Virtual Engine Room 4.8: The Best Free Simulator for Maritime Engineering Students and Trainees
Virtual Engine Room 4.8: A Free and Realistic Simulator for Engine Room Training
If you are a student or a trainee of maritime engineering, you might be looking for a way to practice and improve your skills in operating a ship's engine room. However, finding a realistic and affordable simulator can be challenging, especially if you have limited access to physical facilities or equipment. Fortunately, there is a solution that can help you learn and master the functions and operations of a typical ship's engine room with a low speed diesel engine and fixed pitch propeller. It is called Virtual Engine Room 4.8, and it is a fully functional simulator that you can download and use for free.
virtual engine room 4.8 free download full version
In this article, we will introduce you to Virtual Engine Room 4.8, its features, benefits, and how to download and install it on your computer. We will also show you how to use it effectively and compare it with some other alternatives that you might want to consider. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of what Virtual Engine Room 4.8 can offer you and how it can enhance your engine room training.
What is Virtual Engine Room 4.8?
A brief introduction to the simulator and its features
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is a software program that simulates a ship's engine room with a high level of realism and accuracy. It was developed by Dr. Stefan Kluj, a former professor of marine engineering at Gdynia Maritime University in Poland, who has over 30 years of experience in creating engine room simulators.
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is based on actual plant data and will react naturally under any operating conditions. It allows you to interact with the graphical user interface of the simulated engine room, which consists of mimic diagrams with active valves, pump status indicators, tank level indicators, and selected digital gauges. You can also use virtual controls such as keyboards, mice, switches, levers, buttons, and knobs to operate the engine room systems.
Some of the features of Virtual Engine Room 4.8 are:
It covers all the main modules and sub-systems of the engine room, such as main engine, fuel system, cooling system, lubricating system, compressed air system, power plant, steam system, and miscellaneous systems.
It offers two complete main engine models: a conventional one with a camshaft and an electronically controlled one.
It provides different modes of main engine remote control: manual from control room, automated from bridge, and emergency control at engine side.
It supports different fuel types: MDO, HFO, and low sulphur fuel oil.
It simulates various malfunctions and alarms that can occur in the engine room, such as fuel leakage, cooling water pump failure, low oil pressure, high exhaust temperature, and more.
It records and displays the performance data of the engine room, such as fuel consumption, power output, speed, and efficiency.
It includes a step by step instruction that guides you through the operation of the engine room from dead ship to full ahead.
It allows you to customize the simulation parameters, such as load demand, sea state, ambient temperature, and fuel quality.
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is designed to be user-friendly and easy to learn. It has a simple and intuitive interface that can be operated with a mouse or a keyboard. It also has a help system that provides explanations and tips for each component and function of the engine room. You can access the help system by clicking on the question mark icon on the top right corner of the screen.
The benefits of using Virtual Engine Room 4.8 for engine room training
Using Virtual Engine Room 4.8 for engine room training can provide you with many benefits, such as:
It can help you gain practical knowledge and skills in operating a ship's engine room without the need for expensive and complex physical equipment.
It can help you improve your problem-solving and decision-making abilities by exposing you to various scenarios and challenges that can occur in the engine room.
It can help you enhance your confidence and competence in handling the engine room systems and procedures under normal and emergency situations.
It can help you save time and money by allowing you to practice and learn at your own pace and convenience.
It can help you prepare for exams and assessments by providing you with feedback and evaluation of your performance.
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is not only a simulator, but also a tutor, a coach, and a mentor. It can help you achieve your learning goals and become a proficient and professional engine room operator.
How to download and install Virtual Engine Room 4.8 for free?
The steps to download the free student version from the official website
If you want to try Virtual Engine Room 4.8 for free, you can download the student version from the official website of Dr. Stefan Kluj. The student version is fully functional, but it has some limitations, such as:
It can only run for 30 minutes per session.
It does not allow saving or loading of simulation data.
It does not include some advanced features, such as fuel changeover, electronic control system, or load sharing.
To download the student version of Virtual Engine Room 4.8, follow these steps:
Go to https://www.ver-online.com/, which is the official website of Dr. Stefan Kluj.
Click on the "Download" tab on the top menu bar.
Select "VER 4.8 Student Version" from the list of available downloads.
Fill in your name and email address in the form and click on "Send". You will receive an email with a link to download the simulator.
Click on the link in the email and save the file "VER48Student.exe" to your computer.
The steps to register and activate the simulator
To use Virtual Engine Room 4.8, you need to register and activate it with a license key. The license key is free for students and trainees who use it for educational purposes only. To register and activate Virtual Engine Room 4.8, follow these steps:
Run the file "VER48Student.exe" that you downloaded from the website.
Follow the instructions on the screen to install Virtual Engine Room 4.8 on your computer.
Launch Virtual Engine Room 4.8 from your desktop or start menu.
You will see a registration window that asks you to enter your name, email address, and license key.
To get your license key, go back to https://www.ver-online.com/ and click on the "License Key" tab on the top menu bar.
Select "VER 4.8 Student Version" from the list of available license keys.
Fill in your name and email address in the form and click on "Send". You will receive an email with your license key.
Copy and paste your license key in the registration window of Virtual Engine Room 4.8 and click on "Register".
You will see a confirmation message that says "Registration successful. Thank you for using Virtual Engine Room 4.8".
Click on "OK" and enjoy using Virtual Engine Room 4.8.
How to use Virtual Engine Room 4.8?
The main modules and sub-systems of the simulated engine room
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 simulates a ship's engine room with a low speed diesel engine and a fixed pitch propeller. The engine room consists of the following main modules and sub-systems:
Module
Sub-system
Description
Main Engine
Cylinder Unit
The part of the engine that converts the fuel energy into mechanical power.
Fuel System
The part of the engine that supplies, purifies, and injects the fuel into the cylinder unit.
Cooling System
The part of the engine that cools down the cylinder unit, the piston, and the exhaust gas.
Lubricating System
The part of the engine that lubricates the cylinder unit, the piston, and the crankshaft.
Starting Air System
The part of the engine that provides compressed air to start the engine.
Control System
The part of the engine that controls and monitors the engine operation.
Power Plant
Generator Set
The part of the power plant that produces electrical power for the ship's consumers.
SwitchboardThe part of the power plant that distributes and regulates the electrical power.Battery ChargerThe part of the power plant that charges and maintains the emergency battery.Steam SystemBoilerThe part of the steam system that produces steam for heating and other purposes.Steam TurbineThe part of the steam system that uses steam to drive a generator or a pump.CondenserThe part of the steam system that condenses the steam back into water.Miscellaneous SystemsBilge SystemThe system that collects and pumps out the water from the bilge.Ballast SystemThe system that fills and empties the ballast tanks to adjust the ship's stability and trim.Fresh Water SystemThe system that produces and supplies fresh water for domestic and technical use.You can access each module and sub-system by clicking on their icons on the left side of the screen. You can also zoom in and out by using the mouse wheel or the buttons on the bottom right corner of the screen.
The step by step instruction to operate the engine room from dead ship to full ahead
If you are new to Virtual Engine Room 4.8, you might want to follow the step by step instruction that guides you through the operation of the engine room from dead ship to full ahead. The instruction is divided into four phases:
Phase 1: Preparing for start-up. This phase covers the tasks such as checking and filling up tanks, starting up auxiliary systems, warming up main engine, and testing alarms.
Phase 2: Starting up main engine. This phase covers the tasks such as opening fuel valves, starting air compressor, turning main engine, and engaging turning gear.
Phase 3: Running main engine. This phase covers the tasks such as increasing load, changing speed, switching fuel, and monitoring performance.
Phase 4: Stopping main engine. This phase covers the tasks such as decreasing load, stopping fuel supply, stopping air supply, and securing main engine.
To access the step by step instruction, click on the "Instruction" tab on the top menu bar. You will see a list of tasks for each phase, with a green check mark indicating the completed tasks and a red cross mark indicating the failed tasks. You can also see the current phase and task number on the bottom left corner of the screen.
To start the instruction, click on the "Start" button on the bottom right corner of the screen. You will see a pop-up window that shows you the objective, description, and expected result of the current task. You can also see a hint button that gives you a clue on how to perform the task. You can close the pop-up window by clicking on the "X" button on the top right corner of the window.
To perform the task, follow the instructions on the pop-up window and use the mouse or keyboard to interact with the simulated engine room. You can also use the help system to get more information about each component and function of the engine room. When you complete the task, you will hear a sound and see a message that says "Task completed". You can then click on the "Next" button to proceed to the next task.
If you fail to complete the task, you will hear a sound and see a message that says "Task failed". You can then click on the "Retry" button to repeat the task or click on the "Skip" button to skip the task and move on to the next one. However, skipping a task will affect your final score and evaluation.
You can pause, resume, or restart the instruction at any time by clicking on the corresponding buttons on the bottom right corner of the screen. You can also exit the instruction by clicking on the "Exit" button. However, exiting the instruction will erase your progress and score.
What are some alternatives to Virtual Engine Room 4.8?
A comparison of Virtual Engine Room 4.8 with other engine room simulators
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is not the only engine room simulator available in the market. There are many other simulators that offer different features, functions, and prices. Some of them are:
Transas ERS 5000: This is a high-end simulator that provides realistic and interactive simulation of various types of engine rooms, such as diesel-electric, steam turbine, gas turbine, and dual fuel. It also supports different modes of operation, such as single or multi-user, instructor-led or self-paced, online or offline. It is suitable for advanced training and assessment of engine room personnel.
Kongsberg K-Sim Engine: This is a comprehensive simulator that covers all aspects of engine room operation, such as propulsion, power generation, auxiliary systems, control systems, and emergency scenarios. It also integrates with other simulators, such as bridge, cargo, and process simulators, to create a full mission simulation environment. It is designed for both basic and advanced training of engine room staff.
Marine Soft Engine Room Simulator: This is a low-cost simulator that simulates a medium speed diesel engine with controllable pitch propeller. It also includes some auxiliary systems, such as fuel system, cooling system, lubricating system, compressed air system, and electrical system. It is intended for beginners and intermediate learners of engine room operation.
The table below summarizes some of the main differences between Virtual Engine Room 4.8 and these other simulators:
Simulator
Type of Engine Room
Mode of Operation
Price
Virtual Engine Room 4.8
Low speed diesel engine with fixed pitch propeller
Single-user, self-paced, offline
Free for students and trainees
Transas ERS 5000
Various types of engine rooms
Single or multi-user, instructor-led or self-paced, online or offline
$10,000-$50,000 per license
Kongsberg K-Sim EngineAll aspects of engine room operationSingle or multi-user, instructor-led or self-paced, online or offline$20,000-$100,000 per licenseMarine Soft Engine Room SimulatorMedium speed diesel engine with controllable pitch propellerSingle-user, self-paced, offline$100-$500 per license
As you can see, Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is a great option for students and trainees who want to learn and practice engine room operation for free. It may not have all the features and functions of the other simulators, but it still provides a realistic and interactive simulation of a typical ship's engine room. It is also easy to download, install, and use, and it comes with a helpful instruction and help system.
A list of some other free or low-cost engine room simulators
If you are interested in exploring other free or low-cost engine room simulators, here are some suggestions that you might want to check out:
Engine Room Simulator by Maritime Education Services: This is a web-based simulator that simulates a medium speed diesel engine with controllable pitch propeller. It also includes some auxiliary systems, such as fuel system, cooling system, lubricating system, compressed air system, and electrical system. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate learners of engine room operation. You can access it for free at https://www.maritimeeducationservices.com/engine-room-simulator/.
Engine Room Simulator by Marine Insight: This is a web-based simulator that simulates a low speed diesel engine with fixed pitch propeller. It also includes some auxiliary systems, such as fuel system, cooling system, lubricating system, compressed air system, and electrical system. It is designed for basic training and familiarization of engine room operation. You can access it for free at https://www.marineinsight.com/engine-room-simulator/.
Engine Room Simulator by Marine Engineering Study Materials: This is a web-based simulator that simulates a medium speed diesel engine with controllable pitch propeller. It also includes some auxiliary systems, such as fuel system, cooling system, lubricating system, compressed air system, and electrical system. It is intended for basic training and assessment of engine room operation. You can access it for free at https://www.marineengineeringonline.com/engine-room-simulator/.
Engine Room Simulator by Seagull Maritime: This is a software program that simulates various types of engine rooms, such as diesel-electric, steam turbine, gas turbine, and dual fuel. It also supports different modes of operation, such as single or multi-user, instructor-led or self-paced, online or offline. It is suitable for advanced training and assessment of engine room personnel. You can download a free trial version at https://www.seagull.no/products/simulators/engine-room-simulator/.
Conclusion
A summary of the main points and a call to action
In conclusion, Virtual Engine Room 4.8 is a free and realistic simulator for engine room training that you can download and use on your computer. It simulates a ship's engine room with a low speed diesel engine and a fixed pitch propeller, and it covers all the main modules and sub-systems of the engine room. It also provides a step by step instruction that guides you through the operation of the engine room from dead ship to full ahead.
Virtual Engine Room 4.8 can help you gain practical knowledge and skills in operating a ship's engine room without the need for expensive and complex physical equipment. It can also help you improve your problem-solving and decision-making abilities by exposing you to various scenarios and challenges that can occur in the engine room. It can also help you enhance your confidence and competence in handling the engine room systems and procedures under normal and emergency situations.
If you are a student or a trainee of maritime engineering, we highly recommend you to try Virtual Engine Room 4.8 for free and see how it can benefit your learning and development. You can download it from the official website of Dr. Stefan Kluj at https://www.ver-online.com/, register it with a free license key, and start using it right away.
We hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback about Virtual Engine Room 4.8 or any other engine room simulator, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us at info@bing.com. We would love to hear from you.
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