Many ships run economically without elaborate monitoring systems. Fuel consumption measurement in the booster module is proven practice. In this measuring concept, which KRAL calls "single-line measurement", the total of the consumptions of all the engines and generators that are supplied by this booster module are detected.
Engine-specific consumption measurement in real-time is not possible in the booster module before the mixing tank. Put precisely, the refilling quantity of the refilling tank is measured. At a sufficiently long measuring time the refilling quantity corresponds to the fuel consumption. These limitations are accepted for this measuring concept. Although this is a simple and proven measurement method, measuring precision and signal transfer are nevertheless available.
With the OMP flowmeter and the Count-On Mini display electronics KRAL offers an attractive solution for single-line measurement in the booster module. The fuel consumption can be read directly at the flowmeter and is available as a signal for an external on-board display system.
Ship owners who wish or require more comprehensive measuring will find systems at KRAL that acquire the data of all the fuel consumers individually in real-time.

The required cylinder lubricating oil quantity depends on the sulfur content of the fuel. The sulfur content varies with the fuel sorts and the bunker location. Engine manufacturers specify the lubricating oil quantity by means of a table.
Technicians on board derive the value of the sulfur content from the Bunker Delivery Note (BDN), and the associated lubricating oil quantity from the table. The table value is entered into the lubricating oil system. The lubricating oil systems do not offer measurement of the lubricating oil. Instead the board technicians have to trust that the entered lubricating oil quantity is correct.
Often the technicians help themselves by making markings on the sight glass of the lubricating oil tank in order to estimate the amount of lubricating oil injected. Ship owners know that if the amount of lubricating oil is too high, deposits on the pistons and subsequent damage results. Evidently the table values are often too high. In addition to cylinder damage, excessive lubricating oil results in higher costs.
KRAL recommends giving up the hope of correct table values and estimation using the sight class and replacing them by reliable measuring with KRAL flowmeters.
Measuring here is a demanding task because small amounts of lubricating oil have to be measured. In addition, the multi-pistonc lubriating oil pumps cause pressure surges in the lubricating oil lines. The oil flow pulsates on the one hand through the reciprocating piston movements and on the other hand through sheared-off lubricating oil quantities under high pressure at the delivery end of the respective piston stroke. Under the influence of the pressure surges, the lubricating oil time-and-again flows briefly against the specified flow direction. KRAL flowmeters measure in both flow directions, recognize return flows, if they are equipped with the corresponding sensor equipment, and take these into consideration during measured-value generation. Only this type of measurement ensures reliable and precise measured values. KRAL cylinder lubricating oil measurement pays off within a short time since lubricating oil is expensive.
In order to optimize ship operating costs many ship owners rely on performance monitoring systems. The aim is to have full control over the consumption specifications in order to achieve the efficiency target that was calculated and specified during the ship construction during real ship operation as well, and furthermore to recognize optimization potential. KRAL flowmeters of the OMP series with electronic unit allow display directly on site. The measured values are furthermore available in optimal data quality for simple interfacing with monitoring systems.

At dual-fuel engines (oil / LNG) and LNG engines a small amount (1% – 3%) of diesel oil is required for the ignition in order to start combustion optimally. This diesel oil (pilot fuel) is circulated in a circuit before the injection system.
The circulation rate is quite a bit higher, namely 10-15 times higher than the actual consumption. Since according to Gaussian error propagation the system error increases strongly at large differences between consumption and flow rate, it is particularly important here to use high-precision flowmeters in order to keep the system error as small as possible.

To achieve exact quantity acquisition while the ship is being loaded with diesel oil, we use our tried-and-tested OMG flowmeter with which flow rates of up to 300 m³/h can be measured. The OMG flowmeter is characterized by its robustness and reliability as well as its high precision and is the optimal solution when comparison of the refueled quantity with the measuring station on land is required.
The quantity display is realized either directly on the measuring instrument or as a transmitted variant. Compensation of the volume is realized with the temperature measured directly in the medium by means of the temperature-volume characteristic curve of the medium.