PART A (Answer all question)

Q1
With reference to Electrical Power Distribution onboard merchant ship,
a. With the aid of sketch, explain what is an insulated neutral system and why it is
preferred.
Answer

(6M)

Insulated system totally electrically insulated from earth ( Ships Hull)

An insulated neutral system is one that has its neutral electricity

isolated from the earth.

The priority requirement onboard a ship is to maintain continuity of the
electrical supply to an essential equipment in the event of single earthfault occurring.

b.

Briefly explain how the emergency generator can be started automatically in event of
black out.
Answer

c.

(3M)

Starting automatically initiated by relay which monitors normal main

supply.
Falling mains frequency/voltage cause start-up relay to operate

generator starting equipment

Arrangement for starting electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic

Draw a layout typical power distribution system with clearly labels all principal
components.
Answer:

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(7M)

d.

Describe the effect to the ship electrical system rated at 440V if she is supplied with
380V during her emergency dry docking.
Answer

(4M)

Lower voltage may cause motors to run slower and overheat. May cause
motor to stall.
Amount of power that motor draw are proportion to voltage and current (P=IV)
If V is low, I will increase to produce same amount of power. Eg; if V is less
10%, current will increase 10%.
If amount of I exceed the motor nameplate rating, motor will be stress and
overheat. More heat and longer exposure to it will damage or shorten the
lifespan of the motor.

Q2
With reference to the electrical shock and safety,
a.

Describe an electric shock and the conditions that affect the electrical shock

(5M)

Answer
As we knew, electric shock is due to flow of current through the body. This is
often from hand to hand or hand to foot. A shock current of 15mA AC or DC may
be fatal.
The size of electric shock current is related to the following factors:
1. Applied voltage
2. Body resistance.
The size of human body resistance also depends upon other factors as state of
health, degree of contact with live wires, perspiration or dampness of skin.
b.

A.C compressor motor no 2 was due for overhauling. List down in order the 7 step
safety procedures required before doing any electrical maintenance job onboard
ship.
Answer

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(7M)

c.

List down the procedure of saving a person who was suspected Froze on the

(8M)

circuit
Answer

Q3
With reference to cell battery and battery charger onboard merchant ship,
a.

Explain why the batteries are considered as important in the electrical system.

(4M)

Answer

b.

Batteries are used as backup power supply besides emergency

generator.
Batteries are used for some emergency lighting and navigation
equipment because battery is the only power source in an emergency.

Explain why the lead acid batteries are more prefer compared to alkaline battery.
Answer ( Any 6 of this below 1 marks each)

Initial cost of alkaline battery

Electrolyte for alkaline corrosive
Battery container steel material for alkaline but for lead acid only plastic.
Cell voltage 1.2V for alkaline compared to 2V for lead acid battery
Number of cell required for alkaline more than lead acid because of cell

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(6M)

c.

voltage
Space requirement because 24V supply need 20 cells of alkaline battery
but for lead acid only need 12 cells.
First aid facility boracic acid need for alkaline but lead acid only need water.
Performance indicator need for monitor condition of alkaline battery

With aid from sketch, briefly explain the operation of battery charger/UPS.

(10M)

Answer

Typical continuous UPS DC supported supply system

Essential DC services supplied from 440V through charger 1 - continuously in
trickle charges
During power loss, battery 1 maintains transitional supply while emergency
generator restores power to emergency board & charger 2
Either battery is available for few hours if both generators are unavailable

PART B: (Answer two (2) question only )

Q4
With reference to the general requirement and lighting system on board of merchant ship :
a.
Describe why shore equipments are not suitable for marine use.
(6M)
Answer ( any 6 of below list 1 mark each)
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
b.

Marine environment
High surrounding vibration
Voltage fluctuation
Climatic conditions
Temperature
Continuous operation the best is if it can last until ship lifetime.
Reliability

Explain on the following :

i.

(5M)

Incandescent lamp

Answer
Most common used for general lighting with simple filament type
Operation by current passed through fine wire tungsten filament, raises
temperature up to 3000C, thus becomes incandescent (it glows)
Glass bulb is filled with inert gas (nitrogen, argon etc) for reduce filament
evaporation

(5M)

3 type of filament ordinary filament, Rough service, Special coiled-coil

filament
Other variations clear glass bulb, inside frosted glass bulb (pearl) to
reduce glare, tubular construction, internal reflector lamps, decorative
lamps (e.g. candle shape) and heating lamps.
ii.

Fluorescent lamp

Answer
Light output is generated by current flow in electric arc between two
electrodes through gas and metal vapour inside seal glass bulb or tube.
Common metal vapour used mercury & sodium
Suitable voltage applied between electrodes causes an arc discharge
through the gas.
Gas ionization will create visible light directly or by secondary emission
from phosphor coating inside lamp glass.
Current must control to maintain desired light output ballast (iron cored
inductor (choke), special transformer or electronic ballast circuits.
c.

Explain how the variation on voltage can effect the performance of the
(4M)

lighting.
Answer
All lamps are designed to produce rated luminous output at rated voltage.

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 Overvoltage on incandescent lamp brighter and whiter light, increase

filament temperature, reduced operating life.
5% increase in voltage will reduce lamp life by 50%.
Reduction in supply voltage for GLS will increase operating life but duller
and reddish light.
Q5
With reference to AC induction motor that fitted onboard ship:
a.

State the relationship between frequency, number of poles and the speed of the
motor.

(6M)

Answer
When the three phase supply is connected to the stator winding the currents
which flow in the windings produce a multi-pole magnetic field. This field
rotates at a speed called synchronous speed. The value of synchronous
speed depends on how many magnetic poles the stator winding produces and
on the frequency of the supply connected to the stator winding. Thus, we can
conclude the relationship between frequency, speed and number f poles as
follows:
N=f/p
Where,
n = synchronous speed (rev/speed)
f = supply frequency (Hz)
p = number of poles (in pairs)
b.

Explain the definition of Single Phasing in three phase motor. State a method to
protect motor from single phasing situation.
Answer
Single-phasing is usually caused when one of the three back-up fuses blows or if
one of the contactor contacts is open-circuited.
The effect of single-phasing is to increase the current in the two remaining lines
and cause the motor to become very noisy due to the uneven torque produced in
the rotor.
An increase in line current due to single-phasing will be detected by the protective
OCR. The three thermal elements of an OCR are arranged in such a way that
unequal heating of the bi-metal strips causes a differential movement which
operates the OCR switch contacts to trip out the motor contactor.

c.

Briefly explain how would you going to repair & refurbish the damaged induction
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(6M)

motor that having earth fault (low insulation) which is used as a hoisting motor for
midship crane.
( Your answer should comprise the necessary precaution and safety awareness
as well)
Answer

(8M)

1. Prepare JSA, RA and work permit

2. Switch off breaker, pull fuse and put Lock Out / Tag out
3. Test the circuit dead by voltmeter, take insulation reading for motor.
4. Disassembled the rotor and stator carefully and ensure the rotor not
rubbing the stator
5. Clean the stator winding with clean cloth to eliminate dirt and moisture. If
stator was oily/greasy, clean with degrease ( Electro Solvent). If any
scratch on stator, re-varnish with epoxy.
6. Dry the stator winding either by current injection, heating by using heating
lamp or oven.
7. Take again insulation reading if any improvement, the insulation reading
was good if 20Mohm and above.
8. Re-grease or change ball bearing if necessary, box up back and test run.
Q6
With reference to DC motor and DC Generator:
a.

Basic construction for DC motor consists of an armature winding and field

winding. With the aid of sketch, explain how you can vary the speed for a DC
motor.

(10M)

Answer
Have 3 ways can vary the speed for a DC motor.

1. Vary the voltage supplied to the armature circuit while holding the
field constant.

2. Insert resistance in series with the armature circuit.

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3. Vary the field current while holding the armature supply voltage
constant.

b.

State the difference of shunt wound DC motor compared to the series wound DC
motor

(4M)

Answer
When the field winding is connected in parallel with the armature, the
machine is said to be shunt wound

If the field winding is connected in series with the armature, the machine
is said to be series wound.
c.

Draw line diagram of a compound wound DC generator and show its voltage-load
characteristics. What the meant by over, under and level compounding of these
generators.

(6M)

Answer

Having mixture of shunt & series windings to combine the

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advantages.
Different Connection different voltage regulation characteristics on
load.

Short shunt compound

generator

long shunt compound

generator

END OF QUESTION

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