MAN Turbo turns to WEG
1 Mar 2010
Oberhausen, Germany – MAN Turbo AG is employing a 45-tonne, 14,000kW, 10,000V high voltage slipring motor from WEG Germany GmbH for the testing of huge radial, axial, and geared compressors at its Oberhausen plant. The force-cooled unit is rated S1-100% 14,000 KW at F/F rise, from 1500rpm down to 750 rpm.
The ’M’-Line slip ring motor is designed to withstand the rigours of movement by cranes and lifting tools, and for reliable operation under severe test conditions. It features two conical shafts, allowing the connection of steam turbines or expanders to the second shaft end, raising its mechanical transfer rating to 20,000 KW.
Before placing the order, MAN Turbo engineers visited a test bed facility of Sulzer Pumps, in Leeds in the UK, - where WEG had supplied a similar but lower power slipring motor - and talked with the test field managers there to determine their experiences with the WEG motor.
A slipring motor was specified by MAN Turbo AG, because the company has experience of this motor type - albeit in the lower power ranges - and has achieved satisfactory results with them over many years. Slipring motors are actually ideal for MAN Turbo AG’s test purposes, as they do not suffer from any torque pulsations in their drive train.
The new motor is designed with two conical shaft ends, to facilitate tests in excess of the normal capacity of the motor. In these tests, the second of the conical shafts is attached to a turbine or an additional motor to deliver the additional power, raising the mechanical transfer rating of this motor to 20,000kW.
Speed control of the motor is carried out by a liquid rheostat. This unit has two tanks for part and full load testing. The speed range is 0 to 1500 rpm; with normal operating in the 50% to 100% range, or 750rpm to 1500 rpm. Within this speed range the motor operates with constant torque.
MAN Turbo carried out a year-long in-house testing programme of the slip ring motor, to determine that its performance met all requirements. The testing procedure was entirely successful, resulting in further purchases of WEG equipment - motors and generators.
WEG Germany GmbH subsequently signed a framework agreement with MAN Turbo AG, making WEG one of the company’s key electrical suppliers. Included in this agreement are MAN Turbo AG’s production sites at Oberhausen, Berlin, Hamburg, Zürich and Schio.
