DK202000406A1

DK202000406A1 - Device for specifying ease of occurrence of low-temperature corrosion in engine cylinder, program and recording medium

Info

Publication number: DK202000406A1
Application number: DKPA202000406A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Beppu Masayuki
Original assignee: Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2015-07-24
Filing date: 2020-04-08
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: WO2017017717A1; DK201800086A1; JP5978407B1; DK180414B1; CH712931B1; DK180772B1; JPWO2017017717A1

Abstract

Terminal apparatus 11 stores a sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquired by sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111 in storage means 114. The sulfuric acid condensation intensity is an index value indicating the likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in a cylinder, and is specified in advance according to a load of an engine. Load index value acquisition means 112 acquires a current load index value for the engine. Attribute value acquisition means 113 acquires an attribute value (amount of sulfur contained in fuel oil, amount of calcium contained in cylinder lubricant, etc.) that influences the current sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder. Low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 reads out, from storage means 114, a sulfuric acid condensation intensity corresponding to a load index value acquired by load index value acquisition means 112 and specifies a low-temperature corrosion speed of a cylinder liner based on the read-out sulfuric acid condensation intensity and attribute value acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113. Wear amount specification means 116 specifies the wear amount of the cylinder liner based on the low-temperature corrosion speed specified by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115.

Description

DESCRIPTION

APPARATUS FOR SPECIFYING LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE OF LOW-TEMPERATURE CORROSION IN CYLINDER OF ENGINE, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a technique for specifying the likelihood of occurrence of low-temperature corrosion in a cylinder of an engine.

Background Art [0002] If the wear amount of a cylinder liner of an engine exceeds a limit value, air-tightness in the cylinder cannot be maintained, and an inconvenience such as not being able to sufficiently obtain the output of the engine will occur. In particular, regarding a cylinder liner of an engine mounted in a vessel, if the wear amount of the cylinder liner exceeds a limit value during a voyage, a serious situation such as stalling is incurred in some cases. Accordingly, a crew member of the vessel, a worker for a company managing operation of the vessel, or the like needs to know the appropriate time at which to replace the cylinder liner.

[0003] Patent Literature 1 is an example of literature that discloses a mechanism for presenting an appropriate maintenance timing for an engine part mounted in a vessel. Patent Literature 1 discloses a system in which a business server managed by a diesel main engine manufacturer receives part maintenance data for a diesel main engine mounted in a vessel from the vessel, performs part maintenance analysis based on data such as the received part maintenance data and the usage limit value of the part, and transmits the result of the part maintenance analysis to the vessel and a PC of the company managing the operation of the vessel. According to the

DK 2020 00406 A1 system disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a crew member of the vessel, a worker for the company managing the operation of the vessel, or the like can estimate the timing at which the part will reach its usage limit value by viewing a trend of the progression of damage to the part.

Citation List

Patent Literature [0004] Patent Document 1: JP 2002-221076A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem [0005] A crew member of the vessel or the like can estimate the timing at which the wear amount of the cylinder liner will reach its limit value by recording wear amounts obtained by measuring and viewing the cylinder liner during maintenance inspection and viewing a trend of the progression of wear. However, when low-temperature corrosion occurs in the cylinder liner, wear rapidly progresses, and therefore there is a risk that the wear amount will reach the limit value before the estimated timing. Accordingly, the crew member of the vessel or the like needs to know how likely it is that low-temperature corrosion will occur in the cylinder.

[0006] In view of the foregoing circumstance, the present invention aims to provide a means for specifying the likelihood of the occurrence of low-temperature corrosion in a cylinder of an engine.

Solution to Problem [0007] In order to solve the foregoing problem, the present invention proposes, as a first aspect, an apparatus including: a load index value acquisition means for acquiring a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of an engine; an attribute value acquisition means for acquiring an attribute value, which is a sulfuric acid concentration in a cylinder of the

DK 2020 00406 A1 engine or at least one value of an attribute that influences the sulfuric acid concentration; a sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means for acquiring a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, corresponding to the load index value; and a low-temperature corrosion speed specification means for specifying a low-temperature corrosion index value indicating an index for a progression speed of low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder, based on the attribute value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity. [0008] In the apparatus according to the first aspect, as a second aspect, it is possible to employ a configuration including a wear amount specification means for specifying a wear amount of a cylinder liner in the cylinder based on the low-temperature corrosion index value.

[0009] In the apparatus according to the first aspect, as a third aspect, it is possible to employ a configuration including an appropriate state specification means for specifying, as an appropriate state, a combination of the load index value and the attribute value that satisfies a pre-determined condition, based on the low-temperature corrosion index value.

[0010] In the apparatus according to the second aspect, as a fourth aspect, it is possible to employ a configuration including an appropriate state specification means for specifying, as an appropriate state, a combination of the load index value and the attribute value that satisfies a pre-determined condition, based on the wear amount.

[0011] In the apparatus according to any of the first to fourth aspects, as a fifth aspect, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the attribute value acquisition means acquires an amount of sulfur contained in fuel oil used in the engine as the attribute value.

[0012] In the apparatus according to any of the first to fifth aspects, as a sixth aspect, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the attribute value acquisition means acquires an amount of a basic substance contained in cylinder lubricant used in the engine as the attribute value.

DK 2020 00406 A1 [0013] Also, the present invention proposes, as a seventh aspect, an apparatus including: a sample data acquisition means for acquiring a plurality of pieces of sample data that indicates a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of an engine, an attribute value, which is a sulfuric acid concentration in a cylinder of the engine or at least one value of an attribute that influences the sulfuric acid concentration, and an index value for a progression speed of low-temperature corrosion in a cylinder with a sulfuric acid concentration corresponding to the attribute value of the engine running at a load corresponding to the load index value; and a sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means for specifying a sulfuric acid condensation intensity, which is an index value corresponding to a load index value and indicates a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, based on a plurality of pieces of sample data acquired by the sample data acquisition means.

[0014] Also, the present invention proposes, as an eighth aspect, an apparatus including: a sample data acquisition means for, for each of a plurality of engines with different characteristics, acquiring sample data including a characteristic value indicating a characteristic of the engine, and a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in a cylinder corresponding to a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of the engine; and a relationship specification means for specifying a relationship between the characteristic value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity, based on a plurality of pieces of sample data acquired by the sample data acquisition means.

[0015] Also, the present invention proposes, as a ninth aspect, a program for causing a computer to execute: processing for acquiring a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of an engine; processing for acquiring an attribute value, which is a sulfuric acid concentration in a cylinder of the engine or at least one value of an attribute that influences the sulfuric acid concentration; processing for acquiring a sulfuric acid condensation intensity

DK 2020 00406 A1 indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder corresponding to the load index value; and processing for specifying an index value for a progression speed of low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder based on the attribute value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity.

[0016] Also, the present invention proposes, as a tenth aspect, a program for causing a computer to execute: processing for acquiring a plurality of pieces of sample data that indicates a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of an engine, an attribute value, which is a sulfuric acid concentration in a cylinder of the engine or at least one value of an attribute that influences the sulfuric acid concentration, and an index value for a progression speed of low-temperature corrosion in a cylinder with a sulfuric acid concentration corresponding to the attribute value of the engine running at a load corresponding to the load index value; and processing for specifying a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, corresponding to a load index value, based on the plurality of pieces of sample data.

[0017] Also, the present invention proposes, as an eleventh aspect, a program for causing a computer to execute: processing for, for each of a plurality of engines with different characteristics, acquiring sample data including a characteristic value indicating a characteristic of the engine, and a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in a cylinder, corresponding to a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of the engine; and processing for specifying a relationship between the characteristic value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity based on the plurality of pieces of sample data.

[0018] Also, the present invention proposes, as a twelfth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium permanently storing the program according to any of the ninth to eleventh aspects.

DK 2020 00406 A1

Advantageous Effects of the Invention [0019] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the speed at which low-temperature corrosion progresses in the cylinder of the engine can be monitored.

[0020] According to the second aspect of the present invention, the wear amount of the cylinder liner can be monitored.

[0021] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the appropriate states of the load of the engine and the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder or the attribute value that influences the sulfuric acid concentration are specified with consideration given to the progression speed of the low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder.

[0022] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the appropriate states of the load of the engine and the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder or the attribute value that influences the sulfuric acid concentration are specified with consideration given to the wear amount of the cylinder liner.

[0023] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the progression speed of the low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder is specified with consideration given to the amount of sulfur contained in the fuel oil.

[0024] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the progression speed of low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder is specified with consideration given to the amount of the basic substance contained in the cylinder lubricant.

[0025] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the sulfuric acid condensation intensity, which indicates the likelihood of the occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, is specified according to the load of the engine.

[0026] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the relationship between the characteristic of the engine and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity is specified.

DK 2020 00406 A1 [0027] According to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the apparatuses according to the first, seventh, and eighth aspects of the present invention are realized by a computer.

[0028] According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the apparatuses according to the first, seventh, and eighth aspects of the present invention are realized by a computer capable of reading out a program from the storage medium and executing it.

Brief Description of Drawings [0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a wear amount specification system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a computer to be employed as hardware for a terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a computer to be employed as hardware for a server apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a sulfuric acid condensation intensity table stored in the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for illustrating a concept of a sulfuric acid condensation intensity to be used by the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for illustrating the concept of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity to be used by the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for illustrating the concept of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity to be used by the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a wear

DK 2020 00406 A1 amount management table stored in the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the server apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a low-temperature corrosion index value sample table stored in the server apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the terminal apparatus according to an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments [0030] Embodiment

Hereinafter, wear amount specification system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of wear amount specification system 1. Wear amount specification system 1 is a system for continuously specifying the wear amount of a cylinder liner of an engine mounted in vessel 8. Note that wear amount specification system 1 specifies the low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner and specifies a wear amount obtained by applying the specified low-temperature corrosion speed.

[0031] The wear amount of the cylinder liner means the amount of parts of the cylinder liner that have been lost due to wear. In the following description, the wear amount of the cylinder liner is indicated by the amount by which the thickness decreases in the case where the thickness of the cylinder liner in the unused state is used as a reference, and it is expressed in units of millimeters. However, the method for expressing the wear amount is not limited to this, and for example, the wear amount may be expressed using the amount (in units of grams) by which the mass decreases from the unused state of the cylinder liner. Note that strictly speaking, the wear amount of the cylinder liner differs depending on the position in the

DK 2020 00406 A1 axial direction and the position about the axis, but the average values thereof will be used in the following description.

[0032] The low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner means the progression speed of the low-temperature corrosion in the cylinder liner (the speed at which deterioration progresses due to low-temperature corrosion). In the following description, the low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner is expressed using the depth of the portions that deteriorate due to low-temperature corrosion in a unit time period, and is expressed in units of millimeters per 1000 hours (mm/1000h). However, the method for expressing the low-temperature corrosion speed is not limited to this, and for example, the low-temperature corrosion speed may be expressed using the mass (in units of grams per day) or the like of the portion that deteriorates due to the low-temperature corrosion in a unit time period. Also, the low-temperature corrosion speed itself need not be used, and an index value indicating the magnitude of the low-temperature corrosion speed may be used instead of the low-temperature corrosion speed. Note that strictly speaking, the low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner (or the index value indicating the magnitude of the low-temperature corrosion speed) differs depending on the position in the axial direction and the position about the axis, but in the following description, the average values thereof will be used.

[0033] Wear amount specification system 1 includes terminal apparatus 11 mounted in vessel 8, server apparatus 12 that performs data communication with terminal apparatus 11 via communication satellite 9, and terminal apparatus 13 that is used on land in order for a worker of the company managing the operation of vessel 8 or the like to browse data stored in server apparatus 12, for example.

[0034] Note that although only one vessel 8 is shown in FIG. 1, there are normally multiple vessels 8. If there are multiple vessels 8, terminal apparatuses 11 mounted on each of multiple vessels 8 perform data

DK 2020 00406 A1 communication with server apparatus 12. Also, although only one terminal apparatus 13 is shown in FIG. 1, the number of terminal apparatuses 13 changes according to the number of people browsing the data stored in server apparatus 12. Also, although terminal apparatus 13 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged on land, the arrangement location of terminal apparatus 13 is not limited to being on land and for example, terminal apparatus 13 may be on vessel 8.

[0035] The hardware configurations of terminal apparatus 11 and terminal apparatus 13 are computers for general terminal apparatuses, for example. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of computer 10 employed as hardware for terminal apparatus 11 and terminal apparatus 13. Computer 10 includes: memory 101 that stores various types of data; processor 102 that performs various types of data processing according to programs stored in memory 101; communication IF 103, which is an IF (interface) for performing data communication with another apparatus; display apparatus 104 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying images to a user; and operation apparatus 105 such as a keyboard that receives user operations. Note that an external display apparatus that is connected to computer 10 may be used instead of or in addition to display apparatus 104 built in computer 10. Also, an external operation apparatus that is connected to computer 10 may be used instead of or in addition to operation apparatus 105 built in computer 10.

[0036] The hardware configuration of server apparatus 12 is a computer for a general server apparatus, for example. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of computer 20 employed as hardware for server apparatus 12. Computer 20 includes: memory 201 that stores various types of data; processor 202 that performs various types of data processing according to programs stored in memory 201; and communication IF 203 for performing data communication with another apparatus.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of terminal

DK 2020 00406 A1 apparatus 11. That is, computer 10 functions as an apparatus including the configurations shown in FIG. 4 by executing data processing according to a program for terminal apparatus 11. Hereinafter, functional constituent units of terminal apparatus 11 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

[0038] Sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111 acquires the sulfuric acid condensation intensity corresponding to the engine of vessel 8 in which terminal apparatus 11 is mounted. The sulfuric acid condensation intensity is an index value indicating the likelihood of the occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder when the engine is running at a certain load, and is specified in advance according to various loads for each engine.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a data configuration of a table in which sulfuric acid condensation intensities acquired by sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111 are stored. Hereinafter, the table shown in FIG. 5 will be referred to as “sulfuric acid condensation intensity table”. The sulfuric acid condensation intensity table is transmitted from server apparatus 12 to terminal apparatus 11 and is acquired by sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111. Alternatively, the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table may be input to terminal apparatus 11 by a crew member of vessel 8 or the like, for example, and be acquired by sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111.

[0040] The data in the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table differs for each engine identified by an engine ID (identifier). Load index values indicating magnitudes of loads of the engine are stored in the “load index value” column of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table. Sulfuric acid condensation intensities corresponding to each of the load index values (in the example shown in FIG. 5, 10%, 20%, ..., and 100%) are stored in the “sulfuric acid condensation intensity” column of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table. Hereinafter, the sulfuric acid condensation intensity for when the load index value is L(%) is denoted as WL.

DK 2020 00406 A1 [0041] FIGS. 6 to 8 are graphs for illustrating the concept of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity. FIG. 6 is a graph showing sulfuric acid condensation intensity W10 for when a certain engine (hereinafter, “engine E”) runs at a load corresponding to a load index value of 10%, FIG. 7 is a graph showing sulfuric acid condensation intensity W30 for when engine E runs at a load corresponding to a load index value of 30%, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing sulfuric acid condensation intensity W90 for when engine E runs at a load corresponding to a load index value of 90%. The X axes of the graphs shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 indicate the piston position in the cylinder and the Y axes indicate the temperature.

[0042] In FIGS. 6 to 8, graph D shows the dew point temperature of the sulfuric acid in the cylinder, which changes according to the piston position in the cylinder. Also, graph T indicates the temperature of the inner surface of the cylinder liner, which changes according to the piston position in the cylinder.

[0043] The low-temperature corrosion of the cylinder liner occurs mainly due to the sulfuric acid condensing on the inner surface of the cylinder liner. Accordingly, if the temperature of the inner surface of the cylinder liner is higher than the dew point temperature of the sulfuric acid in the cylinder, the sulfuric acid does not condense on the cylinder liner, and the low-temperature corrosion of the cylinder liner hardly progresses at all. On the other hand, if the temperature of the inner surface of the cylinder liner is lower than the dew point temperature of the sulfuric acid in the cylinder, the sulfuric acid condenses on the cylinder liner and the low-temperature corrosion of the cylinder liner progresses. In this case, the greater the amount of sulfuric acid that condenses is, the more quickly the low-temperature corrosion of the cylinder liner progresses.

[0044] Accordingly, in FIGS. 6 and 7, condensation of the sulfuric acid occurs on the cylinder liner when the piston is located within a range in which graph T indicating the temperature of the inner surface of the cylinder liner

DK 2020 00406 A1 is located below graph D indicating the dew-point temperature of the sulfuric acid. Also, when the piston is located within the range in which graph T is located below graph D, if the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder is the same, in general, the amount of sulfuric acid that condenses increases the greater the distance between graph T and graph D is. For this reason, the larger the area of the region generated between graph D and graph T is, the more likely it is that sulfuric acid will condense on the cylinder liner. Note that in FIG. 8, there is no region in which graph T is located below graph D, and therefore condensation of sulfuric acid does not occur on the cylinder liner.

[0045] The sulfuric acid condensation intensity is an index value indicating the likelihood of the occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, and is conceptualized as the area of the region between graph T and graph D. If other conditions such as the driving state of a supercharger are the same, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, in general, the value of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity is larger the smaller the load of the engine is, and if the load of the engine exceeds a certain value, the value of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity often becomes “0”. The point to be considered here is that the sulfuric acid condensation intensity is determined by the shapes and positions of graph T and graph D and is not influenced by the amount of sulfur contained in the fuel oil or the amount of a basic substance such as calcium contained in the cylinder lubricant.

[0046] The shapes and positions of graph T and graph D are determined by the characteristic of the engine. Examples of characteristics of the engine that influence the shapes and positions of graph T and graph D include, but are not limited to, the shape of a derating map, the set temperature of a cylinder liner coolant, fuel consumption rate, Pmax (intra-cylinder maximum combustion pressure), Pmax/Pme (ratio between intra-cylinder maximum combustion pressure and brake mean effective pressure), and the wall temperature distribution of the cylinder.

DK 2020 00406 A1 [0047] Note that the description given above with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 is merely a description of the concept of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity. Accordingly, it is sufficient that the sulfuric acid condensation intensity has a positive correlation with the area of the region between graph D (a curved line indicating the dew-point temperature of sulfuric acid in the cylinder, which changes according to the position of the piston in the cylinder) and graph T (a curved line indicating the temperature of an inner surface of the cylinder liner, which changes according to the piston position in the cylinder), and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity does not necessarily need to match that area.

[0048] Next, an example of a sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification method will be given. It is assumed that at this time, a large amount of sample data indicating the load index values within a certain period, the amount of sulfur introduced into the cylinder per unit time (e.g., per day) in the period, the amount of the basic substance introduced into the cylinder per unit time (e.g., per day) in the period, and the low-temperature corrosion speed in the period has been obtained for engine E. Note that if the basic substance is a substance that fulfills the role of a neutralizer contained in the cylinder lubricant or the like and calcium-based cylinder lubricant containing calcium is used, for example, the basic substance is calcium. Also, an estimated value based on a measured value of an amount of iron contained in cylinder drain oil, for example, is used as the low-temperature corrosion speed.

[0049] Sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl is defined as a numerical value that satisfies the conditions shown in Equation 1 below, for example, when the load index value of the engine indicated by the sample data is denoted as L, the introduction amount of sulfur per unit time (hereinafter referred to simply as “sulfur amount”) is denoted as S, the introduction amount of the basic substance per unit time (hereinafter referred to simply as “basic substance amount”) is denoted as C, the low-temperature corrosion

DK 2020 00406 A1 speed is denoted as CI, and the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder determined according to sulfur amount S and basic substance amount C is denoted as H. Note that “a” is a constant that is determined according to the neutralizing ability of the basic substance.

[Equation 1] (when S-a-C>0, H=S-a-C < when S-a-C<0, H=0 ...(Equation 1) ( CI=HxW_l [0050] Regarding the combinations of L, S, C, and CI indicated by the large amount of sample data, the Wl with the best application is specified in accordance with Equation 1 as the sulfuric acid condensation intensity corresponding to the load index value L.

[0051] Note that Equation 1 is an example of a method for calculating the sulfuric acid condensation intensity and an equation according to which it is possible to calculate a sulfuric acid condensation intensity with a better application may be employed instead of Equation 1. Also, regardless of the calculation equation, for example, a value obtained by a worker of the company managing vessel 8 or the like performing estimation based on the characteristic of the engine may be used as the sulfuric acid condensation intensity. The preceding was a description of the sulfuric acid condensation intensity.

[0052] Returning to FIG. 4, description of the functional constituent units of terminal apparatus 11 will continue. Load index value acquisition means 112 acquires a load index value from a control apparatus of the engine, for example. A value measured by a shaft horsepower meter, for example, is used as the load index value. Alternatively, for example, a load index value estimated based on the amount of fuel consumption, vessel speed, propeller rotation rate, propeller torque, scavenging air pressure, supercharger rotation rate, or the like may be used. The load index value obtained by load index value acquisition means 112 is normally the load index value

DK 2020 00406 A1 immediately after being measured, and substantially indicates the magnitude of the load of the engine during acquisition.

[0053] Attribute value acquisition means 113 acquires an attribute value, which is the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder or at least one value of an attribute that influences the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder. The attribute value acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113 is normally an attribute value that has just been measured, and essentially is the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder or an attribute value that influences the sulfuric acid concentration during acquisition. Examples of the types of attribute values acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113 include the amount of sulfur introduced into the cylinder, the amount of the basic substance introduced into the cylinder, and an external temperature. Also, attribute value acquisition means 113 may acquire the sulfuric acid concentration specified based on the acquired amount of sulfur and the like as the attribute value.

[0054] Cylinder lubricant to which a calcium-based additive is added is widely used in an engine for a vessel. If the cylinder lubricant to which the calcium-based additive is added is used, as one attribute value, attribute value acquisition means 113 acquires an amount of calcium introduced into the cylinder as the amount of the basic substance. If the cylinder lubricant to which an additive containing a substance other than calcium, such as magnesium or barium, is added is used as the basic substance, attribute value acquisition means 113 may acquire the amount of magnesium, barium, or the like as one attribute value instead of the calcium. In the following description, cylinder lubricant to which a calcium-based additive is added is used in the engine of vessel 8, and attribute value acquisition means 113 acquires the amount of calcium introduced into the cylinder as one of the attribute values.

[0055] For example, attribute value acquisition means 113 reads out a sulfur content ratio of fuel oil from a storage apparatus, receives a flow

DK 2020 00406 A1 amount per unit time of the fuel oil from a flow amount meter, and specifies the amount of sulfur introduced per unit time into the cylinder by multiplying the sulfur content ratio by the flow amount of the fuel oil. Also, attribute value acquisition means 113 reads out the content ratio of calcium in the cylinder lubricant from the storage apparatus, receives the flow amount per unit time of the cylinder lubricant from the flow amount meter, and specifies the amount of calcium introduced per unit time into the cylinder by multiplying the content ratio of the calcium by the flow amount of the cylinder lubricant.

[0056] Storage means 114 stores various types of data. Examples of the data stored by storage means 114 include a sulfuric acid condensation intensity table (FIG. 5) acquired by sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111, a load index value acquired by load index value acquisition means 112, an attribute value acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113, a low-temperature corrosion speed specified by later-described low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115, and an intra-period wear amount and cumulative wear amount specified by later-described wear amount specification means 116.

[0057] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a table (hereinafter referred to as “wear amount management table”) that is used to store various types of data received by storage means 114 from load index value acquisition means 112, attribute value acquisition means 113, low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115, and wear amount specification means 116. The wear amount management table is a collection of records for each period of a predetermined length of time, for example, and records are aligned in order of their corresponding periods therein. As data fields, the wear amount management table includes “period”, “load index value”, “attribute value 1”, “attribute value 2”, ..., “attribute value n” (note that n is the number of types of attribute values acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113), “low-temperature

DK 2020 00406 A1 corrosion speed”, “intra-period wear amount”, and “cumulative wear amount”. Note that the length of time of the period corresponding to each record may be any length of time, as long as it is a length of time of an extent according to which the load index value and the attribute values do not significantly change. Also, the length of time of the period corresponding to each record may differ for each record.

[0058] If storage means 114 receives data from load index value acquisition means 112 or attribute value acquisition means 113 in the periods corresponding to the records, it stores the data in the field corresponding to that data, that is, “load index value”, “attribute value 1”, “attribute value 2”, ..., or “attribute value n”. At this time, if data is already stored in the field that is the storage destination, storage means 114 overwrites the old data using the new data, for example.

[0059] Also, if storage means 114 does not receive data from load index value acquisition means 112 or attribute value acquisition means 113 in the periods corresponding to the records, it copies the data of the previous record to the same field in the current record (the field for which data was not obtained), and thereafter adds the record corresponding to the new period in the wear amount management table.

[0060] As a result, the attribute values (amount of sulfur introduced into the cylinder, amount of calcium introduced into the cylinder, etc.) that influence the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder in each period, and the load index value indicating the magnitude of the load of the engine are stored in association with each other in the wear amount management table.

[0061] The data stored in the fields “low-temperature corrosion speed”, “intra-period wear amount”, and “cumulative wear amount” in the wear amount management table will be additionally described in the description of low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 and wear amount specification means 116.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 4, description of the functional constituent units of

DK 2020 00406 A1 the terminal apparatus 11 will continue. Low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 specifies the low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner based on the sulfuric acid condensation intensity corresponding to the load index value acquired by load index value acquisition means 112 among the sulfuric acid condensation intensities stored in the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table (FIG. 5), and the attribute values acquired by attribute value acquisition means 113.

[0063] Specifically, for each record in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9), low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 first reads out, from the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table (FIG. 5), sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL corresponding to load index value L indicated by the data stored in “load index value” of the target record. Then, in accordance with a pre-determined calculation equation, low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 calculates low-temperature corrosion speed CI of the cylinder liner in the period corresponding to the target record based on read-out sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL and attribute values A1, A2, ..., and An stored in “attribute value 1”, “attribute value 2”, ..., and “attribute value n” of the target record.

[0064] The above-described Equation 1 is an example of a calculation equation that is used by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 to calculate low-temperature corrosion speed CI when two types of attribute values, namely sulfur amount S and basic substance amount C, are used as variables. The calculation equation used by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 to calculate low-temperature corrosion speed CI is generalized as the following Equation 2.

[Equation 2]

CI=f(WL, A1, A2, ..., An) ...(Equation 2) [0065] The calculation equation shown in Equation 2 is generated in advance in server apparatus 12, is received from server apparatus 12 by reception means 118, and is stored in storage means 114. Low-temperature

DK 2020 00406 A1 corrosion speed specification means 115 reads out the calculation equation shown in Equation 2 from storage means 114 and uses it. Low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 stores calculated low-temperature corrosion speed CI in “low-temperature corrosion speed” of the target record in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9).

[0066] The calculation equation shown in Equation 2 is used in common even if the load of the engine differs, but a sulfuric acid condensation intensity that is different for each load is used. Accordingly, low-temperature corrosion speed CI calculated in accordance with Equation 2 is a value that differs according to the load, even if the attribute values are the same. Also, the calculation equation shown in Equation 2 is used in common for engines with different characteristics, but since a sulfuric acid condensation intensity that is different for each engine with different characteristics is used, the low-temperature corrosion speed calculated in accordance with Equation 2 is a value that differs according to the characteristics of the engine, even if the attribute values and load index values are the same.

[0067] Wear amount specification means 116 specifies the wear amount of the cylinder liner in the period (hereinafter referred to as “intra-period wear amount”) based on the low-temperature corrosion speed specified by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115.

[0068] Specifically, for each record of the wear amount management table (FIG. 9), wear amount specification means 116 calculates the amount of low-temperature corrosion of the cylinder liner that has progressed in the period (hereinafter referred to as “intra-period low-temperature corrosion amount”) by multiplying the length of time of the period indicated by “period” in the target record by the low-temperature corrosion speed stored in “low-temperature corrosion speed” in the target record, and calculates the intra-period wear amount of the cylinder liner corresponding to the calculated intra-period low-temperature corrosion amount in accordance

DK 2020 00406 A1 with the pre-determined calculation equation. The calculation equation used by wear amount specification means 116 to calculate the intra-period wear amount is generated in advance in server apparatus 12, is received by reception means 118 from server apparatus 12, and is stored in storage means 114, for example. Wear amount specification means 116 reads out the calculation equation from storage means 114 and uses it.

[0069] The calculation equation used by wear amount specification means 116 to calculate the intra-period wear amount may be a function equation in which only the intra-period low-temperature corrosion amount is used as a variable, or may be a function equation in which parameters such as the rotation rate of the engine in the period, the amount of cylinder lubricant introduced into the cylinder in the period, and the value of “cumulative wear amount” in the record prior to the target record are used in addition to the intra-period low-temperature corrosion amount as variables. Note that the calculation equation used by wear amount specification means 116 to calculate the intra-period wear amount differs according to the characteristics of the piston and cylinder liner and the like.

[0070] Wear amount specification means 116 stores the calculated intra-period wear amount in “intra-period wear amount” of the target record in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9). Also, wear amount specification means 116 stores a value obtained by adding the value of “intra-period wear amount” of the target record to the value of “cumulative wear amount” of the prior record in “cumulative wear amount” of the target record. Note that “0” is stored in “cumulative wear amount” of the record corresponding to the period immediately after the cylinder liner is replaced. Accordingly, the amount by which the cylinder liner is worn in the period from the replacement time to the end timing of the period is stored in “cumulative wear amount” of the wear amount management table.

[0071] Transmission means 117 transmits various types of data to server apparatus 12. For example, transmission means 117 transmits the data

DK 2020 00406 A1 stored in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9) to server apparatus 12. Reception means 118 receives various types of data from server apparatus 12. The functional constituent units of terminal apparatus 11 have been described above.

[0072] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of server apparatus 12. That is, computer 20 functions as an apparatus including the configuration shown in FIG. 10 by executing data processing according to a program for server apparatus 12. Hereinafter, functional constituent units of server apparatus 12 shown in FIG. 10 will be described.

[0073] For each of various engines, sample data acquisition means 121 acquires multiple pieces of sample data indicating the load index value in a certain period, one or more types of attribute values that influence the sulfuric acid concentration in the cylinder in the period, and the low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner in the period. The sample data acquired by sample data acquisition means 121 is stored in storage means 122.

[0074] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a table in which the sample data acquired by sample data acquisition means 121 is stored (hereinafter referred to as “low-temperature corrosion speed sample table”). The low-temperature corrosion speed sample table includes “engine ID”, “period”, “load index value”, “attribute value 1”, “attribute value 2”, ..., “attribute value n”, and “low-temperature corrosion speed” as fields. The identifiers of the engines are stored in “engine ID”. Data of the same type as the data stored in the fields of the same name in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9) is stored in “period”, “load index value”, “attribute value 1”, “attribute value 2”, ..., and “attribute value n”. The low-temperature corrosion speed of the cylinder liner is stored in “low-temperature corrosion speed”.

[0075] The values stored in “low-temperature corrosion speed” of the low-temperature corrosion speed sample table are values that are estimated

DK 2020 00406 A1 based on the results of analyzing iron contained in the cylinder drain oil, for example.

[0076] Returning to FIG. 10, description of the functional constituent units of server apparatus 12 will continue. Storage means 122 stores various types of data such as the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table (FIG. 5) corresponding to the various engines, in addition to the above-described low-temperature corrosion speed sample table.

[0077] For the various engines, sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 specifies the sulfuric acid condensation intensity corresponding to the load index value, based on the sample data stored in the low-temperature corrosion speed sample table (FIG. 11).

[0078] For example, if sulfur amount S introduced into the cylinder per unit time in the target period is stored in “attribute value 1” of the low-temperature corrosion speed sample table and basic substance amount C introduced into the cylinder per unit time in the target period is stored in “attribute value 2”, sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 specifies sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL corresponding to load index value L in accordance with the above-described Equation 1, for example, based on sulfur amount S, basic substance amount C, and low-temperature corrosion speed CI stored in “low-temperature corrosion speed”.

[0079] Sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl specified by sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 is stored in storage means 122 in a state of being stored in the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table corresponding to the engine ID of the target engine.

[0080] Reception means 124 receives various types of data from terminal apparatus 11 and terminal apparatus 13. Also, transmission means 125 transmits various types of data to terminal apparatus 11 and terminal apparatus 13. For example, reception means 124 receives a request for the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table from terminal apparatus 11. The

DK 2020 00406 A1 request includes the engine ID that identifies the engine of vessel 8 in which terminal apparatus 11 is mounted. Transmission means 125 reads out, from storage means 122, the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table corresponding to the engine ID included in the request received by reception means 124 and transmits the sulfuric acid condensation intensity table to terminal apparatus 11, which is the source of the request.

[0081] Also, reception means 124 receives the record of the wear amount management table (FIG. 9) transmitted from each terminal apparatus 11 mounted in each vessel 8 along with the engine ID that identifies the engine of vessel 8 in which terminal apparatus 11 is mounted. A copy of the wear amount management table stored in storage means 114 of terminal apparatus 11 is stored in storage means 122 according to each engine ID. In storage means 122, the records of the wear amount management table received from terminal apparatus 11 by reception means 124 are sequentially added to the wear amount management tables corresponding to the engine IDs that were received along with the records.

[0082] Also, reception means 124 receives a request to browse data from terminal apparatus 13. The request includes the engine ID of the engine of vessel 8 for which the worker of the company managing vessel 8 or the like wants to know the cumulative wear amount or the like, for example. Transmission means 125 reads out data such as the cumulative wear amount from the wear amount management table corresponding to the engine ID included in the request received by reception means 124 and transmits the data to terminal apparatus 13, which is the source of the request. The functional constituent units of the server apparatus 12 have been described above.

[0083] Terminal apparatus 13 is a general terminal apparatus that accesses server apparatus 12 according to an operation performed by the user, displays data received from server apparatus 12, and the like. Accordingly, the description of the functional configuration of the terminal apparatus 13

DK 2020 00406 A1 is omitted.

[0084] The low-temperature corrosion speed, intra-period wear amount, and cumulative wear amount of the cylinder liner of the engine of vessel 8 in which terminal apparatus 11 is mounted are continuously stored in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9) stored in storage means 114 of terminal apparatus 11. The low-temperature corrosion speed, intra-period wear amount, and cumulative wear amount of the cylinder liner of the engine are continuously stored in storage means 122 of server apparatus 12 for the engines of various vessels.

[0085] Terminal apparatus 11 displays the states of low-temperature corrosion and wear of the cylinder liner of vessel 8 in accordance with data stored in the wear amount management table (FIG. 9) according to an operation performed by a crew member of vessel 8 or the like. Also, terminal apparatus 13 accesses server apparatus 12 according to an operation performed by a worker of the company managing the vessel, or the like, and displays the state of low-temperature corrosion and wear of the cylinder liner of the designated vessel in accordance with the data stored in the wear amount management table corresponding to the engine of the designated vessel.

[0086] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a wear amount management screen that is displayed by terminal apparatus 11 or terminal apparatus 13 according to an operation performed by a user. The vessel name, engine ID, and most recent cylinder liner replacement date are displayed on the wear amount management screen. Note that the most recent cylinder liner replacement date is the date belonging to the start timing of the period, on which the cumulative wear amount most recently was “0”.

[0087] Also, the current low-temperature corrosion speed and current wear speed are displayed on the wear amount management screen. Note that the current low-temperature corrosion speed is the low-temperature corrosion speed that is indicated by the newest record. Also, the current wear speed

DK 2020 00406 A1 is calculated by dividing the intra-period wear amount indicated by the newest record by the length of time of the period.

[0088] If the current low-temperature corrosion speed exceeds a pre-determined threshold, for example, a message stating “Low-temperature corrosion is progressing rapidly. Please consider changing the type of fuel oil, increasing the amount of cylinder lubricant, changing vessel speed, or the like.” is displayed on the wear amount management screen. Also, if the current wear speed exceeds a pre-determined threshold in the state in which the current low-temperature corrosion speed is less than or equal to a threshold, a message stating “Wear is progressing rapidly. Please consider increasing the amount of cylinder lubricant, or the like” is displayed on the wear amount management screen.

[0089] Also, transitions in the cumulative wear amount are displayed by a graph, for example, on the wear amount management screen. The graph displayed on the wear amount management screen indicates a date on which it is predicted that the cumulative wear amount will reach the limit value in the case where it is assumed that the wear will progress at a pace similar to that of a past performance.

[0090] A crew member of vessel 8, a worker for the management company of vessel 8, or the like can find out the state of low-temperature corrosion and wear of the cylinder liner in real-time by viewing the wear amount management screen.

[0091] Modified Examples

The above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Examples of these modifications will be given below. Note that two or more modified examples below may be combined.

[0092] (1) In the above-described embodiment, wear amount specification system 1 specifies the current and past states of low-temperature corrosion

DK 2020 00406 A1 and wear of the cylinder liner. Instead of or in addition to this, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which wear amount specification system 1 specifies future states of low-temperature corrosion and wear of the cylinder liner.

[0093] In this modified example, for example, terminal apparatus 11 acquires and stores data indicating a future voyage schedule of vessel 8, a type of fuel oil that is to be used, an amount of cylinder lubricant that is to be used, and the like. Note that the data such as the voyage schedule of vessel 8 may be input to terminal apparatus 11 by a crew member of vessel 8, or the like, for example, or terminal apparatus 11 may receive the data from server apparatus 12. Based on the data such as the voyage schedule of vessel 8, terminal apparatus 11 specifies the load index value of the engine in a future voyage of vessel 8, an amount of sulfur contained in the fuel oil to be used, and an amount of a basic substance contained in the cylinder lubricant to be used, and specifies the low-temperature corrosion speed, intra-period wear amount, and cumulative wear amount based on these specified pieces of data. Terminal apparatus 11 displays these specified pieces of information to a crew member of vessel 8 or the like, for example.

[0094] Also, terminal apparatus 11 may notify the crew member of vessel 8 or the like of the time at which the cumulative wear amount specified as described above reaches a pre-determined condition. For example, terminal apparatus 11 specifies the time at which the cumulative wear amount reaches the predetermined threshold value and notifies the crew member of vessel 8 or the like of the specified time as the time at which to replace the cylinder liner.

[0095] Also, a configuration may be employed in which terminal apparatus 11 includes an appropriate state specification means that specifies a combination of a load of the engine, a type of fuel oil, an amount of cylinder lubricant, and the like, which satisfies a pre-determined condition, as an appropriate state based on the low-temperature corrosion speed specified for

DK 2020 00406 A1 the future voyage by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 or the intra-period wear amount specified for the future voyage by wear amount specification means 116.

[0096] An example of a pre-determined condition under which the appropriate state specification means is to be used to specify the appropriate state is the condition that the total value of the cost of fuel oil, the cost of cylinder lubricant, and costs accompanying the replacement of the cylinder liner are less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, or the condition that the total value is at its minimum. Terminal apparatus 11 displays the appropriate state specified by the appropriate state specification means to a crew member of vessel 8 or the like, for example. The crew member or the like can reduce the costs accompanying the voyage of vessel 8 by adjusting the voyage speed of vessel 8 and adjusting the type of fuel oil to be used, the amount of cylinder lubricant, and the like, in accordance with the appropriate state presented by terminal apparatus 11.

[0097] (2) In the above-described embodiment, sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL is specified by sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 based on many pieces of sample data acquired by sample data acquisition means 121. Instead of this, sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL may be determined by a worker of the company managing vessel 8 or the like, for example. In this case, a worker of the company managing vessel 8 or the like determines sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL based on the characteristics of the engine mounted in vessel 8. Thereafter, the validity of determined sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL is checked with reference to the results of analyzing the iron contained in the cylinder drain oil or the like, and sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL is corrected as needed. Sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL determined by a person in this manner may be used by low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115 to specify low-temperature corrosion speed CI.

[0098] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the sample data used by

DK 2020 00406 A1 sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 to specify sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl includes low-temperature corrosion speed CI estimated based on the result of analyzing iron contained in the cylinder drain oil, for example. The analysis of the iron contained in the cylinder drain liquid incurs labor and cost. Accordingly, acquisition of the needed amount of sample data is difficult in some cases. For this reason, a configuration may be employed in which server apparatus 12 specifies sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL for an engine for which a sufficient amount of sample data is not obtained based on sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL that has already been specified by sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123.

[0099] In this case, for each of the various types of engines, sample data acquisition means 121 acquires sample data including sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL that has already been specified by sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123, and one or more types of characteristic values indicating the characteristics of the engine (e.g., the shape of the derating map, the set temperature of a cooling liquid for the cylinder liner, and the like).

[0100] Server apparatus 12 includes a relationship specification means that specifies the relationship between the characteristic values of the engine and sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL based on many pieces of sample data acquired by sample data acquisition means 121. Specifically, based on the sample data acquired by sample data acquisition means 121, for example, the relationship specification means specifies a relational equation for the characteristic values of the engine and sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL using a known statistical method such as multiple regression analysis in which sulfuric acid condensation intensity WL is used as a dependent variable and the characteristic values of the engine are used as independent variables (explanatory variables).

[0101] Also, server apparatus 12 includes a characteristic value acquisition

DK 2020 00406 A1 means that acquires characteristic values of an engine for which sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl is unspecified. Sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 specifies sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl, which was unspecified, by substituting the characteristic values acquired by the characteristic value acquisition means into the relational function specified by the relationship specification means.

[0102] (4) In the above-described embodiment, sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl is provided as a discrete value. Instead of this, sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl may be provided as a continuous value. For example, sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means 123 of server apparatus 12 may specify a regression equation Wl = f(L) for sulfuric acid condensation intensities W10, W20, ..., and W100 specified as discrete values. In this case, sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means 111 of terminal apparatus 11 calculates sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl corresponding to load index value L acquired by load index value acquisition means 112 in accordance with WL=f(L) specified as the regression equation and transfers sulfuric acid condensation intensity Wl to low-temperature corrosion speed specification means 115.

[0103] (5) In the above-described embodiment, terminal apparatus 11 or server apparatus 12 specifies the low-temperature corrosion speed and intra-period wear amount through calculation in accordance with the calculation equation. Instead of this, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which terminal apparatus 11 or server apparatus 12 specifies these values by referring to a correspondence table.

[0104] (6) It is also possible to employ a configuration in which server apparatus 12 performs at least part of the processing performed by terminal apparatus 11 in the above-described embodiment. Also, it is possible to employ a configuration in which terminal apparatus 11 performs at least part of the processing performed by server apparatus 12 in the above-described embodiment.

DK 2020 00406 A1 [0105] (7) In the above-described embodiment, terminal apparatus 11 and server apparatus 12 are realized by general computers executing processing in accordance with programs. Instead of this, at least one of terminal apparatus 11 and server apparatus 12 may be constituted as a so-called dedicated apparatus.

[0106] (8) In the above-described embodiment, the program executed by computer 10 to realize terminal apparatus 11 may be downloaded to computer 10 via a network such as the Internet, for example, or may be stored permanently in a storage medium, distributed, and loaded to computer 10 from the storage medium. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the program executed by computer 20 to realize server apparatus 12 may be downloaded to computer 20 via a network such as the Internet, for example, or may be stored permanently in a storage medium, distributed, and loaded to computer 20 from the storage medium.

Reference Signs List [0107] 1 Wear amount specification system

Vessel

Communication satellite

Computer

Terminal apparatus

Server apparatus

Terminal apparatus

Computer

101 Memory

102 Processor

103 Communication IF

104 Display apparatus

105 Operation apparatus

111 Sulfuric acid condensation intensity acquisition means

DK 2020 00406 A1

112 Load index value acquisition means

113 Attribute value acquisition means

114 Storage means

115 Low-temperature corrosion speed specification means

116 Wear amount specification means

117 Transmission means

118 Reception means

121 Sample data acquisition means

122 Storage means

123 Sulfuric acid condensation intensity specification means

124 Reception means

125 Transmission means

201

202

203

Memory

Processor

Communication IF

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sample data acquisition means for, for each of a plurality of engines with different characteristics, acquiring sample data including a characteristic value indicating a characteristic of the engine, and a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in a cylinder corresponding to a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of the engine,’ and a relationship specification means for specifying a relationship between the characteristic value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity, based on a plurality of pieces of sample data acquired by the sample data acquisition means.

2. A program for causing a computer to execute:

processing for, for each of a plurality of engines with different characteristics, acquiring sample data including a characteristic value indicating a characteristic of the engine, and a sulfuric acid condensation intensity indicating a likelihood of occurrence of condensation of sulfuric acid in a cylinder, corresponding to a load index value indicating a magnitude of a load of the engine,’ and processing for specifying a relationship between the characteristic value and the sulfuric acid condensation intensity based on the plurality of pieces of sample data.

3. A computer-readable storage medium permanently storing the program according to claim 2.