Ven

ntilation
n

An ocean-going
o
g ship is req
quired to operate in a variety of very differe
ent climatess.
o
o
Air te
emperature
es may rang
ge from -15
5 C to 50 C and sea water
w
tempe
eratures ma
ay
o
o
range from 0 C to 38 C. The moisture
e content of
o the air will vary conssiderably.
The air from th
he air-conditioning and ventilatio
on plants iss therefore required to
t
proviide an acce
eptable clim
mate for the crew to live and wo
ork in, suffficient air fo
or
mach
hinery use and to maiintain temp
perature and
d humidity at acceptable levels to
t
the cargo.
c
The design of suitable
s
sysstems will th
herefore req
quire inform
mation abou
ut
the ships
s
trade routes, typ
pes of cargo
o and mach
hinery installation.
Type
es of Syste
ems
Therre are two basic
b
typess of ventilattion system
ms; natural and
a mecha
anical. In th
he
naturral ventilattion system
m, air mo
ovement iss created by the difference in
i
temp
perature an
nd density of
o inside an
nd outside air and the
e trimming of cowls or
o
scoo
ops towards
s the wind.

Mostt modern ships utilize mecha

anical ven
ntilation forr reliabilityy, improve
ed
perfo
ormance an
nd the reducced size of cowls nece
essary.
The mechanical ventilation
n system may be eithe
er:
e, or
a- Mechanical-supply / natural-exxhaust type
b- Mechanical- exhausst / natural-- supply typ
pe, or
c-- Mechanical-supply / mechaniccal- exhaustt type
Marin
neOutfittingss

Prof.Dr.YousriWelayya

Depe
ending upon the locatiion of the fa
an or fans within
w
the system.
s
In general
g
typ
pe
(a) will
w maintain
n a slight po
ositive presssure within
n the space
es served. Type
T
(b) will
main
ntain a sligh
ht negative pressure within
w
the space serve
ed. This typ
pe of system
m
is ussed in space
es such as galleys, toilets, and pantries
p
whe
ere a positiive pressurre
migh
ht dispel the heat and
d odors into
o adjacent spaces. Type
T
(c) may
m producce
eithe
er a slight positive
p
or negative
n
prressure within the spa
aces served
d dependin
ng
on th
he relative ratings
r
of th
he supply and exhaustt fans.
Mech
hanical ven
ntilation can
n also be cla
assified as open or clo
osed system
m. The ope
en
syste
em uses axial
a
flow fa
ans fitted in
i the inlett and exha
aust trunks. The air is
i
supp
plied along trunking
t
an
nd ducts to the
t bottom of the hold
d.

n from the top of the hold

h
just be
elow the de
ecks. The exhaust
e
fan
ns
The air is drawn
can be
b reversed
d if condensation is likkely near th
he deck hea
ads, for exa
ample with a
low outside
o
air temperature
t
e.
The closed sys
stem recircu
ulates air and
a
a contrrolled amou
unt of fresh
h air can be
b
admiitted. The ventilation
v
a is distrib
air
buted aroun
nd the hold and cargo, forming an
a
insulating wall or
o curtain between
b
the
e two. Exha
aust air is drawn
d
from
m the bottom
m
e hold.
of the

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neOutfittingss

Prof.Dr.YousriWelayya

Ventilation of Refrigerated Cargo Holds

These require a carefully controlled air-replacing system for each individual
space. Cooled air is supplied to the refrigerated hold where it gains heat from
ripening cargoes and entrains the gases produced. This air is then exhausted
and a careful balance must be maintained between inlet and exhaust gas
quantities, regardless of the outside climatic conditions.
In figure this is achieved by drawing outside air down to a bank of cooler tubes
via a central unit. The dehumidified air then passes into the cargo holds. The
exhaust gases are drawn from the hold through ducts to the central unit and then
returned to the outside atmosphere.

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Prof.Dr.YousriWelaya

Mach
hinery Spa
aces
The machinery
y space re
equires an
n air supply for the operation of boilerss,
bustion eng
gines, comp
pressors, etc., and to maintain a satisfactoryy climate fo
or
comb
the operating
o
sttaff to work in.
Certa
ain machinery consum
mes or requ
uires air forr its operatiion and suffficient air at
a
as lo
ow tempera
ature as practically po
ossible sho
ould be pro
ovided. Und
der pressurre
occu
urring in the
e machinerry space will
w affect th
he efficienccy and perfformance of
o
I.C.E
E. Over pre
essure mayy lead to le
eakage of hot air into
o the acco
ommodation
n.
Venttilation is also necessa
ary to remo
ove the hea
at generate
ed within the
e machinerry
spacce and thus
s provide a reasonablle climate for
f the stafff to work in. This verry
difficcult task is
s achieved by the prrovision off ducted supplies of filtered bu
ut
unco
ooled air to as many re
egions as possible.
p
Pa
articular are
eas such ass workshop
ps
and control ro
ooms, being small, may
m
be air condition
ned and more
m
readilly
proviided with an
n acceptab
ble working climate.
Vario
ous system
ms of air supply to the
e machineryy space an
nd casing are
a shown in
i
the fiigure.
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neOutfittingss

Prof.Dr.YousriWelayya

(a)) Machinery
y space
ve
entilation using
g medium
pre
essure axial flow
f
fan

(b) Machinery space

e
ventilation
n using low pressure
p
axial flow
w fan and high
h
pressure centrifugal fa
an

(c) Machine
ery space
ventilation ussing medium
pressure axia
al flow fans an
nd a
through trunkking system

Figurre (a) utilizes a med

dium presssure axial flow fan supplying air down a
trunkking, which
h is proporrtionally released at the variou
us platform levels and
exha
austs throug
gh the top of
o the casin
ng. Figure (b)
( uses a low pressure axial flow
w
fan to
t supply air into the
e casing area.
a
Also a high prressure cen
ntrifugal fa
an
proviides air thrrough ducts to outletss at the va
arious platfforms. Figu
ure (c) use
es
mediium pressu
ure axial flo
ow fans to
o provide a through trunking
t
syystem to the
vario
ous outlets at
a the vario
ous platform
ms. This me
ethod has proved to be
e the best.
Doub
ble-Bottom
m Tanks

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neOutfittingss

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Ventilation of double-bottom tanks is provided by means of an air pipe situated

remote from the filling pipe and usually at the highest point in the tank to avoid
unventilated pockets. The air pipe is led up to the weather deck to a gooseneck
or patent type of head. Air pipes from fuel tanks are positioned in low risk areas
and have flame screen gauzes fitted (see figure).
Cargo Tanks
Ventilation of cargo tanks avoid overpressure or partial pressure conditions which
could occur during loading and unloading of cargo. Temperature fluctuations
during a voyage could have a similar effect. Vapor pipelines from the cargo hatch
are led to pressure/vacuum relief valves which are usually mounted on a
standpipe some distance above the deck. Individual vent lines are fitted for each
tank on large tankers and a common venting line is led up a mast or Sampson
post on smaller vessels.
Design Criteria
The criteria include the recommended ventilation system, the temperature rise
which is the maximum difference between exhaust air and supply air temperature
(6oC for the galley and toilets), and the maximum air change which is the time in
minutes for the supply of a quantity of air equal to the space volume (2 for the
battery room, 10 for the emergency generator room, 1 for the galley, 4 for the
toilets and showers).
In designing a ventilation system, the aim of the designer should be to run the
duct in as nearly a straight line as possible, avoiding sharp bends, abrupt
changes in duct sizes or shapes to minimize excessive pressure losses. Crosssectional areas of ducts should be large enough to permit the air to flow at
moderate velocities to avoid power waste and to reduce noise. Maximum duct
velocity of 10 m/sec for areas where quiet operation is essential and 18 m/sec for
areas where quiet operation is not essential, are good values.
When smaller ducts are taken off the main supply duct to serve individual
spaces, the air quantity is divided in proportion to the area of the duct.
Construction Details
Ducts may be constructed of galvanizes sheet steel in order to withstand
corrosion and vibration, or ducts may be constructed of aluminum in order to
save topside weight. Vertical and horizontal ducts in general cargo holds are
usually constructed of 6.5 mm and 4.8 mm plates respectively.
Because of headroom requirements, most ducts are rectangular; round ducts
being used only in the smaller sizes. Usually a heavy section of ductwork is
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Prof.Dr.YousriWelaya

welded into the penetrated structure where structural compensation is required.

Hand holes, access holes, and portable sections are provided to permit cleaning,
painting, and inspection. Ducts passing over electrical equipment are made
watertight. Ducts are made with either riveted, welded, or hook seams and are
airtight.
To maintain habitable temperature in machinery spaces and for the removal of
fumes, spot cooling with large quantities of air at high terminal velocities, 13-15
m/s, is used at operating stations and other strategic locations. Exhaust terminals
should be located in the vicinity of heat-producing equipment, and on the upper
levels of the machinery space.
Ventilation Components
a) Types of Fans
Axial flow fans are used widely because of compactness and high efficiency and
are well adapted for ventilation of cargo spaces, machinery spaces and other
spaces where noise is not a significant consideration. Centrifugal fans are used
for ventilation where quiet operation is desired and also for galleys, battery room
exhaust, and areas where explosive vapors are removed, where the motor is not
to be located in the air stream. Propeller fans are used in bulkhead installations
and sometimes in a cowl for machinery space supply and exhaust systems
where the pressure is small.
b) Weather-Terminal Openings

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These include cowls, goosenecks, mushrooms, louvers and air lift boxes on deck
or in bulkheads. All of these devices are fitted with wire mesh for rat-proofing.
Weather terminals should be so located that exhaust air or stack gasses do not
contaminate supply air.

c) Interior Terminals
High velocity directional terminals are used in galleys, pantries, laundries,
machinery spaces, and similar heat-producing spaces where spot cooling is
desired. Slotted outlets may be used in front of galleys hoods and switchboards.
Ceiling or wall type diffusers are used for ventilated living spaces, with terminal
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Prof.Dr.YousriWelaya

velocities so as to provide diffusion and throw, without objectionable air

movement and air noise in the space.
Terminals for holds and storerooms are merely open-ended ducts or a cut in the
side of the duct fitted with wire-mesh screens for rat proofing.
d) Exhaust Terminals
These are located close to heat sources and are usually an open-ended duct
covered with wire-mesh or grilles where appearance is important. Exhaust inlet
velocities should be about 5-8 m/s in living spaces and up to 10 m/s in other
places.
e) Dampers
They are sometimes used to control the volume of air delivered at terminals.
Manually operated dampers must be provided on passenger ships at the weather
opening in all ventilating systems to shut off the passage of air in the event f fire.
Automatic dampers are required in exhaust ducts over potential sources of fire in
galleys and are required to operate by melting a fusible link.

Air Conditioning Systems

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10

These are used to modify the outside fresh air to improve the ships interior
environment by heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and contaminant removal
processes. Air conditioning is used almost exclusively for living spaces and
sometimes for spaces containing electronic equipment. Conditioning of the air is
accomplished by a cooling medium of chilled water or Freon and a heating
medium of steam, hot water or electricity.
Types of Systems
a) Combination heating and cooling systems.
b) Cooling systems.
c) Dehumidification: for preventing moisture damage or condensation of
moisture on cargo and internal structures of all those portions of holds
suitable for carrying dry cargo.
Design Criteria
Shipboard air conditioning systems are usually designed to maintain inside air
temperatures ranging from 24oC to 29oC dry bulb, and a relative humidity of 50%
with an outside air temperature of 35oC dry bulb and 28oC wet bulb during the
summer season and inside air temperature of 21oC dry bulb with an outside
temperature of -18oC dry bulb during the winter season.
The criteria for cargo hold dehumidification is normally to maintain the dew-point
of atmosphere within the hold at a minimum design depression of 6oC dew-point
below the surface temperature of the cargo or ships structure.

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Prof.Dr.YousriWelaya