SOLUTION 5 - PREVENT UNDERCOOLING OF ENGINE & AUX SYSTEMS IN COLD WATERS
Preventing Engine Undercooling:
The Hidden Impact of Valve Leakage in Cold Waters
Is cold seawater lowering your engine or auxiliary system temperatures during port stay?
When systems are shut down, internal leakage in cooling control valves (typically 2–3% or higher)
allows cooling water to pass through the freshwater cooler, leading to unwanted engine cooling,
condensation, prolonged engine warm up time.
Typical Issues Seen in Cold Waters
Workboats
▪ System temperature drops below limits during port stay leading to condensation
risk and engine component stress.
▪ Pre-heaters struggle to maintain temperature leading to longer warm-up time,
higher fuel burn, black smoke.
Ferries
Pre-heaters run continuously leading to wasted energy and time lost to warm-up before departure.
4-Stroke Engines
Rapid temperature swings cause thermal stress to liners, seals, and casings.
Maintaining stable idle temperature protects against wear and thermal shock.
Why It Happens
During port stay or anchorage, cooling isn’t needed — but standard 3-way valves
leak 2–3%.
In cold climates (<5°C / 41°F), this leakage is enough to cool the entire system
unintentionally, driving up fuel use and maintenance costs.
The Solution: Ultra-Low Leakage Valve
BROEN Clorius Controls’ Ultra-Low Leakage 3-way valve reduces leakage to <0.01% (ANSI Class IV),
eliminating unwanted cooling and keeping your system ready to start efficiently and your maintenance
cost down.
Benefits:
▪ Maintains stable system temperatures during port stay
▪ Prevents condensation, component stress, and fuel waste
▪ Compact and retrofit-friendly design. Fits in place of existing valves
▪ No pipework required. Delivered with custom spacers
▪ Can be installed by crew onboard
(For smaller 4-stroke setups, consider to add valve before cooler inlet to stabilize engine temperature.)
Proven Results from Cold-Water Operations
BROEN Clorius Controls valves are already helping shipowners operate more efficiently in northern waters, reducing warm-up time, fuel use, and maintenance needs.
Contact Us
If you’ve experienced low system temperatures, long warm-up times, or condensation issues during port stay,
get in touch with BROEN Clorius Controls to learn how our Ultra-Low Leakage valve can solve them.
