systems.
b) Cooling systems.
c) Dehumidification: for preventing moisture damage or condensation of
moisture on cargo and internal structures of all those portions of holds
suitable for carrying dry cargo.
Design Criteria
Shipboard air conditioning systems are usually designed to maintain inside air
temperatures ranging from 24oC to 29oC dry bulb, and a relative humidity of 50%
with an outside air temperature of 35oC dry bulb and 28oC wet bulb during the
summer season and inside air temperature of 21oC dry bulb with an outside
temperature of -18oC dry bulb during the winter season.
The criteria for cargo hold dehumidification is normally to maintain the dew-point
of atmosphere within the hold at a minimum design depression of 6oC dew-point
below the surface temperature of the cargo or ships structure.

Marine Outfittings

Prof. Dr. Yousri Welaya