Bearings and lubricants are essential aspects of a ship’s onboarding system. This course investigates all aspects of maritime bearings and lubricants and explains the differences between each. The turbocharger is the most important roller bearing used on ships because of high speed and alignment issues related to turbochargers. For gearing with axial and out-of-balance forces, it might be good to use conical roller bearings. The gearboxes and epicyclic gearing will also have advanced roller type sleeve bearings. Learn to use different size bearings depending on the circumstance. For example, use large bearings for slow-speed diesel propulsion engines. The lubrication of bearings involves both solid and liquid lubrication methods, starting with grease to lube oil. We need to understand their properties and be familiar with various lubrication systems and their principles of operations. Various diesel engines use different lubrication system layouts for piping, pumps, filters, purifiers and so on. It is imperative to keep the lubrication system healthy at all times, under operation or when engines rest. From summer to winter climate and sea conditions, the purification system maintains the cleanliness of the oil under circulation. Ill-treatment of lube oil means destruction of the engine, leading to severe and fatal accidents on board ships.

The course begins by explaining the principles and types of lubrication used in bearings. Then, we will discuss the application of roller, ball bearings and their lubrication needs using grease or solid lubricants. The course defines bearing as a friction-reducing machine element. Bearings also support and align the rotating parts of machines. Bearings are usually located on both sides (drive and non-drive end) of the pump and motor shafts inside bearing housings. Other than the larger journal and cross-head bearings for heavy and high torque machinery, the most common bearings on board are relatively smaller sized ball and roller bearings. They can be identified from the numbers written on them. We will take you through the various types of lubrication systems employed on main and auxiliary diesel engines. Bearings are particularly important in their use on shipboard machinery. A journal bearing is essentially a cylindrical shaft in a cylindrical cavity of larger diameter and the space between them contains a liquid lubricant. This course does a great job of explaining the application of journal bearings for marine use and the various types of sliding contact or friction bearings. 

This course then discusses the types of lube oils that need to be selected in marine diesel engines and the type of lube oil systems used for the propulsion engines. Learn about the cylinder lubrication system used for propulsion engines, the lube oil system for a 4-stroke diesel and the splash type lubrication for trunk type engines. It is crucial to understand the lube oil properties essential for lubrication. We walk you through the categorisation of lube oils used onboard and the principles governing various types of lubrication. Lubricating oils are designed to perform multiple tasks. A modern engine lubricating oil, apart from keeping the engine parts moving freely, is expected to withstand high temperatures without carbonising, neutralise acidic combustion products, keep the engine clean and prevent corrosion. This is achieved by blending oils and adding additives. This course explains in great detail the considerable importance of additives in the modern-day engine. If you are an engineering professional interested in the mechanical field, then this course from Alison will be a great fit for you.