vetus NLP-W-HD Water Lock Installation Guide

June 9, 2024
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vetus NLP-W-HD Water Lock

Product Information

Waterlock
The Waterlock is an essential component of the boat’s exhaust system, designed to prevent seawater from entering the engine through the exhaust system. It traps water in its chamber and allows exhaust gases to pass through it, eventually exiting the boat via a through-hull fitting. The Waterlock comes in three different types, distinguishable by their color: gray (NLPxx(S)), black (NLPxx(S)HD), and white (NLPxx(S)WHD). The maximum continuous usage temperature of the Waterlock depends on the type of material used and is indicated in the table below:

Type Color Maximum Continuous Usage Temperature
NLPxx(S) Gray N/A
NLPxx(S)HD Black N/A
NLPxx(S)WHD White Not more than 80°C (176°F)

Product Usage Instructions

Waterlock

  1. Warning: Make sure water does not enter the engine’s exhaust system during periods of inactivity. Water in the Waterlock can damage the engine and prevent it from starting. If the engine does not start after several attempts, check whether there is too much water in the Waterlock and drain it if necessary.
  2. Install a temperature alarm to detect excessive exhaust system temperatures.
  3. Ensure proper mixing of cooling water and exhaust gases by using a nearly vertical exhaust injection elbow. Poor mixing can cause high exhaust system temperatures, especially if the motor is idle and the cooling water injection elbow is almost horizontal. If necessary, improve mixing by installing a water swirl or a water distributor in the exhaust pipe. Refer to Chapter 3 for additional information on the exhaust system.
  4. Install the Waterlock as close to vertical as possible. If space is limited behind the engine, you may install the Waterlock next to the engine with its back facing the engine. Because the Waterlock will hold water during use, its weight will increase significantly, so mount it on a deck or wall as indicated in the drawings.
  5. Make sure that the distance between the motor and the highest point of the Waterlock is at least 5 cm.
  6. Mount the exhaust outlet in the transom in a location that remains at least 5 cm above the waterline when the boat is loaded.
  7. The length of the exhaust pipe between the Waterlock and the highest point should not exceed 300 cm.
  8. For NLP40/45/50 models, the upper part of the Waterlock can be rotated by loosening the clamp band, rotating it to the desired position, and then tightening the clamp band securely.
  9. Vetus exhaust hoses meet all requirements for use with the Waterlock.

Introduction

  • The VETUS exhaust system components are especially suitable for use in water-injected exhaust systems.
  • The maximum temperature when in continuous use depends on the material used to construct the waterlock.

The material used can be recognised by its colour.

Type Colour maximum continuous operat- ing temperature
NLPxx(S) Gray 70˚C (158˚F)
NLPxx(S)HD Black 250˚C (482˚F)
NLPxx(S)WHD White
  • Fit a temperature alarm to warn of excessively hot exhaust system temperature.
  • If the quantity of injected coolant water is reduced to in order to lower back-pressure in the exhaust system, check that there is still sufficient water injected when the engine is ticking-over. This will prevent excess temperatures in the exhaust system.
  • Excess temperature can also be the consequence of insuffi-cient mixing of coolant water with the exhaust gasses.
    In general, good mixing is obtained by a virtually vertically installed exhaust injection bend.
    Poor mixing can also occur with an engine on tick-over; es-pecially when the coolant water injection bend is installed virtually horizontally.
    If necessary, take action. For example; by fitting a water vor-tex or a water splitter in the exhaust pipe, to improve the mixing of coolant water with the exhaust gasses.With water-injected exhaust systems, fit a hose of suitable quality.
    This hose must be reinforced, resistant to exhaust gasses, high tem-peratures (100 degrees C, 212 degrees F) and oil. Easy flexibility is essential for installation, while the hose must not collapse when heated.

VETUS exhaust hose fulfils all the above requirements.

  Hose dia.: Engine power to*:
NLP40 ø 40 mm (1 9/16”) 16 kW (22 hp)
NLP45 ø 45 mm (1 3/4”) 21 kW (28 hp)
NLP50 ø 50 mm (2”) 25 kW (34 hp)
NLP60 ø 60 mm (2 3/8”) 36 kW (49 hp)
NLP65 ø 65 mm (2 9/16”) 42 kW (57 hp)
NLP75 ø 75 mm (3”) 56 kW (77 hp)
NLP90 ø 90 mm (3 1/2”) 81 kW (110 hp)

Based on an allowed back pressure of 0.1 bar

WARNING

  • If water enters the engine from the waterlock into the exhaust system (for example: under sail when the ship rolls or pitches heavily) this will lead to irreparable damage to the engine.
  • Too much water in the waterlock can effect engine starting; drain off this water first. Too much water in the waterlock can be also caused by repeated starting attempts while the engine refuses to start.

Installation

Installing waterlock NLP
Instal the waterlock as vertical as possible. Position the waterlock ‘back-to- front’ alongside the engine when there is insufficient space behind the engine. Because the waterlock contains water during use, the weight incre-ases significantly. The waterlock must therefore be mounted on the deck or a wall, as is indicated in the drawings.

NOTE
Make sure the following conditions are met under all sailing conditions (e.g. heeling):

  • The waterlock ‘IN’-connection is located below the level of the exhaust injection bend.
  • the distance between the bottom of the engine’s cooling wa-ter outlet and the highest point of the waterlock is at least 5 cm (2″).
    For additional exhaust system information see chapter 3.vetus-NLP-W-HD-
Water-Lock-FIG-1

Installing the transom exhaust connection
Fit the transom exhaust connection at such a position that with the ship fully laden, the outlet is still at least 5 cm (2”) above the waterline.

Exhaust pipe
In order to ensure the proper drainage of the coolant water injected into the exhaust pipe, the pipe must be installed with a slope down-ward over its whole length from the water injection point to the wa-terlock.

During operation, the exhaust pipe will contain water. This will in-crease its weight considerably, so support the exhaust pipe properly.
The exhaust pipe from waterlock to transom connection must be in-stalled in such a way that:

  • The highest point in the exhaust pipe should not be more than 150 cm (60”) above the underside of the waterlock.
  • The length of the section between the waterlock and the highest point, should not exceed 300 cm (120”).

Hose connections

vetus-NLP-W-HD-Water-Lock-FIG-2

In order to achieve the ideal connection between the hoses and the waterlock, both hose connections turn through 360 degrees.

Loosen the bolts before turning the hose connections!
Tighten the hose connections to a torque of 1 Nm (0.75 ft.lb).

The top portion of the waterlock can be turned in a 360˚ radius. The top portion should be turned as follows:

  1. Unscrew the clamping strip
  2. Turn the top portion to the desired position
  3. Tighten the clamping strip sufficiently, to a torque of 0.3 Nm (0.22 ft.lb).

Fitting the hose

  • To ease the fitting of the hose to the hose connector, use only wa-ter and/or soap, NOT grease or products containing oil.
  • Fit each hose connection with 2 stainless steel 12 mm (0.5”) wide hose clamps.

Sensor for temperature alarm
A sensor for a temperature alarm can be fitted in the exhaust pipe.

Installation Examples

Exhaust systems with a waterlock type NLP, silencer type MP, goose neck type NLPG and a transom connection are shown on page 18.
Entry of water from the aft is almost completely prevented by the extra height difference in the goose neck.
When the engine is stopped, any water which is still in the exhaust pipe (between the highest point in the exhaust system and the ex-haust silencer) will run back to the exhaust silencer.
To reduce the amount of this water as much as possible, the goose neck should be fitted directly above the exhaust silencer, if possible (see drawings 1 and 3).
When the goose neck is fitted directly to the transom (drawings 2 and 4), the maximum length of the exhaust pipe, between exhaust silencer and the highest point, should be taken into account.

Prevention of syphoning (drawings 3 & 4)

If the water injection point ‘C’ is below, or less than 15 cm (0.6”) above the waterline (also when the ship heels under sail), there is a risk that when the engine is stopped, the coolant water will enter the engine due to syphoning. This syphoning can be prevented in two ways:

  1. By creating an air vent system in the coolant water hose between engine block and water injection point ‘C’, by fitting an air vent with air vent pipe, for example.
    The air vent pipe can be connected to its own hull outlet (H) or to the connection on the gooseneck intended for this, type NLPG (G). See the manual for the NLPG, no. 030428.0x.

  2. By fitting an air vent (with valve) in the coolant water hose be-tween the engine block and water injection point ‘C’.

Maintenance

  • Check all hose connections for gas and water leaks regularly.
  • Before the winter lay-up, drain the waterlock. The waterlock has two drain plugs for this purpose.

FOKKERSTRAAT 571 – 3125 BD SCHIEDAM – HOLLAND
TEL.: +31 (0)88 4884700
sales@vetus.n
www.vetus.com

References

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