Slow and medium-speed diesel engines are used in a variety of marine applications across the globe. With many of those engines being very well built and rugged in design, it’s not uncommon to find an engine that has been on the water for over 40 years.
Since many of the environmental regulations that were in place during the designing and manufacturing of these older engines have evolved, engines may need some updating to meet current standards. Black smoke coming out of the exhaust stack, as seen in the image below, is considered damaging to the environment and companies want to do what they can to prevent this. Maintaining proper temperature control of your diesel engine fluids can help.
Why is Temperature Control Important?
Temperature control in older engines is critical to maximizing engine efficiency. Proper temperature control can lead to higher engine output, less carbon buildup, and increased fuel economy. Traditionally, mechanical-style thermostatic control valves have been used to regulate engine fluid temperature, but the emergence of electric-actuated control valves, like the AMOT Model G Valve, has shown marked advantages over mechanical valves, potentially making them a thing of the past.
Why Upgrade from Mechanical to Electrical?
The AMOT Model G Valve presents several benefits over a standard 3-way thermostatic control valve including the ability to read and fluctuate based on fluid temperature anywhere within the circuit. Mechanical valves read the temperature at the valve whereas the Model G Valve comes standard with a temperature probe that can be placed where fluid temperature reading is desired. For example, you can regulate the system based on coolant entering the engine, as opposed to the exit temperature.
In addition to remote temperature sensing capabilities, electric-actuated valves increase engine efficiency by decreasing warm-up times. The Model G Valve allows you to adjust the flow rate constantly which translates to tighter temperature tolerances within your cooling system. This feature is important to all vessels and is particularly important to any vessels that have variable loads such as tugboats and container ships.
Finally, thanks to the Model G Valve’s rotary design, the valve includes some economical benefits as well. While most mechanical valves utilize wax elements that must be replaced after continuous use, the G Valve features no internal elements. This helps reduce overall maintenance costs and prevents unnecessary draining of the cooling system to maintain the valve.
How do these Features Work Together in Modernizing your Engine?
Featuring all the benefits listed above, The AMOT Model G Valve helps ensure that engines are maintaining the proper temperature while idling and preventing carbon buildup. With the ability to digitally adjust temperature settings, operators can increase the engine temperature to increase oil viscosity and decrease buildup.
The video below shows how the Model G Valve’s features work together in a coolant circuit.
Upgrading from a mechanical valve to the AMOT Model G Valve couldn’t be easier. With drop-in kits available, installing the electronically actuated valve can be done without making piping changes to your existing system. Contact us today to learn how simple it is to upgrade your current cooling system.
