Shipborne Telemetry and Control System Ensures Reliable Navigation

In the shipbuilding industry, measurement and control needs focus on two key areas: the engine room and the deck. In the engine room, high temperatures are generated by main engines, auxiliary engines, gearboxes, and compressors during heavy-duty operation. Continuous real-time monitoring is required to prevent mechanical damage, and precise temperature values are essential for lubricating oil and cooling circuits. Heavy fuel separation systems remove impurities through continuous heating and centrifugal separation; water sensors at the purified oil outlet detect changes in flow resistance to signal the control unit for sludge discharge and flushing. The deck area includes spherical LNG tanks made of special stainless steel, isolated from the hull to store liquefied natural gas at low temperatures and approximately 10 bar pressure. Pressure must be monitored in real time; prior to measurement, the medium must be heated to its boiling point of about -40°C before connecting to the pressure transmitter. Freshwater supply relies on pre-stored reserves or seawater desalination. Reverse osmosis membranes require 20 bar to 30 bar pressure (represented as 60bar to 80bar), making upstream pressure monitoring a prerequisite for safe operation. Wastewater is either stored or treated onboard depending on vessel size; both methods require level measurement to prevent overflow and pH and conductivity testing to monitor water quality before and after treatment. Ballast water, drawn from coastal waters and discharged at the next port of call, may carry animals, viruses, other microorganisms, and non-native invasive species. Management requires integrating level, temperature, conductivity, and residual chlorine parameters with treatment systems. The ship's HVAC system adjusts temperature, humidity, and airflow. Heating options include localized and centralized systems; insufficient ventilation increases humidity and promotes bacterial and mold growth, necessitating regular duct cleaning to prevent pathogen proliferation. To address these scenarios, the solution employs threaded RTDs and Pt100 temperature sensors, MIDAS and dTRANS series pressure transmitters, level and temperature sensors, and water analysis sensors for pH and conductivity. Measurement, control, recording, and display are achieved via digiLine digital bus connected to devices like AQUIS touch and mTRON T, supporting star and tree topologies, multi-point simultaneous multi-parameter measurement, and tamper-evident data archiving.