The main particulars are as follows.
LOA x B x D： abt. 62 m x 15.4 m x 10.8 m
Gross tonnage： 835 tons
Main engine： High-speed diesel engine
2,023 kW x 1,950 rpm x 4 sets
Propulsion system： Water-jet propulsion system x 4 sets
The TSL test ship "HISHO" was remodeled to the disaster measures ship "KIBO" by MHI. (The remodeling work was completed in March, 1997.)6) Because the accommodation structure was mounted during the remodeling, the shafting system was re-aligned. This work can be a topic of the shafting system.
References
1) Ship of the World (Feb. 1998)
2) Horiuchi, Ishikawajima-Harima Engineering Review, 37-5 (Sep. 1997), 408
3) Fune-No-Kagaku, 50 (Aug. 1997), 28
4) Ship of the World (Mar. 1998), 120
5) Kodansen, 327 (May 1997), 31
6) Fune-No-Kagaku, 50 (Dec. 1997), 49 [Keiichi NITTA]
7. Auxiliary Machinery and Outfitting Works
In the section of auxiliary machinery & outfitting works in 1997, the apparatus concerning the refrigeration and cold storage, the attitude control system of ships, the engine room operator assisting system for ships and so on were developed and studied. The further details of these are as follows.
7.1 Development of the Diagnosis System for the Refrigeration Compressor1)
Mayekawa Mfg. CO., Ltd. developed the diagnosis system named "COCO" for the refrigerator in 1991. Then they had many achievements on subjects of the foreseeing diagnosis. In 1997 they have developed the simplified diagnosis system named "mini-COCO" for the refrigeration compressor. This system can be mounted on the refrigerator easily and diagnose it at all times and continuously.
This system consists of the acceleration transducer and the circuit board. When the former is attached on the refrigeration compressor and the latter is supplied electric power source, the system starts to diagnose the running operation of the compressor and generated the D.C. voltage as the diagnosis results at the output terminals on the board. The output result shows not only whether the compressor is good or bad, but also the extent of its trouble by the analogous voltage value (D.C.1〜5V).
The system can analyze the vibration wave from the acceleration transducer by the central processing unit on the circuit board, decide the rotation trouble of the compressor rotor according to the rule of the company and produce the output result. By making a continuous observation of the D.C. voltage which is generated as the diagnosis results every 4 minutes, we can know the appropriate time of an overhaul of the compressor. By setting the limit value of the voltage, we can light a warning lamp, ring a warning buzzer or stop the compressor (the operation of the refrigerator).
This system is applied to the only use of the single screw compressor made by Mayekawa Mfg. Co., Ltd. The compressor must be used on shore and driven by an electric motor. In future, if such a system would be developed for marine and general use, the operators of ships will be able to do adequate maintenance of the refrigeration compressor and not experience a sudden trouble of the refrigerator at sea.
7.2 Development of the Frosting Control System AFC-800 for the Refrigerating Room2)
Protect Co., Ltd. (now AMEFREC Co., Ltd.) has developed the frosting control system AFC-800 for the refrigerating room. Please refer to Fig. 7.1. If this unit would be installed in the refrigerating room, it will be able to prevent loading of the cooling coils by the frost, reduce the time and numbers of defrosting an influence of the frost to the articles in the room, and increase the cooling efficiency remarkably.
AFC-800 consists of some oxide magnetic ceramic plated (ferrite plates). The plates are composed of an iron oxide as the main ingredient and several metal oxides. These plates absorb the VHF and UHF electric waves in the air and produce the voltage difference of 0.076 mV to the air. And the plates adsorb the 2H20 which are floating in the air and cause the frost, remove the electrons of the 2H20 and prevent the microscopic 2H20 from growing crystals (= the frost).
The field test was carried out in the actual refrigeration utility; its room temperature was -25℃ and room volume was about 170m3, the numbers of defrosting was 6 times per day, the time of defrosting was 30 minutes every defrosting, the operation ratio of the refrigerator was about 60% and the work of defrosting by men needs I time per month in winter and 2〜3 times per month in summer. As a result passing only 13 days after setting AFC-800 in the room, the numbers of defrosting decreased to 2 times per day, the time of defrosting decreased to 15 minutes every defrosting, the operation ratio of the refrigerator decreased to about 50%.
