Product category:
Fans and Compressors
News Release from: Renold Hi-Tec Couplings | Subject: LNG compressor units
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 May 2004
Total drive solution for Green Fuel
compressor
Renold Group Companies have designed and manufactured a total drive system solution for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) compressor units to be installed at Safeway Supermarket depots throughout the UK
Renold Clutches and Couplings, Renold Hi-Tec Couplings and Renold Gears - all member companies of Renold Power Transmission Products - have collaborated on a challenging project to design and manufacture a total drive system solution for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) compressor units to be installed at Safeway Supermarket depots throughout the country The LNG compressor units, supplied by Hamworthy Belliss and Morcom Industrial Division, will be used to refuel heavy goods vehicles forming part of a strategic 'green' initiative by Safeway to provide cleaner, more economic LNG fuel for its nationwide fleet of delivery vehicles, instead of traditional diesel
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 14 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Renold Power Transmission Products was tasked with designing and manufacturing a transmission system that could safely and smoothly transmit power from a 322kW, six cylinder Perkins gas engine to a Hamworthy Belliss and Morcom 'Gastech' 1000 four cylinder radial compressor.
Safeway has calculated that each LNG compressor will serve approximately 100 delivery vehicles.
To achieve this level of service, each unit will be required to operate a demanding cycle of four starts per hour, 14 hours per day, 365 days a year - and any breakdown or even minor unserviceability could seriously compromise Safeway's massive logistics operation.
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Long life, supreme reliability and no-compromise build standards were demanded by the compressor manufacturers for all drive system components and a major factor in Renold being awarded the contract.
All Renold components supplied for the drive system are manufactured to specifications DIN 225, DIN 5480, DIN 740, AGMA, BS 4506 or ISO R775 as appropriate.
The design calls for the Perkins engine to drive the compressor through a Renold Clutches and Couplings Hydrastart fluid coupling; Renold Gears Hercules RP2-225 gearbox, and Renold Hi-Tec 12/3 DCB coupling complete with 1100 Series universal drive shaft.
The engine, fluid coupling, gearbox and forward half of the universal drive shaft are mounted to a sub-frame and housed in a 'safe-area' - while the rear half of the drive shaft, second rotational drive shaft and compressor are housed within a weatherproof compressor housing.
A feature of the drive system is the Hydrastart fluid drive coupling, which allows the engine to crank and accelerate to operating speed unloaded.
The fluid coupling permits the engine to develop maximum torque without stalling under load and promotes rapid acceleration to normal load speed.
When the engine has reached operating speed, the power transmitted through the fluid coupling causes a proportional and smooth increase in compressor speed, up to the point of its normal operating value.
The engine and compressor are further protected by the DCB drive coupling, which is bolted to the compressor.
The coupling provides intrinsically fail-safe operation, severe shock load protection and total control of resonant torsional vibration.
Providing speed reduction between engine and compressor is a Hercules RP2-225 reduction transmission gearbox.
RP Series helical reducers incorporate the highest quality hardened and ground gearing running on heavy duty bearings as standard.
Commenting on the project, Renold Hi-Tec Project Engineer Alan Dean says: 'Due to the extensive resources and technological expertise within Renold Power Transmission Products, Hamworthy Belliss and Morcom was able to find a cost-efficient, single source solution to an extremely demanding and complex application, while working through a single contact in the Renold organisation.
All Renold elements worked together closely to develop an application solution that was on time, on-spec and within budget.'.
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