Fresh Water Generator : Cleaning the Condenser Tubes | Chief MAKOi

In this episode, you'll see how the ship's engine team clean the condenser tubes of the Fresh Water Generator.
FRESH WATER GENERATOR VIDEO
• How Ships Convert Sea ...
Chief MAKOi
Seaman Vlog

[@johnparker221]

I love videos like this. I will never use this information for actual work, but does help me with repairs on my own home. Helps me understand local repairman on my own home.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Great to hear!

[@BitcoinfunforBoomers]

The narration sounds like you are reading from a manual - very clear and precise. How lucky for the junior engineers who have the opportunity to serve under and learn from you.

[@kerravon4159]

I'm a simple man, I see a new Chief MAKOi video, I click immediately.

[@Tony-xn7sd]

Hey Chief, nice to see you again, hope you're well Sir :)

[@mattc.310]

That's similar to "rodding out" a boiler. Both require patience and attention to detail. Thanks for showing us what the crew is up to. Fair winds and calm seas.

[@jimsvideos7201]

It's the unassuming things like this that don't get enough recognition.

[@Smackdade]

Always good to know you and your crew are safe!!

[@bobbowles]

Chief, this is the very process that brought me to your videos years ago. I so very much appreciate your content.

[@klamkaiklai]

Hey Chief Makoi, my brother is a seaman and took a picture with you! I am glad you were happy.

[@maty12363]

Thank you very much for this episode chief, I soon have to talk about the fresh water generator... its principle of operation, types and the maintenance they require... I will be attentive to the next episode of cleaning the condenser tubes.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

I have an old video about the FWG. It's under the "Study Call" Playlist on my channel.

[@rubensandstrom6824]

As someone who within the year will be working as a marine engineer it’s fascinating to see how different ships handle the engine room layout and design. For example last vessel I did as an engine cadet was a product tanker from 2019 and it was a sight to behold. Deep well pumps for cargo, LNG for both inert gas and main engine separate rooms for the generators. Then I see the vessels you’re on and I realize how good we have it on Swedish flag

[@crazyguy32100]

We used to have a bunch of tube heat exchangers for all our process cooling equipment. I don't miss cleaning them, thumbs up to your crew for doing the job without a constant stream of swearing.

[@timothyball3144]

From the comments here, it looks like an episode about tools would be helpful. Some topics could be why no power tools, where are the tools sourced. Maybe who is in charge of the tools. A walk through of how they are stored. What do you do when you dont have the right tool, or one breaks. A walk through of the highly specialized tools specific to the equipment on board.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Good morning Chief MAKOi 😊 you always make very interesting videos about life at sea 🌊👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@jeffdayman8183]

Very interesting to see a modern ship's desalination condensor apart! Nice job by the engine crew getting it cleaned out. Thanks for sharing the video Chief. Cheers.

[@toddfraisure1747]

The Chief seems like a guy I'd like to take fishing in my small lake boat. Sipping on a few beers and munching on some sandwiches and chips while trading stories. Have some good laughs and catch a few fish for the night's dinner. Or take him razor clam digging and eating them on the beach. Just hanging out and enjoying each other's company. That's how I see him, as that kind of guy.

[@zxggwrt]

This is so chill and informative. I love Chief and these videos.

[@johndandrea8034]

It amazes me the number and complexity of the systems you have to know. Whatever they are paying you Chief....It's NOT ENOUGH!

[@johnwalsh4271]

Another great tutorial Chief. Thanks for posting.

[@franciscosandiego3026]

What is up chief from the imperial county California 👍👍🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@ccbueno1]

I used to circulate water counter current every week to mantain the tubes clean.We call that backflush.Whith this procedure I avoid to open the equipament frequently. I work in an air separation plant.Good footage.

[@jawadad73]

ships have a varieaty in water intake, sometimes brakish(up rivers and bays, sometimes dirty with silt, sometimes warm /cold those can quicly devellop barnacle growth on inside of tubing, backflush is not agressive enough.

[@gordon1966]

thank you , i don't know why but love watching your videos . keep it up , but also spend time with your family ..

[@davidbwa]

You brought back memories of helping to clean one of the main engine condensers on my aircraft carrier many years ago. The bell housing is much larger than this and the intake is huge - to the point of you would find whole fish and other junk in there. 40 years later and as I watched this video I could still remember the smell. I assume in the case of this evap unit there is a strainer upstream some place to minimize debris in those tubes.

[@andrewvenor8035]

I remember the time we opened up a main engine condenser housing bell on my aircraft carrier and found two live sharks in there.

[@colinofay7237]

​@andrewvenor8035 wow that is impressive

[@JoeGiz64]

I am always fascinated by your videos…always learning something. Thank you! Someday, I would love to travel to Europe on a cargo ship. Not sure if the ship owners still do this from time to time.

[@processserver8470]

Hi there Chief Makoy 👋 👋 Greetings from Greenwich London ⚓️⛵️ Cheers ☕️🫖👍🌹✅

[@tamsinp7711]

In my early days as a lab technician I had to clean the still in our lab with hydrochloric acid once a month because we were in a hard water area and the limescale built up really quickly. The researcher I worked for had taken the lab over from someone else whose team hadn't been doing that - it took me about 6 months to get it totally clean. That was a small, wall-mounted unit so I can only imagine how much of a PITA it would be to do a HCl clean of the unit on your ship.

[@jackyleecs]

Working in a ship repair yard before, I understand the hard work involved in cleaning these condenser tubes. The workers would prefer cleaning a plate condenser than condenser tubes.

[@BeechSportBill]

…love cruising with you@!

[@jnvc1427]

Thankyou for this kind of videos sir. Godbless always sa Byahe ❤

[@Nightstick]

Great video Chief. It's been two years now and those XPP-5422GMX's flashlights are still running strong!

[@hopetracy2219]

I love this kind of routine maintenance. Special brushes are a delught. I wish my cat fountain needed more involved care.

[@dustymiller7758]

Great entertainment Chief MAKOi.

[@ZBjelajac83]

I was cleaning hvac shell and tube condensers. Thanks for good videos chief.

[@Mars_Life_and_Beings]

I still remember your first video on this ;)

[@FG-tg9uk]

Well done. As always, very interesting and informative. Thank you, Chief.

[@gaius_enceladus]

Great video as always, Chief!

[@donaldwycoff4154]

Hi Chief. Is the unit still fairly warm while they work on it? There was something about watching the cleaning that made me want to jump in with a brush and help remove residue. Very relaxing video. As always. Thanks again!

[@janvisser2223]

The unit is not warm at all during this operation, and also not when it is in operation by the way

[@PaulMetzler-gu6ew]

Chief on a shipboard condenser like this is the fresh water side of the system kept at a vacuum? That can increase the output considerably, and reduces the temperature needed from the boiler. Also have you tried straightening out the shaft of the cleaning brush and spinning it with a hand drill? But, you look like it's a solid crew you've got, you probably don't need to bother. Keep up the good videos.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Thank you for showing me something that I’ve never seen before Chief MAKOi ! How does this condenser compare to reverse osmosis freshwater makers in energy efficiency and in water quality? Thank you so much 😊

[@ChiefMAKOi]

This uses waste heat from the Main Engine Jacket Cooling Water so it's pretty much more energy efficient compared to RO.

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Thank you so much Chief MAKOi, that’s what I was also thinking. It would be very expensive for the electricity to force sea water through the membranes and they do wear out as well.

[@ahednuman3333]

your crew working hard and happy because of good kind canteen they have wish you safety allways

[@theguvnor7467]

As usual, a great vlog Chief. 👍 Salamat.

[@hansslob6749]

Chief, having 20 years of refinery work at my belt I’m asking you why don’t you use a high pressure nozzle hose for this? We used this method at our Naphta condensors which were cooled by brackish water, had about the same diameter and were perfectly clean after this. Even crude heaters were clean using this method although that took a bit longer. It will clean better, make no scratches and leave no residu in the pipes.

[@ARWest-bp4yb]

Been there done that, back in my Navy days!👍👍

[@entropyachieved750]

Great video look forward to the next on Chief

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always chief! How does the rime go? Water, water evrywere but not a drop to drink! Keep up the good work. Be safe!

[@fatimaali8645]

Salamat po chief for a interesting video x

[@andreasschindler6077]

Thank you I'm allways curious about seafarers and technology. But I have one question. Why don't mechanics use a cordless impact wrench?

[@deepfreezzeer]

Chief Makoi! Are crew members allowed to bring electronic tool aboard the ship? Such as battery powered impact guns or cordless ratchets? Thank you!

[@TexDrinkwater]

I was thinking something similar. I'd chuck that rod up in a cordless drill and have those condenser tubes swabbed out in no time.

[@ChiefMAKOi]

They could. But nobody I know ever did that 😄. We could request those tools from the office but I doubt they'd supply it.

[@deepfreezzeer]

@@ChiefMAKOi if i ever find myself as part of the engineer team on a ship I'll remember to bring my own before we are hundreds of miles away from land 😅😂

[@mikewalker4134]

Great videos!!! Why not use air guns to remove bolts and nuts?

[@lukes5533]

Thanks for sharing Chief 👍

[@skylem5373]

thank you Mak!

[@lsdzheeusi]

Thank you Chief!

[@ediwanOfficial]

Good day chief. Any position available for OILER in your company.

[@irvenrathburn9421]

Good video Chief !

[@robertroe1956]

Great video. I noticed you didn't replace the gasket (is that the correct term). How long, or how many time can the cover be removed and replaced before the gasket is renewed?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

If the surface has no damage and if it's not brittle, it's still ok.

[@JJ-si4qh]

Great info!

[@ginog5037]

Very interesting Chief, the rubber or neoprene gaskets don't have to be changed?

[@janvisser2223]

They looked still good enough to me. All dams intact.

[@rayoflight62]

In electric power plants fueled by coal/gas/oil there are condenser units like this one, except they are two metres in diameter. The technicians use an ultrasonic probe to investigate on the health of each tube, but salt water (they cool the vapor from the turbines wit sea water) is unforgiving, and every six months one of the power generators is brought down for maintenance. The alternators are the biggest pain - they're cooled with hydrogen because it causes low drag...

[@user-oh6wb5rj2q]

Thank you❤

[@jawadad73]

you just KNOW, the 2 guys removing the condensor cover, only put their helmets on in a 50°C engine room because Ch Makoi was filming and the office also watches Chiefs' vlog...😇

[@ronintje7647]

Thanks for the new upload!

[@colinofay7237]

Could there be a way to mount many brushes in a frame in order to clean many tubes at once, maybe speeding it up? It seems to me a rig could be made to accomplish this. I would be interested in hearing your opinion!!! 7:35

[@Bill_N_ATX]

Hi Chief. Does the system use waste engine heat for the evaporator portion or does it have its own separate boiler?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Yes, waste heat from the Main Engine Jacket water.

[@bmay8818]

This was my question as well. I was very much hoping that it used waste heat, so I'm glad that that's the case!

[@morry27jd24]

I remember when I worked on an LPG carrier the condenser packed in so we sent a small filipino called Mansur over the side on a rope with a bucket. We had anti saline power we would mix with seawater. All day long we hauled the little guy up and down !😂

[@MrPLC999]

Why would you use hand wrenches to R&R all those nuts and bolts?

[@robertpeters9438]

Why is the end plate not also cleaned? That contamination might reinfect the seawater side of the system with marine life, right.

[@tonysimons2860]

Thanks!

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Thanks Tony!

[@randyogburn2498]

Interesting video, Chief. If everything is working properly does the crew have all the fresh water they could want or are there restrictions? For example, what some call navy showers where water use is severely restricted

[@paulolson734]

My dad served on a destroyer in Korea during the war and said fresh water was always an issue. Navy showers were the norm.

[@djcwilso]

Remember that unlike navy vessels, cargo vessels make port calls to load/offload cargo and fresh water is available in most ports and so a well managed vessel should always have enough FW to operate without restrictions. However there are will always be times when FW supply is not available and the tanks are getting low so limits placed on washing.

[@ejmbak]

God bless you

[@mcallahan9060]

I'm surprised you don't use a cordless drill on the end of the brush shaft. Logic would seem to indicate it would do a better job and make the job go quicker.

[@pipatron]

Until the shaft breaks off inside the tube. Those tubes are made out of a softer metal so I think they are being careful for a reason.

[@janvisser2223]

Easy does it. You could end up with leaking tubes.

[@tsbrownie]

Do you use a corrosion inhibitor on bolts/nuts typically?

[@wrkey]

Is there Air Tools on the ship? Seems like an air gun would make removing all those nuts a lot faster? You guys do a lot of work and it seems I've only seen hand tools and very rarely are powered tools used. Is there a reason for this?

[@janvisser2223]

And will later destroy the threads due to improper tightening,

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Why the lack of cordless tools? Thew bolts on the cover don't seem too tight, and chucking the brush into a drill would result in a much faster cleaning procedure.

[@BeechSportBill]

Cover have a gasket?

[@tube8533]

Nice!

[@jamesdoe3553]

Ahoi, Chief Makoi. 🍺

[@rancelynch6514]

Do the tubes contain the distilled water condensate or sea water being heated to steam and then being turned into distilled water?

[@janvisser2223]

Inside the condensor tubes flows seawater (or fresh water from the central fresh cooling water system) The heated seawater which has turned into steam will pass through a demister and is condensed in the ... area were the condensor sits.

[@Gene1954]

Well, did it work?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Yes.

[@Gene1954]

Thanks enjoy your vids@@ChiefMAKOi

[@frederick6008]

Ever punch tubes?

[@dennisjay3277]

How much fresh water does the generator make a day, how much water does the ship need a day, is cleaning the generator a scheduled item or as needed?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

This one is rated at 15 tons/day. We normally use around 6-7 tons daily.

[@myoniwy]

​@@ChiefMAKOiAnd how capacity is storage tank for fresh water?

[@dennisjay3277]

Thank you@@ChiefMAKOi

[@billcotherman2155]

Is the distilled water considered potable water? If so are minerals added for taste?

[@AndreaBorgia]

Pure distilled water is not recommended for consumption, so I guess they add the necessary salts later or simply use it for anything but drinking.

[@nmccw3245]

Is this a vacuum evaporator unit?

[@janvisser2223]

Yes

[@bigdog2024]

No gasket on that cover? I must assume there is not much pressure in the system to require it.Why not use power tools to remove the bolts and run them back to tight then torque to spec. It would save a lot of labor. I guess you have time on your hands to spend undoing and tightening bolts by hand.

[@steveurbach3093]

Where does the source of heat come from (Diesels run cooler than Steam plants I am familiar with)?

[@ChiefMAKOi]

From the Main Engine Jacket Cooling Water. For further details on how this works, you can check the video I mentioned. Link is in the video's description.

[@sergialasania3020]

Chief❤❤❤

[@PieterBreda]

I'm a typical landlubber. It is hard to imagine how complicated life can get on a ship in the middle of the ocean if shit stops working. No fresh water and the crew will be thirsty and get stinky.

[@codegame027]

is this standard practice? I know Reverse osmosis is more energy efficient and easily serviceable

[@ChiefMAKOi]

Actually, this is more efficient as it also acts as a secondary cooler for the Main Engine Jacket water. This setup uses the waste heat from the ME Jacket water to evaporate sea water.

[@codegame027]

@@ChiefMAKOi ah, its really the waste heat component that makes this a viable option. Do you happen to know the GPH/LPH of a unit like this?

[@TheOtherBill]

@@codegame027 In answering another question, he said 15 tons/day.

[@janvisser2223]

@@codegame027 15 tons a day, the C/E wrote.

[@almirria6753]

An d lord forbid that the intake screens are clogged as well

[@front2760]

Hi.Was wondering why they don't use an impact gun?You have air, also there are decent rechargeable tools out there.

[@Riiludragon]

at least you get your daily dose of iron, haha.

[@paratyshow]

👍✅

[@jamiesuejeffery]

I was always told that there are no stupid questions except the ones you don't ask. Do your engines and generators use the fresh water in their cooling systems? On one hand, you have an unlimited amount of cool salt water available. But then, that could cause problems in the cooling system.

[@Old-bold-pilot]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@emile1661]

Chief??? The results??? 😶

[@BeechSportBill]

Maybe put some anti-seize on those nuts next time…

[@matthewbeasley7765]

Too bad they don't give you pneumatic impact wrenches. It sure would reduce the time spent turning bolts.

[@stanwooddave9758]

If I may make a suggestion instead of using a vinyl / plastic brush, you may want to try a rifle / shot-gun brass cleaning brush. They come in MANY different Diameter sizes. The brass will be soft enough not to harm the tubes, but much stronger, and much more efficient, than the vinyl / plastic brush's'. Also, if you were to purchase a "Rifle / Shot-gun Cleaning Rod," they come with a "TEE-Handle," (depending on Diameter of the tubes, look for a "Rifle / Shot-gun Cleaning-kit to match the diameter of the water cooling tubes; also if necessary purchase two kits to get / obtain extra rods. I believe the rods are made of stainless-steel, and screw into one another;) and my guess also is the cleaning rod is much stronger, durable than what you presently use and get's bent / twisted a lot, as seen in this video. A quick measurement reference would be if an American 10 cent piece (a.k.a., a dime) could / can fit into the tubes, look to purchase a shot-gun cleaning kit. If the tubes are smaller than the dime, check out rifle bore diameter(s), and or the lonely 410 shot-gun diameter, which is a smaller diameter that a 12 gauge shot-gun. Stay safe. 12 gauge = approx. Imperial size of 1/2" inch (0.500" in.) / approx. 13 mm.

[@pipatron]

The tubes are made of a brass or copper alloy, so a brass brush made to clean steel could certainly harm them.

[@virgiliopreyes8200]

Chief nagtataka kaming mga nakatira sa abroad bakit sa Dina dami ng mga mahuhusay na chief engeneer na mga pinoy ayaw mag invest ng gobyerno sa pag convert ng salt water -drikking water,napapaligiran tayo ng tubig,wala yatang kurakot kaya ayaw

[@MexicoBeachFloridaLiving]

Seems like a reverse osmosis system similar to what I have on my home would take care of the task. Back flush with salt...Thanks for the video.

[@janvisser2223]

On a ship this flash type evaporator works much, much, much better than RO systems of the same capacity

[@Ayestosea]

That tubesheet looks to be leaking...

[@janvisser2223]

I know what you mean, but this is the normal appearance after cleaning and flushing