NEUMAN & ESSER USA, INC.

Gas Electric Partnership - Technology Update

A Brief Overview on Coupling Selections
Engineered by NEA Group, Inc.
Referencing
Pros and Cons of Various Coupling Types for Reciprocating Compressor Installations
by:
Gerhard Knop / Dr. Klaus Hoff
Central Division of Technology
Neuman & Esser GmbH & Co. KG
bach-Palenberg
Germany

5th Conference of the EFRC

March 21th / 23th, 2007, Prague

NEA GROUP
M004

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Abstract:
Various coupling types are used for reciprocating compressor installations
Rubber-In-Sheer (High-Flexible Elastomeric Couplings)
Rubber-In-Compression
Metal-Disc (Steel Disk Pack Coupling)
Diaphragm
Rigid Flange
They all have their individual advantages - otherwise they would not exist however, experience shows that some types bear much higher risks in
terms of drive train vibration problems than others.
This report compares common coupling types on the basis of many years of
experience.
It evaluates different aspects but has a special focus on torsional vibration
issues like height of natural frequencies, reliability of stiffness values and
load capacity.

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Rigid Flange

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Steel Disk Pack

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Rubber-In-Sheer Coupling

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Application benefits
Rigid Flange
These couplings are traditionally used for large compressor
installations. As they are rigid in all directions, they do not
compensate shaft misalignment. Therefore, most users require
single bearing motors for the drive.

Steel Disk Pack Coupling

All steel disc type couplings are torsionally rather rigid and
flexible in radial, axial and angular direction.

Rubber-in-sheer couplings
These couplings are also referred to as high-flexible couplings
because of their very low torsional stiffness.

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Comparing Rigid Flange vs. Flexible Couplings Used in Electric
Motor VFD Applications
The main advantages of the direct flange coupling would be:

Direct flange is stiffer than flexible which leads to higher torsional natural frequencies
which are situated above the main compressor harmonics. See Tab. 1 in the attachment.

Rigid flange couplings provide much more certainty about its torsional stiffness.
Therefore more safety in terms of torsional vibrations. See Fig. 8 in the attachment.

Rigid flange couplings provide much higher dynamic load capacities and are much more
robust than flexible couplings. See paragraph 3.4 in the attachment.

All this applies in general. In terms of VFD, the last aspect about dynamic load capacity is a
point because we always have resonances which the drivetrain must be able to handle.

Gerhard Knop
Zentralbereich Technik ZT / Central Division of Technology
NEUMAN & ESSER GmbH & Co. KG

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Project Examples
5000 HP @ 720RPM Single Stage Pipeline Compressor

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Project Examples
3550 HP @ 1000RPM CAT 3612 Engine Drive 3SZL320hs

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Project examples
10,000 HP 327 RPM Four Throw VL500 Compressor

NEA GROUP
M004