Wartsila Engine Startup Procedure: Step-by-Step Guide for Safe and Efficient Operation

Wartsila engines are widely used in marine, power generation, and industrial applications due to their reliability, efficiency, and dual-fuel capability. Understanding the startup procedure is crucial for ensuring safe operation and prolonging engine life. In this post, we will go through a detailed guide for starting a Wartsila engine, along with safety tips, common problems, and maintenance advice.

Pre-Start Checklist for Power Plant Operation:

1) Things to note before starting the power plant: Check the level of L.F.O (Light Fuel Oil) Day Tank. If the level of L.F.O Day Tank is low, i.e. if it falls below 2/3 of the Setting Value (4.5 meter), then the L.F.O Transfer Pump should be started.

2) H. F.O (Heavy Fuel Oil) Day Tank levels should be checked. If the H. F.O Day Tank levels are low, i.e. if they fall below 2/3 of the Setting Value (10.00 meter), the H. F.O and separator should be turned on.

3) Vent and steam line valves should be opened.

(Process to start HFO Separator)

4) First start HFO feed pump and then start HFO separator.

5) When the HFO feeder pump and separator are turned on and the HFO temperature is above 80 degrees Celsius and the separator RPM is above 6500, the Ready Re-circulation screen will automatically appear on the screen. When the Ready Re-circulation screen appears, you have to press Pro-ON.

6) Introduction to starting condition and operation.

1. LO (Lube Oil) Press>0.5 bar or pre-lube oil pump should be in auto condition.

There are 20 options in Starting Condition. Each option has to be set to Healthy Mode i.e. green. To bring the lube oil pressure above 0.50 bar, the main lube oil pump cannot be started unless the engine is started. Therefore, the Pre-lube Pump has to be started from the BJA Panel. When the engine is started, if the engine RPM is 300, the Pre-lube Pump will start for 4 minutes and then stop.

Fig: (Lube Oil) Press>0.5 bar or pre-lube oil pump in auto condition)

7) Fuel Inlet Pressure>4.0 bar

Before starting the engine, the LFO and HFO pressure should be checked from the WOIS monitor. If the LFO and HFO pressure is below 4.0 bar, then the LFO and HFO feeder pumps should be started. The LFO feeder pump can be started from the WOIS monitor.

Before giving a command to LFO Feeder Control in WOIS Monitor, make sure that LFO and HFO inlet and Shut-up valve are open. Before starting the pump, the selector of Feeder pump should be in Auto Position and Inlet valve should be in on position. Sluge Pump Auto Position should be kept.

8) HT Water Temperature>50 degree Celsius

If the boiler of any engine is not running, then the Auxiliary Boiler should be turned on and the Pre-heating pump should be turned on. Selector should be set to Auto Mode.

Rules for starting the Auxiliary Boiler

The diesel level should be checked from the diesel level indicator. If the diesel level is not at a sufficient level, the LFO feeder pump should be started and the inlet valve should be opened.

Fuel burner switch should be in on position.

You need to keep the feed pump running and make sure the water line valve is open.

You need to check if the chemical dosing pump is running.

Finally, the Auxiliary boiler switch must be set to run mode and confirmed by looking through a viewing glass.

9) Starting/Control Air Pressure>16 bar

The outlet valve of the air compressor should be opened. The selector should be set to local mode. It will automatically turn on when the air pressure drops (18 bar).

Compressor should be run from WOIS monitor.

10) If an MCB trips on the CFE panel, the fault that caused it to trip must be identified and eliminated, and the MCB must be turned on.

11) The turning gear can be engaged/disengaged by lifting the knob up before engaging/disengaging. The turning lever can be easily engaged/disengaged by lightly pressing the turning wheel to the left.

12) Stop Lever in Running Position

There are two positions of the Stop Lever. 1. Work Position 2. Stop Position. Pull the knob of the Stop Lever to take it from the Stop Position to the Work Position.

13) Feeder and Booster Ready

HFO LFO Pump should be turned on as discussed earlier. Fuel Booster Selector should be set to Auto Mode.

14) Breaker Conditions

If an MCB falls in different panels, its crew must be removed and the MCB turned on.

15) If there are any alarm in history/summary, that alarm should be removed.

16) If the red LED on the ESM (Engine Safety Module) panel located in the main cabinet of the engine is lit, the red LED will go out once the fault is resolved.

17) There are emergency stop buttons on three panels in the engine room. 1. Main Cabinet 2. BJA Panel 3. CFE Panel. You need to make sure that any of these panels' buttons are active. If any button is inactive, then if you turn the button to the left, it will come up and the button will become active.

18) There is an emergency stop button on the CFC Panel. If it is not active, the button will turn to the left and pop up and it will become active.

19) The generator breaker trip signal stored in the CFC Panel needs to be checked and the cause of the trip must be removed and reset.

20) You need to check the Engine Shutdown signal stored in the CFC Panel and troubleshoot and reset the cause of the trip.

21) The Start Failure Signal comes when everything is there, but if one of the conditions decreases during engine start (usually the Starting Air Pressure), it comes. Then, if you look at it from the Alarm List and remove it, it will go away.

22) This signal comes when there is a problem with the ESM System. However, it usually occurs when there is an Air Leak. Also, if there is any other problem, you should check the Alarm List.