1.

Marine Auxiliary systems definition and

objectives
Marine machinery is designed to ensure the proper functioning
of a ships main engines, piping systems, and equipment.
Auxiliary marine machinery includes pumps, compressors, and
blowers for circulating fuel and the fresh water and seawater
used in cooling systems, for supplying air to the starting system
of the main engine, for cooling refrigerated holds, and for air-
conditioning various parts of the ship and for refrigeration
machinery.
Auxiliary marine machinery also includes separators for
removing water and other contaminants from fuel and oil,
steering machinery, capstans, windlasses, winches for
anchoring, mooring, and cargo loading, and cranes. Other items
include heat exchangers used to condense vapors and to heat
and cool working fluids, such as water, oil, and air, filters for the
seawater and fuel supplies, and separators for bilge water.

2. Pumps
There are two general types of water pumps: Centrifugal pumps
and Positive displacement design type. Both types follow the
same purpose, which is to move water from one point to
another continuously. These two major components have a
wide variety of options that might be used depending on your
project specific needs.
2.1 Centrifugal Pumps
A centrifugal water pump uses a rotating impeller to move
water into the pump and pressurize the discharge flow.
Standard, trash, and submersible models are three different
alternatives to centrifugal water pumps. All liquids can be
pumped using centrifugal water pumps, even liquid with low
viscosity. These pumps work great with thin liquids and high
flow rates.
Centrifugal pumps could present the following problems:
Corrosion- Different fluid properties can corrode the pump
 Overheating- Some pump might need liquid recirculating
to avoid overheating caused by low flows
Prime- Centrifugal pumps must be filled with the fluid in
order to operate properly
Cavitation- The positive suction head of the system is too
low for the selected pump
Wear of the ImpellerCan be worsened by suspended
solids
Leakage A long rotating shaft

Centrifugal pumps are used on these applications, just to name

a few:
Buildings: To pump water supply, including pneumatic
systems and in places where no suction lift is required.
Boost Application- To boost pressure from the intake line.
Wells- In domestic water supply systems
Fire protection system - To provide a continuous pressure
source, but these water pumps should be in compliance
with NFPA.
Hot-Water Circulation- To move water in a closed system
which requires low head.

2.2 Positive Displacement Pumps

Positive displacement designs are the ones which deliver a

fixed amount of flow through the mechanical contraction and
expansion of a flexible diaphragm. All operate on the principle
of filling, trapping, transporting, and forcing out. These pumps
are ideal in many industries that manage high viscosity liquids,
or where sensitive solids are also present. Recommended water
pumps to be used for low flow and high-pressure combination
or other applications.
Positive displacement water pumps or rotary pump are very
efficient, due to the fact that they remove air from the lines,
thus eliminating the need to bleed the air from the lines.

In addition, these pumps are great when dealing with high

viscosity liquids. As any equipment, positive displacement
water pumps also present some drawbacks. These types of
pumps require that the clearance between the rotating pump
and the outer edge must be very close. This causes that the
rotation occurs at very slow speeds; otherwise, if the pump is
operated at higher speed, the liquids might erode and will

eventually reduce the efficiency of the water pump.

2.3 Other Pump types depending on the application

Axial Flow Pumps
Axial Flow pumps are a very high flow, low head type of pump.
Also called a propeller pump. Single stage, high specific speed
impeller for high flow low head. Used in Flood dewatering,
power plant circulating water pump, evaporator services, and
irrigation.
Recommended Media (Fluid): Water and relatively thin liquids.
Can pump liquids with or without solids if proper impeller type
is chosen. This pump type is the best type to achieve very high
flow rate with very low head, a hydraulic requirement needed
for certain applications such as flood dewatering.
Flow Rate Ranges: 5,000 - 200,000 gpm
Total Head (Pressure) Ranges: 10 - 30 ft
Horse Power Ranges: 10 - 1,500 hp
Booster Pumps
Booster pumps are used to further boost the pressure in a
system. It may be an end suction, in-line circulator, horizontal
split case, or vertical turbine in a can type of pump. Booster
pumps are almost always a multi-stage pump (has more than
one impeller). All other features are quite specific to the
application. Used in Potable water distribution, irrigation
booster, cooling water booster, process booster service.
Working fluid: Water and relatively thin liquids (won't pump
thicker oils). Normally not used for liquids containing solids.
Available in alloys for corrosive services. Also it allows the
building up of additional pressure that is required to move
liquid a long distance or to use the high pressure for spraying or
other services.
Flow Rate Ranges: 5 - 10,000 gpm
Total Head (Pressure) Ranges: 200 - 7,500 ft
Horse Power Ranges: 1 - 5,000 hp
 Typical pump & system curves

References
Marine Auxiliary Machinery, H. D. McGeorge
Tuthill Pump manufacturer, USA
PumpScout website