A statistical analysis to control pH level of main engine cooling system onboard unmanned surface vessel

Abstract

The interest in unmanned ships has been increasing rapidly all over the world recently. This new field, which will enter our lives in the near future, brings with it many question marks. The most important issue in mind is how to reduce the risks of unmanned ships and how safe they will be. As it is known, the concept of safety has a very important place in the maritime sector. In order to ensure the concept of safety with all the systems/devices on the ship, the issue of maintenance has become one of the items at the center of the maritime industry. In order to carry out the maintenance operations of unmanned ships, it is necessary to establish and safely use autonomous maintenance systems. However, due to the fact that unmanned ships have not been actively used yet, studies in the field of autonomous maintenance needs are limited. In the light of this information; in this thesis, it is aimed to develop a diagnostic model for autonomous ships that allows controlling the pH (potential of hydrogen) value in the cooling water system, which is one of the maintenance steps of the diesel engine in an unmanned surface vehicle. As the first step of a statistical analysis to control the pH level of the diesel engine cooling system in unmanned surface ships, variables will be determined to carry out data collection. Managing an advanced statistical solution for this operational situation is crucial. Association Rule Mining (ARM) approach will be used in order to reveal the interconnectedness of the determined variables. The number of diesel engine variable will be defined to create an operational data frame. Then, together with the ARM approach, the factors affecting the pH value will be determined. Thus, development of a diagnostic model for autonomous ships that can control the pH value of the diesel engine cooling water of unmanned surface ships will be developed. With this thesis, it is aimed to achieve the following objectives; i.) to determine the operating values of the diesel engine of unmanned ships, ii.) to reveal the connections between the operating values by integrating the ARM approach, iii.) to determine the effect of these values on the pH value of the cooling water, iv.) to determine the methods to control the pH value autonomously. As a result, it is thought that this thesis will contribute to engineers, marine researchers and professional sailors about autonomous maintenance systems to be installed on unmanned surface ships.