Shanghai Tongjie touts smarter marine watermaker controls and alarm protection

Shanghai Tongjie is highlighting marine watermaker systems with touch-screen controls, automated flushing and fault alarms designed to reduce operator error on commercial vessels, offshore supply boats and fishing fleets. The company says the automation is meant to protect reverse osmosis membranes, improve freshwater production reliability and support shipboard monitoring systems.

Why it matters: - Marine watermakers are a critical shipboard utility for vessels that need fresh water at sea. - Shanghai Tongjie is pitching automation as a way to reduce crew workload and protect reverse osmosis membranes from pressure spikes, fouling and operator mistakes. - The controls are aimed at vessels with smaller engineering teams that still need dependable freshwater production.

What happened: - Shanghai Tongjie said it is positioning itself as a marine watermaker company focused on intelligent control panels and multi-tier fault alarms. - The company said its systems use touch-screen human-machine interfaces, one-touch start and stop functions, and programmable logic controller automation. - Shanghai Tongjie said the control panels are designed for commercial vessels, offshore supply boats, workboats and fishing fleets. - The company said the systems are intended to provide autonomous freshwater replenishment at sea.

The details: - Shanghai Tongjie said automated startup begins with low-pressure pre-flushing to remove air from filter housings and membrane vessels. - The company said pressure then ramps gradually to 55 to 65 bar over 30 to 60 seconds to avoid water hammer. - Shanghai Tongjie said live conductivity sensors measure total dissolved solids, and a three-way diverter valve sends off-spec permeate overboard until water reaches potable levels below 500 mg/L. - The company said the HMI displays feed pressure, pre-filter differential pressure, membrane operating pressure, product flow rate, recovery rate and live TDS. - Shanghai Tongjie said fault logic can trip the high-pressure pump if feed suction pressure falls below 0.5 bar. - The company said the system can trigger an immediate pressure relief sequence if membrane operating pressure rises above 70 bar. - Shanghai Tongjie said differential pressure sensors warn crews when filter fouling reaches 1.0 to 1.5 bar. - The company said motor thermistors and drive current monitoring are used to guard against phase loss, low voltage and mechanical binding. - Shanghai Tongjie said the control panel shows un-coded diagnostic text and corrective action guidance when alarms occur. - The company said an automatic freshwater flush runs on shutdown to replace trapped seawater with treated water from shipboard tanks. - Shanghai Tongjie said idle systems can run interval flushes every 48 to 72 hours during extended port stays. - The company said its control panels support Modbus RTU, Profibus and Ethernet IP protocols. - Shanghai Tongjie said the systems can send telemetry to the vessel’s Engine Control Room console or navigating bridge.

Between the lines: - The pitch reflects a broader marine trend toward more self-managing equipment as crews get leaner and operating conditions stay variable. - Shanghai Tongjie is framing automation not just as convenience, but as protection for expensive membrane hardware and a safeguard against freshwater contamination. - The emphasis on alarm relays, standard protocols and bridge or ECR integration suggests the company is targeting vessel operators that already rely on centralized automation networks.

What's next: - Shanghai Tongjie said vessel owners can submit profiles, automation requirements, electrical power specifications and remote monitoring preferences to receive technical schematics, HMI layouts and equipment proposals. - The company also said buyers should define control scope during procurement to match workflow needs and classification society rules. - Shanghai Tongjie provided social links for its LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok and X accounts for more information.