Case Study: Compressor Rebuild0 pages

"

Excellent

nnnn

Engineering

nnnn

Solutions

nnnn

Case Study

nnnn

Hydrogen compressor re-build

nnnn

Major restoration of Nuovo Pignone BCL 353 hydrogen compressor

nnnn

successfully completed in seven months

nnnn

Each of the cast components

nnnn

had cracks as severe as that

nnnn

shown in this photograph.

nnnn

Once the bundle was

nnnn

removed from the case, the

nnnn

outside of the return

nnnn

channels broke clean away

nnnn

from the diaphragms.

nnnn

Scope

nnnn

Our customer approached us with the formidable

nnnn

task of re-engineering a completely new compressor

nnnn

bundle using severely damaged parts as patterns.

nnnn

A previous explosion in the suction pipework had

nnnn

cracked all of the static cast iron aero components

nnnn

rendering the compressor inoperable.

nnnn

A key benefit to our customer was the very short

nnnn

delivery time we could offer to manufacture the new

nnnn

components and rebuild the compressor.

nnnn

Engineering excellence

nnnn

The compressor bundle and barrel, along with a

nnnn

spare rotor, were air-freighted from the Philippines.

nnnn

The old parts were measured, new parts were

nnnn

produced and the compressor was rebuilt in the UK

nnnn

before return.

nnnn

The sectional view highlights the new parts that were

nnnn

manufactured by Weir Turbomachinery.

nnnn

The old parts were scanned using a 3-D coordinate

nnnn

mapping machine and then the contours of the

nnnn

parts were digitally adjusted to compensate for the

nnnn

distortion resulting from the explosion.

nnnn

The original diaphragms were cast iron. To improve

nnnn

the delivery time, Weir Turbomachinery machined

nnnn

each diaphragm half in two parts from solid plate

nnnn

steel. The complex vane profiles were machined on

nnnn

one part using 5-axis milling and then the

nnnn

corresponding part was bolted to it through each

nnnn

vane to close the gas passages.

"