> Open seawater ejector pump suction, discharge and overboard valves.
> Start the ejector pump, discharge pressure must be more than 3bar.
> Wait for the vacuum to build up inside the fresh water generator shell. (About 92 % vacuum).
> Open the feed water valve to feed seawater to the evaporator. Adjust the feed water pressure. Normally marking is provided on the pressure gauge for desired feed water pressure.
> Open main engine jacket cooling water inlet and outlet to the evaporator gradually.
> Open the air vent clock at the top of the evaporator to make sure the evaporator is filled with jacket cooling water. Air must be purged out if any.
> Throttle the jacket cooling water by-pass valve
> Switch on the salinity alarm panel for measuring the purity of the freshwater produced.
> There will be a sight glass provided at the suction line for the distillate pump. Make sure condensed water is coming to the suction line.
> Start the distillate pump and open discharge valve to lead generated water to specified storage tanks.
Checks during running
> Through the sight glass provided in the evaporator shell, observe flashing of water.
> Also, check for the brine level inside. It should not be too high or too low.
> Shell temperature must be around 50 deg cel.
> Make sure the shell vacuum is more than 90% from the vacuum gauge.
> Check seawater inlet and outlet temperature to the condenser.
> Ensure seawater pressure at air ejector inlet more than 3 bars.
> Check for distillate pump pressure and water flow meter.
> Check salinity of fresh water produced.
> Check level and flow of dosing chemicals.
> Check ampere of ejector pump and distillate pump motor.
Stopping
> Slowly open bypass valve for main engine jacket cooling water.
> Ensure that main engine jacket cooling water temperature is within normal limits.
> Close jacket cooling water inlet and outlet valves for the freshwater generator respectively.
> Close the feed water chemical dosing valve.
> Stop the distillate pump and shut discharge valve.
> Switch off the salinity meter.
> Close the filling valve to the freshwater tanks.
> Wait for evaporator shell temperature to drop below 50 deg cel.
> Close the feed water valve to the evaporator.
> Stop ejector pump. Shut the fresh water generator overboard valve.
> Open the vacuum breaker valve to make shell side pressure equal to atmospheric pressure.
> Open the drain valve of the evaporator to drain all the seawater from the fresh water generator.