Maritime environmental monitoring solution supplier Rivertrace is launching an innovative Smart Visco sensor, designed to measure the viscosity and temperature of fuel oil before injection into the main engines of large ships.
The monitor reports these parameters via both analogue and digital outputs, with volt-free relay contacts. The Smart Visco sensor measures all grades of HFO using ultrasonic guided wave technology. Due to the high frequency and speed of ultrasound, ambient vibration and flow speed have no impact on the measurements. The monitor incorporates an LCD display that visually indicates all data. The viscosity and temperature data can be retrieved using RS485 or a USB stick.
The fuel oil’s viscosity provides a direct indication of its impact on engine performance and efficiency. The availability of this information can aid in the prevention of engine damage, reduce maintenance costs, and help to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Smart Visco can be integrated with the Rivertrace Connected service to collect and share the data with ship management to monitor and analyse trends in fuel performance at both a vessel and fleet level. Rivertrace Connected provides calibration compliance and equipment performance data. It can either be viewed on a cloud platform or shared through an API to the vessel/fleet management systems. The digital service is designed to support customers seeking simplified, continuous monitoring and efficient operations.
Rivertrace MD Martin Saunders said: “Monitoring environmental discharge has been at the core of Rivertrace’s ethos for over three decades. However, in recent years we have also embraced digital transformation and provided solutions to automate and analyse the data by making our services smarter, and by connecting into the marine digital ecosystem. The Smart Visco probe extends our offering to encompass onboard monitoring and expands our environmental solutions to include minimising greenhouse gas emissions, as well as our oily water pollution prevention system.”
