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Gas Turbines
GE
Oil & Gas

Dry Flexible Load & Accessory Coupling

Benefits

 Increased production

Customer benefits include the following:

• Maintenance free system

• Higher reliability/availability compared to the lubricated

• Lower expenditure of maintenance man-hours

What it is

Two couplings are installed on a gas • Any malfunction or incorrect • A tendency for the coupling to seize
turbine: one to connect the accessory maintenance of the lubrication up, which increases the effects of
gear box and one to connect the system can lead to rapid residual misalignment on the
load equipment. Each of them deterioration of the toothed joint turbomachinery
accomplishes the following tasks: • The high rotational velocity of the • Higher expenditure of maintenance
• Connect two rotating shafts in coupling tends to make it act man-hours
order to transmit torque from one somewhat like a centrifuge such For the above reasons, it is necessary
to the other that wear particles and dirt collect to carry out maintenance of the
• Compensate for different types of inside the coupling coupling on a routine basis.
misalignment (parallel, angular or Figure 1 shows the lubricated gear
both) This effect is amplified if the oil spray type load coupling for the MS3002J.
• Compensate for axial movement of system is not working properly. On modern machines, dry flexible
the shafts so that neither exerts an The effects of the above problems element couplings are used, which
excessive thrust on the other can lead to: helps overcome the problems listed
• Increasing levels of vibration for lubricated couplings.
In many turbomachinery installations
lubricated gear couplings were installed.
This type of coupling has some
drawbacks which become obvious after
years of operation and are as follows:
• Wear occurs between the gear
teeth, which increases the operating
clearances of the coupling

g Figure 1
 Whatititworks
How is
The basic principle of the dry flexible and therefore the limited problems in do not require an accessory coupling.
coupling is that the torque is balancing and the absence of fretting
transmitted through one, or a series problems, i.e., rubbing and corrosion Load Dry Flexible Coupling
of flexible disks which spread out the caused by friction between the Gas turbine model Type
stress. The dry flexible element is flexible torque transmitting elements.
PGT5/2 MEMBRANE
maintenance free as there are no Figure 2 shows the diaphragm type
PGT10 MEMBRANE
moving parts. There are different dry flexible load coupling for the
PGT16 MEMBRANE
types of flexible element couplings single shaft PGT5.
PGT25 DIAPHRAGM
available to fit most applications. The
MS3002 MEMBRANE
coupling is generally supplied with the 2) Multiple Membrane Couplings
MS5001 DIAPHRAGM
same shaft end mounting The torque is transmitted by the
MS5002 DIAPHRAGM
arrangement as previously used for coupling hub bolted to some of the
MS6001 DIAPHRAGM
the gear type coupling. On gas flexible elements which are in turn,
MS7001 DIAPHRAGM
turbine applications the shaft end bolted to a spacer. The main
arrangement is usually flanged, and advantage of membrane couplings is The single shaft PGT5 is not listed as it
in a few cases is taper fit or interference their light weight and thus reduced is usually equipped with a dry
fit with keys. The dry flexible element overhung moment. membrane type load coupling.
coupling is selected to minimize the Figure 3 shows the membrane type
need for modification of the existing dry flexible load coupling for the Scope of Supply
equipment and is usually directly single shaft PGT16. Dry element couplings are generally
interchangeable, except for supplied in three parts as follows:
modifications to the existing coupling Applicability • A hub for mounting on the driver
guards and oil spray nozzles. In most The following tables list the load and shaft end including the flexible steel
cases, the replacement coupling can accessory dry flexible couplings used element assembly
be selected to have similar stiffness by GE Oil & Gas. • A spacer tube for connecting the
and weight as the original gear two hub assemblies
coupling in order to avoid changes in Accessory Dry Flexible Coupling • A hub for mounting on the driven
the rotor dynamic behaviour of the Gas turbine model Type shaft end including the flexible steel
machine. element assembly
PGT5/2 MEMBRANE
Dry couplings fall mainly into two
PGT10 MEMBRANE
categories: The scope of supply also includes the
MS3002 MEMBRANE
following items:
MS5001 DIAPHRAGM
1) Diaphragm Couplings • Joint guard (as necessary)
MS5002 DIAPHRAGM
The torque is transmitted by the • Installation and modification drawings
MS6001 DIAPHRAGM
coupling hub bolted to one/two
MS7001 DIAPHRAGM
diaphragms welded to the spacer. Torsional and lateral analysis of the
The main advantage of this type of Aeroderivative machines and the load coupling behaviour can be
coupling is the simple configuration single shaft PGT5 are not listed as they provided upon customer request.

Figure 2 Figure 3

g
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via F. Matteucci, 2
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