Actom remanufactures critical components

2nd Quarter 2018 News & events

Actom Turbo Machines recently manufactured high precision impellers and pinions for a large 190 kg/h 20 bar pressure integrally geared multi-stage centrifugal compressor to replace these components after they had been destroyed when the compressor failed. The refurbishment of the 2500 kW 11 kV 2-pole AC induction motor that drives the compressor was assigned to Marthinusen & Coutts. The compressor is used for direct supply of nitrogen to two of Air Products Vanderbijlpark’s largest customers in the Vaal Triangle. The project was completed with an extremely tight timeframe of three months.

Tolerances between the various components had to be strictly adhered to, these being especially critical as the compressor is a four-stage high-speed unit operating at speeds of between 20 and 33 000 rpm. Both the first- and second-stage impellers and pinions had to be replaced by newly manufactured units. These were manufactured to a tolerance of 0,02 mm. All the rotating components, comprising the gear set, impellers and pinions, were balanced in accordance with the international ISO 1940 specification.

Further critical procedures comprised laser alignment and fault-finding on all pipe stresses before making ready for commissioning, followed by a startup procedure – critical to protect the machine against possible damage during the run-in period. This was concluded by running a surge curve to confirm that the unit was operating optimally. The work performed on the motor consisted of a modification to the rotor to reduce the excessive vibration that the unit experienced.

For more information contact Richard Botton, Marthinusen & Coutts, +27 (0)11 607 1700, [email protected], www.mandc.co.za

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