PROCESS COMPUTERS ON SHIPS

ASEA have supplied a process computer, System 1700, for a Swedish research project on board the T.T. Sea Sovereign of 210,000 tdw. It was decided to develop three program systems which each utilise the capacity of the computer: a sea system, a loading system and an unloading system. Units such as sensors, actuators and display elements are continuously connected to the computer system. A change-over between the three systems is accomplished in such a way that the core memory of the computer is given a new program via tape readers, which takes only a few minutes to accomplish. Each program system is built up from modules, which have been individually developed and tested and then linked together. Some examples of program modules in the sea system are: Course prediction; Great circle navigation, dead reckoning; Rudder position control (autopilot); Main turbine; Boilers; and Condenser. When oil is being loaded and unloaded, the highest pump capacity must be utilised without safety being jeopardised (damage to the hull and discharge of oil). The sequence programs for loading and unloading are intended to reduce the time in port to a minimum. They are connected to strength programs, which calculate stresses in the hull resulting from the distribution of the cargo. The system contains 72 hydraulically operated valves, which can be controlled from digital outputs on the computer. Signals from about 200 valve positions and 26 tank levels are fed into the system. In the first stage the program system has been based on the loading of one particular grade of oil on each occasion. Further development of programs for more general cargo combinations is planned. The system is primarily intended for research and development and is therefore highly flexible. The core memory, which has a capacity of 24 K (1K = 1024 words at 16 bits/word), can be extended to 32 K. The 3 program systems Sea, Loading and Unloading mean that the total program volume will be about 3 time 24 K. A large part of this is based on standard programs normally included in the library for System 1700. FORTRAN has been used for most of the programs associated with the processes, while the operating system and communication by the operator have been written in assembler language.

• Corporate Authors:

  Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget

  S-72183 Vasteras,   Sweden 
• Authors:
  • Madesater, A
• Publication Date: 1971

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 56-60
• Serial:
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue Number: 3

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Bulk cargo handling; Control systems; Electric power plants; Engine rooms; Information processing; Navigation computers; Oils; Ship operations; Tankers; Voyage management systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Automatic power plants; Bulk oil handling; Tanker operations; Unmanned engine rooms
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00019561
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Allmanna Svenska Elektriska Aktiebolaget
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 25 1973 12:00AM