Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI), and Nabtesco Corporation ventured into innovation, birthing an electric diagnostic tool uniquely designed for vessel engine plants. This tool, christened “Kirari MUSE,” records, visualizes, and examines operational noises, targeting the timely detection of incongruities in their mechanical underpinnings.
The Utility of Kirari MUSE
Kirari MUSE seizes the sounds of a ship’s equipment operations, thus converting these sounds into valuable diagnostic data. This breakthrough comes in the wake of the prevalent use of long, metallic “listening rods,” traditionally used in generating diagnostic capabilities. A rod placed on a turbine, motor, or similar equipment isolates operational sound, making it possible to detect even unseen abnormalities.
However, the use of these rods faced several challenges, including the inherent inability to store collected sounds as data, preventing the sharing of these aberrant sounds with other parties. Here is where Kirari MUSE comes into play – merging a traditional approach with modern technological advancement.
Inside the Kirari MUSE’s Toolbox
The architecture of the Kirari MUSE includes an electric listening rod equipped with a recording function, a specially designed smartphone for operations, and PC software. The PC software facilitates the recording, analysis, and dissemination of sounds recorded by seafarers during inspections in the form of charts and graphs.
A deviation from the established reference data invokes an alert feature on the software, prompting the immediate attention of the operators. Meanwhile, the dedicated smartphone serves multifaceted roles such as the selection of inspection devices, recording memos during the inspection, and transferring data to the software.
The Future of Maritime Diagnostics with Kirari MUSE
The unique aspect of Kirari MUSE, storing sound as data, aids companies in comparing current sound data with its threshold and past data – a strategy not solely dependent on the experience and expertise of individual seafarers.
Furthermore, Kirari MUSE propels a new era of shared knowledge and collaboration – facilitating the sharing of accumulated data with numerous maritime stakeholders like operating and ship management companies, classification societies, and equipment manufacturers. This wealth of information aids these entities in supporting diagnosis, conducting repairs, and advancing our understanding of maritime diagnosis operations.
