New camera checks cylinders and exhausts

The LCC unit has four built-in cameras to enable photography of the complete liner running surface, cylinder cover, lube oil injection area, exhaust valve, start air valve and injector valves.

Alexander Malt, global sales and marketing director at Chris-Marine, said that the launch was an important step. “We know that at least 10% of newbuildings need to have their cylinder liners replaced already before the first dry-docking, a costly consequence of failing to keep the liners in top condition,” he said.

“However, this problem can easily be prevented and that’s where our camera comes into play. LCC detects and documents abnormal surface conditions and helps the engine crew determine if measures need to be taken. By monitoring the condition of the liner regularly, severe damage to the engine can be prevented and unnecessary investments avoided,” he added.

The images captured by the camera are used to evaluate cylinder condition parameters like the presence of cylinder honing marks and wave-cut groove extension, black lacquering and bore polish, size of cylinder wear edge and cleanliness of ring land. In addition, the pictures can be used to inspect exhaust valve, fuel injector valves, lube oil injection area and start air valve.

Suitable for engines with a bore size of between 480mm and 980mm, the unit can document up to 14 cylinders taking approximately 15 minutes per cylinder. Tools for centring, inserting and extracting the camera are included and the LCC can be combined with Chris-Marine’s liner diameter measurement instrument, LDM, by using the LDM tablet.