Marine Propulsion

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Marine-Control-Panelicon Overview Control and Monitoring Systems

The Regulateurs Europa MVCP is a fully integrated governing and propulsion control unit providing a cost effective solution for Fixed Pitch Propeller (FPP), Controllable Pitch Propeller (CPP), and water jet marine applications.

 

Within the single bulkhead mounted enclosure is a sophisticated digital governor, with flexible propulsion controls and essential hardwired safety circuits. This leaves the scope and the level of monitoring specifically to suit the customer's requirements.

The MVCP is accredited with many marine classifications. With applications as diverse as fast patrol vessels, luxury yachts and fast ferries.

In addition to speed governing the Propulsion Control Panel also provides the logic for starting, stopping, clutch control and engine protections such as slowdowns and hardwired shutdowns.

The fundamental control functions will be programmed with customer specific parameters designed to suit and protect the engine. These parameters are accessible via the operator interface user friendly display which allows setting up and tuning while the engine is running. Local manual control is obtainable via front mounted switches and push buttons.

In addition to the engine's controls the MVCP can provide the control for external facilities such as:
  • Jacket water heaters
  • Exhaust flap change over
  • Priming pump
  • Stabilisers

Software and Hardware

Typical Propulsion Control Panel Software and Hardware Capabilities

  • Isochronous speed control/droop.
  • Speed setting.
  • Analogue 4 - 20 mA.
  • Local/remote digital speed control.
  • Speed measured by Perception Heads. With automatic change over.
  • Start fuel limit.
  • Boost fuel limit.
  • Torque limit with independent RPM range.
  • Slowdowns/shutdowns are dependent on engine type and application.
  • Pre-start priming.
  • Interlocked start sequence.
  • Multi-attempt start capabilities.
  • Dual dynamics.
  • Clutch engage interlocks.
  • Acceleration limitation.
  • Wire break detection.
  • Overspeed test facility.
  • Engine RPM analogue outputs.
  • Engine load analogue outputs.

Failure Modes

The Propulsion Control Panel has been designed to be used with any of Regulateurs Europa's range of actuator units, specifically in conjunction with the 2231 series ballhead servo hydraulic actuator.

In normal operation the 2231 actuator output shaft position is proportional to the electric input signal from the Propulsion Control Panel.

In the event of failure of the ships power supply to the MVCP, the ships UPS or auxiliary supply will take over. If the auxiliary supply fails or the system develops a controller fault the 2231 actuator will fall to ballhead mode.

With the 2231 actuator set in ballhead mode, this then enables the engine speed to be controlled, by the use of a manual hand lever, integral stepper motor or cable lever as options.

This dual redundancy provides emergency means of governing and speed control to safeguard the vessel.

Complete Solutions

Expanding from the MVCP, Regulateurs Europa produces a complete range of solutions for marine engine control and monitoring tailored for the vessel and it's application. Based on the depth of knowledge within the company, these can range from standard systems to specification built systems to suit all applications.

Propulsion Systems

The Propulsion Control Panel is designed to interface with proprietary water jet and controllable pitch propeller systems. To complete the packaged system Regulateurs Europa also offer various control stations such as bridge, open bridge/bridge wing and/or machinery control consoles.
The engine control stations would normally have instrumentation, start and stop facilities, ships telegraph and monitoring systems or other features built to classification society requirements. If the system is fixed pitch command levers and transfer of control can be provided.