Scavenge Fires

Rajan Bhandari
Senior Lecturer
Singapore Maritime Acdemy

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 Introduction
 What is scavenge fire
 Causes
 Indications
 Putting off fire
 Preventive measures

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 Questions
 State the common causes of scavenge fires
 List the indication that a scavenge fire is in
progress
 State the immediate action to be taken in the
event of a scavenge fire
 List with reasons the checks and precautions
necessary before an engine is put back in to
service following a scavenge fire.

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 What is Scavenge Fire
 Fire in the scavenge
space of a diesel
engine is called
scavenge fire.
 Scavenge fire is
caused by ignition
of carbon deposits
in the scavenge
space.

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 What is Scavenge Fire
 serious damage
can be done to the
 piston rod and
 the scavenge air
box walls, the latter
possibly causing a
reduction in the
tension of the
staybolts. Stay bolts

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 Causes of Scavenge Fire
The fire triangle

Blow by

Build up of deposits
•Cylinder oil
•Un-burnt fuel
•Crankcase oil Scavenge air

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 Indications
 Increased exhaust
temperature of effected
cylinder
 Turbocharger may
surge
 Scavenge manifold is
hot
 Engine slow down due
to reduced power

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 Putting off fire
 Reduce speed to slow and
request bridge for permission to
stop.
 Stop auxiliary blower
 Stop fuel oil supply to engine
 Put the scavenge manifold fire
extinguishing system in to
operation to kill the fire.

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 Fire Extinguishing System for Scavenge
Air Space
 Fire in the scavenge air space can
be extinguished by
 steam, or

 water mist or

 CO2.

 Steam pressure: . 3-10 bar

 Freshwater mist pressure: min 3.5
bar
 CO2 …….. 150 bar
 Open extinguishing agent to
adjacent cylinder as well to
prevent spread of fire.

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 Putting off fire
 After fire remove dry deposits
and sludge from scavenge space.
 Clean and inspect all the piston
rods and cylinder liners.

 Check the alignment of piston in

the liner.

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 Prevention of fire
 Clean scavenge trunking and drains
 Scavenge ports clean
 Piston rings and liner wear
 Cylinder oil feed rate with in limits
 Stuffing box sealing rings and scarper rings
 Fuel injection equipment in good condition
and correct injection timing

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 Summary
 What is scavenge fire
 Causes
 Indications
 Putting off the fire
 Prevention

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