Sea water directly sucked by the inner centrifugal pumps of the engines is used for engine cooling. These pumps, by means of their heat exchangers, cool down fresh water in the internal cooling circuit by absorbing transported heat.
The sea water for cooling the engine, enters through the aft foot.
Many waters (harbours, rivers, coastal) contain sand and suspended matter.
In order to avoid the clogging of the heat exchanger and the intercooler, and to increase the durability of the engine cooling pump, each outlet to the sea is equipped with strainer for the external water and with shut-off for maintenance valve. Before entering into the heat exchanger, the cooling water passes through the intercooler to the charge air cooler.
The cooling sea water drawn in by the engine is sent subsequently to the inverters, for lubricant oil cooling.
The sea water for cooling the generator, the air conditioning unit and the interceptor, enters through the water intake placed on the bottom of the hull and protected by the grids.
The cooling water that is injected inside the ducts the exhaust is discharged overboard through the latter route.
The cooling water that is sent to inverters, once the lubricating oil heat absorbed, is conveyed in the exhaust of engines.
There is the possibility, in case of emergency or necessity, of removing large masses of water, if present in the bilge of the engine room, using the aspirations of the engine cooling circuit. For this operation, refer to “Intake emergency engines from the bilge”.
CAUTIONBefore opening the sea cock strainer for cleaning, remember to close the cut-OFF valve in the hull.
If the yacht is not used, close as a precaution, all cut-OFF valves of the sea cocks; as soon as the yacht is reused, remember to open them.
CAUTIONBefore cleaning the seacock filters, check that any utilities supplied with seawater are switched OFF and not in use.
Sea water distribution system diagram
