This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Production • Processing • Handling


The attraction of magnetic bearings for end users


Michael K Swann looks at a solution that turns most aspects of magnetic bearing commissioning and machine troubleshooting over to the OEM and end-user.


T


he traditional method of installing and commissioning magnetic bearings relies heavily on trained engineers on-site, both at the factory of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and


at the end-user field location. To this point, the same has held true during routine maintenance of the magnetic bearing systems. Tis conventional approach adds to the operating expense of using magnetic bearings and encumbers end-users with the logistical headaches of getting the supplier on- site to support maintenance requirements over the life of the turbomachinery. Waukesha Magnetic Bearings (Waukesha) is challenging the status-quo; offering a solution that turns most aspects of magnetic bearing commissioning and machine troubleshooting over to the OEM and end-user, with specialist support coming primarily via remote condition monitoring and comprehensive training programmes. Reduced need for on-site maintenance of the system ultimately increases machine reliability and availability – a significant benefit to end-users and major contributor to the decreased total cost of ownership of magnetic bearing systems. Tis fundamental shift to the application of magnetic bearing technology is enabled by Waukesha’s full range of digital controllers featuring remote connectivity capability. Te approach leverages both the inherent intelligence of magnetic bearing systems and the remote connectivity capability of third generation controls technology. Te magnetic bearing system intelligence


allows for machine commissioning and diagnosing of machine problems using a wealth of output information provided by the system (including information related to rotor forces as well as information regarding the stability of the rotor-bearing system) that is unavailable with mechanical bearings. Remote connectivity enables the performance of these operations on-demand from a remote


location with no site visits required for ‘second-in- class’ and subsequent machines. Te third generation controllers available from Waukesha allow for remote connection via TCP/ IP to facilitate the measurement of vibration, bearing load and rotor stability. Te benefits of these capabilities can be seen in the initial commissioning, subsequent troubleshooting and retuning of the machine after many years of operation. Tird generation technologies also provide the ability to use auxiliary bearings to accommodate transient overloads of the magnetic


bearings. Tis emulates the high load capacity of oil lubricated bearings while assuring rotor stability that can be observed and measured.


Moreover, the remote


connectivity feature allows automatic clearance checking on demand (while non–rotating) to assure that the auxiliary


bearing wear is below the threshold for replacement. As wear is the only failure mode in this bushing-type auxiliary bearing, automatic clearance checking effectively allows for the remote observation of the machine service condition. Typical applications for active magnetic bearings include motor-driven gas compression, turbo- expanders and other large high-speed turbomachinery Waukesha offers three air-cooled digital


controllers – Zephyr, Chinook, and Elephanta. Each is optimised for performance in specific applications, including subsea, and designed to accommodate a variety of input power systems. Waukesha’s controller range can accommodate turbomachinery applications from as low as 1 MW to 50 MW and more. l


Enter 37 or ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/iog


Michael K Swann is General Manager with Waukesha Magnetic Bearings, based in, Mystic, CT, USA and Worthing, UK. www.waukbearing.com


www.engineerlive.com 37


Fig. 1. Waukesha’s RDS auxiliary bearing designs offer unparalleled machine protection with technology that prevents damage to machine components in the unlikely event of system malfunction. This design also allows remote observability of the service condition without machine disassembly.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52