Marine DieselAustralia

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Reference · Page 65

Marine Diesel Glossary

Plain-English definitions of marine diesel, saildrive, shaft, cooling, fuel, electrical and generator terms.

Anti-siphon valve: Device that admits air to break a water column and prevent unwanted siphoning.

Back pressure: Resistance to exhaust flow. Excessive back pressure can reduce power and raise temperature.

BSFC: Brake-specific fuel consumption, usually mass of fuel used per unit of power and time.

Calorifier: Marine hot-water tank heated by engine coolant, electricity or both.

Common rail: Electronically controlled injection system using a shared high-pressure fuel rail.

Compression ignition: Ignition of injected fuel by air heated through compression.

Cutless bearing: Water-lubricated rubber-lined bearing supporting a propeller shaft.

Duty rating: Manufacturer definition of allowable output and operating pattern.

ECU: Electronic control unit managing injection and other functions.

Heat exchanger: Transfers heat between closed coolant and raw water without mixing them.

Intercooler or aftercooler: Cools compressed intake air after the turbocharger.

Lift pump: Supplies low-pressure fuel from tank and filters towards the injection system.

Mixing elbow: Point where cooling water is injected into the exhaust downstream of the engine.

NMEA 2000: Marine data network that may carry engine measurements and alarms.

Primary filter: Vessel-mounted first-stage fuel filter, often with a water separator.

Raw water: Seawater or lake water drawn through the vessel for cooling.

Reduction ratio: Relationship between engine speed and gearbox output speed.

Saildrive: Geared drive leg passing through a yacht hull to a horizontal propeller shaft.

Secondary filter: Fine fuel filter commonly mounted on the engine.

Stern gland: Assembly sealing around a propeller shaft where it passes through the hull.

Waterlock: Wet-exhaust chamber that collects cooling water and reduces noise while the engine runs.