Centrifugal Compressor Development - Process in Testing Technology
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Centrifugal Compressor Development – Progress in Testing Technology Dr.-Ing. Christoph Jakiel MAN TURBO AG

Summary In order to increase the reliability as well as the speed of execution and evaluation of development tests on centrifugal compressor stages, the existing data acquisition system has been signifi cantly enhanced. An intelligent pressure measurement system has been added, which can process more measurement points than previously, and in a considerably shorter time. In addition, a new program system has been developed which integrates a number of different measurement devices, enabling it to perform a variety of measurement and analysis tasks and which also offers more wide-ranging...

In order to increase the reliability and information content of the test results as well as the speed of performing the measurements, an array of activities were started that were designed to enhance and modernise the data acquisition system. The conceptual redesign of the overall system has included, in particular, the integration of a new pressure measuring device and the development of a modern program system to undertake the following tasks: • Performance and online analysis of measurements at centrifugal compressor stages • Offl ine analysis for subsequent investigation and processing...

Overhung-mounted impellers with a diameter of up to 400 mm can be employed. A variable-speed 1000 kW DC motor is used to provide the motive force. With the aid of two gear units, compressor speeds of up to 30,000 rpm can be achieved. In order to calculate the power transmitted to the impeller, the reaction torque of the drive motor and the mechanical losses in the gear units and plain bearings are determined based on measurements of oil volume and oil warming. Additionally, a torquemeter is available, which increases the accuracy of performance measurement. At the test bed for stages with...

4 Measurement system The most important components of the measurement system are the newly acquired multi-channel pressure acquisition system and a multi-channel acquisition system for voltage data. The latter performs a variety of measuring tasks, e.g. temperature measurement and the interrogation of torque measuring devices and additional pressure transmitters. These two components of the measurement system can be networked and communicate directly with the measurement program. The pressure scanner system (Net- Scanner) is often referred to as an “intelligent” measurement system because...

5 New software A further key element in the updating process was the development of a new software package for measurement and analysis. LabVIEW™ was employed as the development environment as it provides a wide range of options for the integration of measurement systems and for data visualisation. A simplifi ed program fl ow for the server program is shown in Fig. 7. In addition to start and end modules, it also contains a cyclical main component that includes measurement, analysis and graphics. An appropriate, global error handling system was programmed into the complex program structure....

The graphical display of the measurement and calculated results includes a variety of diagrams, charts, lists and tables. These elements are sorted by subjects in a register. One main display element is the performance map which shows the current operating point in a diagram giving signifi cant performance data against a background of calculated or previously measured curves (see Fig. 8). The map is supplemented by several lists with measured values and performance parameters. An additional page includes the main data for monitoring the test bed (see Fig. 9). In addition to the screen...

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