Since 2020 and the introduction of 0,5% Sulphur fuels, which are blends of residual and distillate fuel oils, there are challenges to be addressed relevant to the wide range of temperatures and thus heating, in order to reach the proper viscosity (cSt) before Engines’ inlet.

Therefore, the Viscosensor has become an even more vital instrument onboard, for which accuracy, efficacy and reliability is linked with safety and proper Engines’ operation.

Rivertrace Engineering has developed a Viscosity sensor for applications onboard ships that require replacement units on the existing equipment.

RIVERTRACE SMART VISCO
The innovative SMART VISCO monitor is skillfully designed to measure the viscosity and temperature of fuel oil on board ships prior to entering the main engines. The “smart” monitor will be installed in the fuel line prior to injection and will report temperature and viscosity data over analogue/digital outputs.

Applications

• Fuel Analysis
• Fuel Condition Monitoring
• Temperature and Viscosity monitoring

Key characteristics of Smart Visco

• Minimal Maintenance Required
• Low Operating Costs
• Use on Heavy fuel oils (HFO) and VLSFO (0,5%)
• Unaffected by vibration and flowrate
• High accuracy
• Online real time measurements
• Plug and play easy installation
• LCD shows all parameter and detail

Using high frequency and ultrasound speed, ambient vibration and flow speed have no impact on the measurements. Finally, the viscosity and temperature data can also be easily retrieved via RS485 or a USB stick.

This SMART VISCO, with its digital capabilities, can be integrated with the RIVERTRACE CONNECTED service to collect and share the data with ship management to monitor and analyze trends in fuel performance either for a vessel or the whole fleet.