I designed a similar manifold system for a friend's boat to replace a collection of 3 valves at each "decision point" scattered around the engine room. I thought it an elegant solution. Everything labeled, all in one place. Lines traceable visually. Something I'd always wanted. He was confused so I had to make a chart for his use.FYI - decent blog post from MV Dirona on Nordhavn's approach to fuel management and manifolds. Honestly, I think it's a bit confusing, but better than separate valves.
https://mvdirona.com/2013/12/dirona-fuel-manifold/
Peter
Now the 2nd year the some thing was happening but not as bad after doing runs. Point being, or at lest for me. That the tanks needed to be stirred before fuel polishing and within hours before the crap settles.
If you have accumulated crud in your tanks, the only way the get rid of it is to open up and clean the tanks. A “polisher” to do this requires high flow since you are essentially pressure washing your tanks with circulating fuel. And you need to direct the fuel spray right on the crud to dissolve and dislodge it. Nobody’s inboard polisher can do this.
I think this is a good point. My boat carries something over 400 gals of diesel but burns around 1 gph. While I have the traditional risk of water via deck fills, precipitation of alphaltines is a concern. My hope is regular circulation of fuel will help (couldn't hurt).I would say it depends on what you've accumulated. ......stuff such as asphaltene and other inorganics usually come out with agitation and fuel polishing.
I wish my polisher was built in. I really don't have the room. My unit is 18x16". I should have made one!! But I used the tap from the bottom of the tank and the return I ran the hose to the fuel full thur hull. It was too easy doing it that way vs running it back and tapping into the tank for the return.
If you decide to build it in, often you can tee a return fuel line from the engine, generator, or vent line.
Ted
Heart of my fuel management system is this manifold. Its pretty intuitive and allows for decent management of fuel. Once everything is done, I'll have engraved tags made for this and many other items on boat.I designed a similar manifold system for a friend's boat to replace a collection of 3 valves at each "decision point" scattered around the engine room. I thought it an elegant solution. Everything labeled, all in one place. Lines traceable visually. Something I'd always wanted. He was confused so I had to make a chart for his use.
The most user friendly fuel manifold I've seen is on a Flemming 55. So easy to use but everything is out of sight behind the panel. I don't like secrets. View attachment 135119
Heart of my fuel management system is this manifold. Its pretty intuitive and allows for decent management of fuel. Once everything is done, I'll have engraved tags made for this and many other items on boat.
Peter View attachment 135134
That is a nice, clean easy to understand and use manifold system. The one I designed for my friend is more like yours than Diorna's. He has a single main, generator, hydronic heater and transfer/polisher. All fed by two tanks.
For anyone considering building one for a tight space think about using T handle valves. The handles won't overlap each other making it easier to use.
I used to run a boat with a Cat 379. Like yours that one was it's own polishing system.Some engines shift enough fuel through the filters that they are a polishing system
Our 855 puts something like 350 litres/hour through the filters but we only burn 15 litres/hour