SNAME T&R Bulletin 6-1 & IMO MEPC.1/Circular 677: Guide to - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SNAME T&R Bulletin 6-1 &

IMO MEPC.1/Circular 677:

Guide to Diagnosing Contaminants in Oily Bilge Water to Maintain, Operate and Troubleshoot Oily Wastewater Treatment Systems Bruce Russell, Chair SNAME T&R Environmental Engineering Committee

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Developed by Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Technical and Research Committee Panel EC-3 on Oily Wastewater and Bilge Water Panel chairs: Haluk Alper, President, Mycelx Technologies Corporation Bruce A. Russell, Managing Director, JS&A Environmental Services, Inc. Contributing panel members: Brian M. Ackerman, Chief Engineer Chris Deschenes, Marine Engineer, OSG Ship Management Ken Olsen, Senior Marine Casualty Analyst, USCG Hendrik F. van Hemmen, Vice President, Martin, Ottaway, van Hemmen & Dolan, Inc.

• Are your OWSs working as efficiently as they should?
• Are your crews frustrated in operating their OWS?
• Are your ships unable to consistently operate with OWS

discharge below 15ppm?

• Are coalescing filters being replaced prematurely?
• Are you spending more on shore disposal and OWS M&O than

you would like? IMO MEPC.1/ Circular 677 is new way to think about OWS and bilge water management.

A New Way to Manage Bilge Water

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Circular 677 provides the foundation for the development of bilge water contaminant identification skills along with diagnostic and bilge water treatment systems troubleshooting techniques to prevent and remedy many types of oily bilge water system failures. In addition:

• A range of likely shipboard sources of contamination are

identified.

• Simple to administer tests for ships crew to perform to

identify contaminants.

• Recommended preventive measures are provided.
• Recommended corrective or remedial actions are provided.

IMO MEPC.1/ Circular 677

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Why be Concerned with Contaminants in Bilge Water?

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• Newer oil content meters (OCM) are built to International Maritime

Organization (IMO) standard MEPC 107(49). They are specifically designed to detect oil emulsions particles and prevent their discharge. A design limitation in most oil content meters is the limited capability to discriminate between oil and some non-oil particles. Older MEPC 60(33) OCM are poor at detecting oil emulsions and do not discriminate between oily particles and

• ther particles. Newer MEPC 107(49) meters are more finely tuned to detect
• ily emulsions and iron oxide particles; however there are still limited in their

ability to detect some particles and non-oily emulsions (e.g., soaps, solvents & detergents). When there is a heavy particulate load in bilge water, oil content meters can often prevent the discharge of processed bilge water.

• Some of these contaminants can foul the inner workings of an OWS: e.g.,

coalescing filters and ultra-filtration elements.

• Excess water will make the OWS work harder and increase M&O costs.

Determining what contaminants, particulates, and particulate and emulsion forming chemicals are present in the bilge is essential.

Sources of Contamination in a Typical Vessel

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• 1. Diesel engine after coolers (clean water)
• 2. Sludge from decanting / bottom draining storage and sludge tanks. Lube oil and

fuel oil purification (oily water)

• 4. Fuel oil storage and settling tanks (oily water)
• 5. Lube oil and fuel oil filtration (oil)
• 6. Machinery leakages
• 7. Condensate from air compressors and compressed air systems
• 8. Diesel engine piston stuffing box leakages and piston underside blow-down

(slow-speed diesels only)

• 9. Boiler water / condensate drains (different than piston cooling water because

these include other types of chemicals (e.g., solvents), causing different concerns)

• 10. Equipment and engine room washing
• 11. Economizer water washing (soot and solvents)
• 12. Seawater / freshwater cooling (a potential source of biological contaminants)
• 13. Firefighting foam
• 14. Water treatment chemicals
• 15. Engine coolant
• 16. Grey water drains (soaps, detergents, biological detritus, and solvents
• 17. Sanitary system leaks and overflows (water and biological detritus)
• 18. Air conditioning and refrigeration condensate

It is highly recommended that ship owner’s, port engineers / company superintendents, and chief engineers develop a similar flow diagram for the source(s) of bilge water contaminants for each ship in the company fleet. 6

Organization of the Guide

• Describes how to diagnose the presence
• f contaminants using a trouble shooting

decision tree and a six point diagnostic process found in six Annexes.

• It also describes chemical and physical

analytical techniques used in the diagnostic processes.

• Last, the Guide describes and provides

recommended preventive and remedial or corrective measures.

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D Does t es the OC e OCM r rea ead va value 0 e 0 with c th clean w n wate ter? r? OCM i M is w working I Is t the O OCM CM r readi ding > > 1 15 ppm ppm constantly ly d durin ing B Bilg ilge O OWS

• pe
• peration
• n?

Bilg ilge Un Unit it is is working YE YES NO NO YE YES NO NO Oi Oil i is n s not p presen esent Is it it O Oil? il? T To c che heck i k if the the 1 15 p ppm readi ding i is du due t to oi

• oil

No o

• il is

il is v vis isib ible le a and water er i is c s clea ear The h higher O OCM r M read ading is du due t to s

• sol
• lubl

ble det eter ergen ents o s or d deg egrea easer sers Oil is il is v vis isib ible le a and t the water is is c clo loudy No o

• il is

il is v vis isib ible le a and t the water is is c clo loudy Oil is il is v vis isib ible le a and t the water er i is c s clea ear OCM is is f fault lty Possi ssible C e Causes: ses: Perman anent f film o

• n
• ptic

ical c l cell ll Air bu bubbl bbles Elect ctronics cs Calib libratio ion Refer t to A

• Appe

ppendi dix I I & & Annex 1 x 1 Leg egen end Correc ective ve Mea easu sure Resu esult Test est Qu Quest estion  Colle llect B Bilg ilge O OWS e efflu luent in in a c a clear ar, t , tal all, an , and n nar arrow glass c ss container er w with n no so soap resi esidue  Let et t the sa e sample si e sit f for 1 1 h hour  Chec eck f for vi visi sible sh e sheen een o

• r o
• il

laye yer o r on the n the s surf rface o

• f the

the water s samp mple  Note te the the c clari rity o ty of the the w wate ter as c clou

• udy

dy, c clear, or

• r w

with c col

• lor
• r

Refer t to A

• Appe

ppendi dix I II Per erform c clea ean water er f flush sh o

• n

the OC e OCM p per er instructions Enga gage ge Bilg ilge Un Unit it Has c s cloudiness r ess red educed ed? YE YES NO NO NO NO YE YES The he hi highe her O r OCM rea eading i is d s due t e to particul ulates/ bio iolo logic icals ls What i is c caus using cloudiness? ess? Is t s ther ere a e a r red eduction/ elim limin inatio ion o

• f c

colo lor wit ithin in 5 5 m min inutes a and is is ther ere o e outgassi ssing Turbid idit ity-causin ing mic icrobia ial d l detrit itus has p s prec ecipitated ed Refer t to A Annex 4 x 4 Rouge i e is p s presen esent Refer t to A Annex 4 x 4 Cloudiness h ess has r s red educed ed Oil is il is e emuls lsif ifie ied Refer t to A Annex 3 x 3  Acquire 5 50mL sa sample; e;  Add a dd a pi pinch of

• f

ci citric a c aci cid (approxima mately .2 .2 t to .5 .5 g gram ams)  Add 2 dd 2 dr drops

• ps of
• f s

sulfuric aci cid p per 5 50cc s cc sample  Let et t the sa e sample si e sit f for 1 15 mi minut utes Refer t to A

• Appe

ppendi dix I II No o

• il is

il is v vis isib ible le a and water er i is c s clea ear b but di discol

• lor
• red

Soot i is p s presen esent Refer t to A

• Appe

ppendi dix I II & & Annex 3 x 3 Resi esidue m e most st l likel ely detergent o

• r o
• ther n

non- vola latile ile a alk lkalin line m materia ial Refer t to A

• Appe

ppendi dix I II & & Annex 2 x 2 The h higher O OCM r M read ading is du due t to s

• sol
• lubl

ble det eter ergen ents o s or d deg egrea easer sers

START

Refer t to A Appendix I x II an and Annex 2 x 2

IM IMO M MEP EPC.1/ C Circul ular 6 677 D Diagn agnost stic / / T Troublesh eshooting D g Dec ecisi sion T Tree ee

Oi Oil i is p s presen esent  Refer t to A Annex 6 x 6 Contamin inatio ion is is o

• il

il  Dec ecrea ease F se Flow  Flush w h with ho th hot water er Refer t to A Annex 5 x 5

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• A diagnostic decision tree for bilge water treatment systems
• perating in the full range of shipboard environments is

provided for use in troubleshooting common system problems.

• The decision tree is annotated and includes detailed diagnostic

techniques and recommended remedial or corrective measures for both acute and chronic conditions.

• Detailed techniques and recommendations provided in

Appendices (theory) and Annexes (application of specific techniques and recommended measures).

• The decision tree is designed to be used by shipboard

engineers (from the "4th engineer“ to the Chief Engineer) and shore- side technical support.

The Decision Tree

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The Decision Tree (continued)

• Detailed procedures for conducting the various tests are found

in Appendix II and are noted in both the decision tree and the Annexes.

• Specific recommended preventive, remedial/corrective actions

are not included in the decision tree, but are included in each Annex.

• Appendix III summarizes and describes all recommended

preventive, remedial/corrective actions.

• Appendix I provides the theory behind the operation of the Oil

Content Meter .

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Circular 677 Annexes

• Annex 1—Troubleshooting Contaminant Related Oil Content

Meter Malfunctions (light scattering / turbidity OCMs) & general OWS failure

• Annex 2—Detection of detergents and solvents
• Annex 3—Emulsions
• Annex 4— Detecting Particulates: Biological, Soot and Rouge

(Iron Oxide Compounds)

• Annex 5—Post-treatment (OWS) Oil Sheen
• Annex 6—Detecting Both Oil and Oil Emulsion: Multiple

Contaminants and /or Mechanical Failure

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The Six Annexes

• Each annex corresponds to the logic flow of one or more

branches of the decision tree, as annotated in the decision tree.

• The annexes generally follow the format:
• Theory
• Causes
• Diagnostic / Confirmatory Tests
• Remedial and Corrective Actions
• Preventive Measures
• Each annex corresponds to the logic flow of one or more

branches of the decision tree, as annotated in the decision tree.

• The Annexes as well as the decision tree also refer the

diagnostician / trouble shooter to Appendices.

• These appendices provide the theoretical and technical basis

for the annexes.

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Appendix II—Seven Tests: Diagnostic Techniques

Detailed procedures to conduct seven diagnostic tests

• 1. Visual inspection – Detection of non-emulsified oil
• 2. Acid split test (non organic acid in concentration so as not to

chemically react with oil)– Breaks out emulsified oil to surface of container

• 3. Evaporative residue pH test (ERT pH test) (slowly heat the

sample and evaporate off the water)– Detection of soap, detergents and non-volatile alkaline solvents.

• 4. Combined evaporative residue test (ERT) (slowly heat the sample

and evaporate off the water)– – Detection of soot

• 5. Citric acid test – Detection of turbidity-causing iron compounds

(rouge or rust) particles—the mixture / solution will outgas and the color will change.

• 6. Citric acid test – Detection of products of bacterial and microbial

decomposition (from sewage, grey water and growth of life forms in the bilge and piping) particles—the mixture / solution will outgas.

• 7. Color – Usually due to one of the above factors and often

accompanied by out-gassing.

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Example: Citric acid tests– Detection of iron oxides or products of bacterial and microbial decomposition

Add a pinch of citric acid (approximately 0.2 to 0.5 grams) to a 50 ml bilge water sample.

• If the discoloration or turbidity-causing agent is reddish there will be an out-

gassing (effervescence) and a reduction or elimination of the color within 5

• minutes. Out-gassing and color elimination are a positive indication of iron
• xide compounds… These iron-oxide compounds are from inorganic

sources and are often found in older and / or poorly maintained machinery

• spaces. These particles can be detected by an oil content meter and read

as oil.

• Addition of citric acid to a sample will result in turbidity-causing microbial

products of bacterial and microbial decomposition to precipitate (come out

• f solution and sink to the bottom) without out-gassing and an improvement

in clarity of the sample…. Cases indicative of biological contamination…due to unusual discharges, from cleaning operations or from intermittent

• peration of an OWS. (Life forms can grow in piping and tanks that are not
• perated regularly.) These particles can be detected by an oil content meter

and read as oil.

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Example: Citric acid tests – Iron (rust) and Biological Detritus: Remedial / Corrective & Preventive Actions (excerpts)

• Treatment and discharge of contaminated bilge water to a reception facility.
• For biological contamination, treat bilge tank(s) with a biocide.
• Hot water flush of OWS clean out tanks and piping that have sludge build up.
• Cleaning of bilge and other affected areas to remove sludge and rust.
• Keep rust from aging machinery and fittings from entering bilge.
• Tank coatings and pipe condition play a major role in the operation. Focus on

bilge water sources and utilization of composite pipe materials to prevent issues caused by corrosion. Tank coatings should also be examined and

• maintained. This is particularly important in low point collections areas.
• Segregation of nutrient and contamination sources: Check for and replace

leaky sewage and cooling (sea suction) pipes.

• Pre-treatment filtration of solids
• Bilge pre-treatment high-aspect ratio (height to width) settling tank to allow

large solids to settle.

• Post-OWS filtration with small particle filters. Clean OCM glass (eliminate

rouge build-up).

• Upgrade to a MEPC 107(49) OWS which is more tolerant of some solids.

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• The Bilge Water Solutions Kit was built by a mariner & author
• f IMO Circular 677 to put everything needed in one place.
• Step-by-step, color coded instructions for each of the

seven IMO Circular 677 diagnostic tests.

• Simple to use, requires minimal understanding of chemistry

and functions as a portable laboratory.

• Clear link from each problem identified to relevant guidance in

the Circular, its Annexes & Appendices

• All tools & reagents needed to run all seven diagnostic tests --
• nce a week for approx two years
• Ruggedized design & construction for shipboard use --

designed by mariners for mariners

• Low initial price, low per test price -- may return total cost with

the 1st pump-out avoided!

How Can Owners, Operators and Chief Engineers Guard Take Advantage of IMO Circular 677?

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The Bilge Water Solutions Kit---User’s Guide Example text

Before testing:

• 1. Put on gloves and eye protection.
• 2. Collect a sample of bilge water in a clean, non-plastic
• container. Plastic or dirty containers can invalidate test results.

TEST PROCEDURES Emulsified Oil (Circ. 677/Annex 3)

• 1. Pour 40ml of the bilge water sample into a beaker.
• 2. Add three drops of Reagent 1 (Black Label). Put the top back on the bottle &

close it tightly – or the reagent can leak. Stir sample easily for 30 seconds with the glass stirring rod.

• 3. Allow to sit for 10 minutes.
• 4. Look for oil at top of the sample in the beaker.
• 5. If oil is present, go to Circ. 677/Annex 3 for corrective actions.
• 6. Mark results in the Bilge Water Test Log.

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• In one field test a Marinfloc OWS went into recirculation
• mode. Before the existence of the Kit, the chief engineer would

have had to contact the manufacturer for technical support and then pump out his bilge water holding tanks at the next port.

• With the Kit, and following the easy to use instructions his crew

was able to identify excessive soot and detergents, troubleshoot the problem, and get his OWS running in 3 hours - all while underway.

• Using the Kit and Circular 677, he identified the source of the

soot and detergents and instituted an on-board prevention program.

Case Study

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For More Information

www.circ677.com

E-mail: info@circ677.com or barussell@verizon.net Telephone: 1 301 656 1512 1 301 656 1751

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