Reliability analysis of marine diesel engines vs. industrial diesel engines: a comparative approach

The study presents a comparative analysis of the reliability of marine and industrial diesel engines, emphasizing the role of heat exchangers. Diesel engines in marine vessels and industrial applications face distinct challenges, influencing their reliability. This paper examines these differences, focusing on operational conditions, load profiles, redundancy, safety measures, and maintenance practices. Three types of heat exchangers (Fin fan, Plate, and Shell & Tube) are analyzed which are used in these engines. The assessment covers failure rates, Mean Time to Failure ( MTTF ), and the impact of independent and dependent failures on reliability. The study identifies unique failure modes like insufficient heat transfer, external leakage, parameter deviation, and structural deficiencies and their differing impacts in marine and industrial contexts. The research highlights the sensitivity of marine engine heat exchangers to seawaterinduced corrosion and fouling, affecting heat transfer efficiency. In contrast, industrial engines display varying failure characteristics due to system controls and operational parameters. A significant finding is the decrease in reliability over time for all heat exchanger types, underscoring the importance of maintenance and monitoring. Our results show slight shifts in failure rates due to equipment inefficiencies markedly affecting heat exchangers' operational lifecycles. The study concludes with a necessity for tailored maintenance strategies and design considerations for marine and industrial diesel engine heat exchangers. This focused approach offers insights into optimizing diesel engine reliability, particularly by understanding the main role of heat exchangers.