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HELE MAI OPERATING MANUAL
NW Explorations
4L5: Fuel Management/Tank Valves
In the forward port corner of the engine room there
is a fuel manifold consisting of a set of valves for the
fuel supply to each main engine and the generator, and
another set for the fuel return from these engines back to
the ship’s tanks. (See “Fuel Manifold” next page).
There are sight gauges on the end of each tank that let
you see the level in each. As the fuel level in a pair of
tanks gets lower, you can switch the valves so that the
return and supply sides connect to another tank.
Unless you want to change the balance of fuel between
the tanks, be sure to switch both the supply and return
sides of the fuel lines to the manifolds i.e., if you are
“getting fuel from the forward tanks, “return it to the
forward tanks”!
Failure to have the same tanks both supplying and
returning fuel risks spilling fuel as, after a while, the
tanks getting the “returned” fuel overflow!
There are also seldom-used valves on each tank itself allowing a tank with contaminated fuel to be isolated from the
others.
Note: The Lazarette Tanks, though detailed in this manual, are not to be used!
4L6: Fuel Manifolds
The Fuel Manifold is located directly in the forward
starboard corner of the engine room. The main engines
and the generator each have a fuel supply and, since
extra fuel is pumped to the engine that is used to cool the
engines injection pump, there is a fuel return line as well.
Remember, at slow speeds, these return lines are pumping
a lot of fuel;
you must be careful not to set the valves so
that a return line is switched to a tank for long that is not
also supplying fuel, lest it overflow and pollute the water
through the tank vents’ overflowing!
The diagram to the right shows the fuel manifold, its valves,
and the equipment to which the lines are connected.
Example Port Side:
The black arrows show how fuel would flow to the port
engine when using the forward tank. The operator opens
valves 6, 7 & 3.
The fuel flows:
•
From the forward tank through valve #6;
•
to valve #7;
•
to the fuel filter and engine;
• back to the manifold;
•
then back to the tank through #3.
To accomplish the same result to starboard, the user opens valves 13, 15 and 10.
(Left) A sight gauge. (Right) The fuel manifold.
