Why is marine calibration important? How is marine calibration in the UAE done? Maritronics explains.
Calibration is an important service method employed in the marine industry to ensure that all measurable quantities are right. In simple terms, calibration means adjusting an instrument to a predefined measure. Calibration involves checking, by comparison with a pre-calibrated value, the accuracy of a measuring instrument. Calibration may also include the adjustment of the instrument to bring it into alignment with the standard.
Marine Calibrated Gases
Calibration gases are reference gases which are used for establishing comparative standards in the calibration of analytical instruments, such as gas analyzers or gas detectors. Exposing a detector, or analyzer, to a verified concentration of test substance will gauge whether the sensors respond accurately to that gas.
Given their use, calibration gases must be exact and should be in correlation with national and international standards. There are many different mixtures and pure gases available as marine calibration gases.
Types of Marine Calibration Gases
Marine industry calibration gases typically comprise:
Hydrocarbons & air mixtures
Hydrocarbons & nitrogen mixtures
Carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide mixtures
Oxygen & nitrogen mixtures
Pure gases such as nitrogen (99.999% N2) and methane (100% CH4)
These are important to maintain the safety of the ship, both for the crew and the machinery.
Importance of Gas Detection on Ships
Exposing an unprecedented number of toxic gases or to an oxygen-deprived environment may cause serious harm to the crew and can even cause death. Combustible gas explosions can be incredibly dangerous and create worst-case scenarios onboard. They are powerful enough to cause severe damage to the ship.
In the marine industry, calibration gases are mainly used to:
Check oxygen concentration in enclosed spaces
Monitor oxygen levels in inert gases contained inside tanks
Measure the flammability of hydrocarbon gas
Measure levels of hydrocarbon gas before entering pump rooms and enclosed spaces
Locate and measure other potentially toxic gases within a ship
Maritronics: Expert Marine Calibration Services
Maritronics is one of the leading providers of marine equipment in Dubai. They have some of the best service engineers in the marine industry with great professional experience both onboard and onshore.
During ship maintenance sessions, Maritronics servicemen ensure that accurate readings are found and maintain the reliability of the gas detector system.
Best Practices for Marine Calibration
It is essential that all gas detection and measurement instruments undergo a regular schedule of calibration and testing.
All instruments, both fixed and portable, must be adequately checked before use.
Records must be kept of these checks, along with details of any faults.
Calibration needs to be done with utmost precision and care.
Accurate readings must be carried out in accordance with the gas detector manufacturer’s instructions.
The correct calibration gas must always be used.
Instruments must be checked, zeroed using pure gases such as nitrogen (99.999% N2), and spanned when necessary.
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