Back to compressed air starting of a building sized diesel. Are they
built with a separate set of valves to admit air to the right
cylinder at the right time? It must take some humungous air
compressor and tank to get one of those things moving. Do they start
on special fuel and then switch over?


There are large air start receivers that store air compressed to around
300 psi. The engine has an air start manifold that delivers this air to
an air start valve on each cylinder. An air start distributor supplys a
control air signal to the air start valve on the appropriate cylinder to
open the air start valve and allow air to enter the cylinder and push
the piston down.

There are multiple large air compressors to keep the air start receivers
pumped up at all times.

Those engines burn "heavy oil" or "black oil" except when manueuvering
into or out of port. The heavy oil must be heated to around 210 degrees
to provide the viscosity needed for injection and proper atomization but
will congeal if allowed to cool. When maneuvering diesel oil is used as
it cleans out the lines of heavy oil which would (nearly) solidify in
the lines and pumps.

There is a mixing tank which allows the gradual changeover between heavy
oil and diesel oil.

Rick