INDUSTRIAL GAS TURBINE

Unit 304 Starting Equipment

Topic: 4.2 Torque Converter

4.4 Hydraulic Ratchet System

Learning Aim and Objective

Aim:
To Understand the function of the Torque Converter as a starting device.

Objective:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

Explain the function and the operation of torque converter. Explain the purpose of a Hydraulic Ratchet System.

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4.2 Torque Converter

Background of Torque Converter : A Torque Converter is a modified form of a Hydrodynamic Fluid. Allows the Gas Turbine engine to spin independently of the generator or centrifugal compressor.

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4.2 Torque Converter

Function of Torque Converter: To provide a method and apparatus to start up Electric Generator or Centrifugal Compressor. To multiply torque when there is a substantial difference between input and output rotational sped.

Improved starting method for starting Generator. Especially a generator driven by a single shaft gas turbine machine, such as used in Cogent plants. Improved starting method for starting compressors. Especially, if the compressor is driven by a single shaft gas turbine machine (used in liquefied natural gas plants).
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Why used Torque Converter?

A specific problem with the single-shaft gas turbine is that everything is connected mechanically on a single common shaft. hence the starting device must start up not only the gas turbine itself, but also the connected load. Everything must be started up and accelerated simultaneously from rest continuously up to full speed.
The added load produced by an electric generator (Co-Gen Plant) in an unloaded state can be handled by a single-shaft gas turbine's standard starting system, so they use torque converter just for loading and unloading the electric generator anytime they want. But not the inertia and aerodynamic loads associated with a large centrifugal compressor (LNG plants). They use torque converter to startup their Large Compressor.
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Location?
For LNG plants, a compressor starting torque converter (CSTC) located between the gas turbine output shaft and the compressor input shaft.

For Co-Gen plants, it is located between the gas turbine output shaft and the generator input shaft.

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4.2 Torque Converter

Torque Converter Element:
In normal torque converter, there are at least 3 rotating elements: Pumps Turbine
Housing

Turbine output shaft

Load Coupling

Stator

Stator output shaft

Turbine Pump
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Stator

4.2 Torque Converter

Input Shaft

Output Shaft

Torque Guide Lock-up Converter Vanes Device

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4.2 Torque Converter

Torque Converter Lock-up Device

Engage

Disengage

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Locking Device

How Torque Converter work?

As the pump spins, the fluid is flung to the outside and creating Vacuum which draws more fluid at the centre.

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Continue

How Torque Converter work?

The fluid then enters the blades of the turbine from outside which gave changes on the direction of the fluid before it exits through the centre of the turbine.

This directional change of fluid makes the turbine to spin.

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Continue

How Torque Converter work?

Since the fluid exits the turbine moving an opposite direction of the pump. This is why a stator is placed in between the turbine and the pump, just to counter flow the output fluid flow out of the turbine .

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4.2 Torque Converter

Three stage of Operation: Stall The prime mover apply power to the pump but the turbine is not rotating. During this period, it produce maximum torque multiplication (called Stall Ratio). Acceleration During this period, the load is accelerating but there are still having a relatively large difference between pump and turbine speed. Under this condition, the converter will produce torque multiplication that is less than what could be achieved under stall conditions. Coupling once in this phase, the fluid will be in reverse direction and now rotate in the direction of the pump and turbine.
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4.3 Hydraulic Ratchet System

It is used as rotor-turning device, the purpose are:

To cool down the Rotor after turbine operation (periodic). To assists the diesel or cranking motor in starting the Gas Turbine. To partially turn the rotor in 3-minute stroking intervals until it complete 1 revolution for every half an hour. This to prevent sagging happened to the rotor. To provide additional torque to augment the power delivered through the torque converter during the starting up from cold.
To assists in overcoming the breakaway torque demand of the turbine rotor. Used during maintenance outstages and inspections.
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Recap
Explain the function and the operation of torque converter. Explain the purpose of a Hydraulic Ratchet System.

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Overview of Next Lesson

Section E Cooling System Topic: Cooling air system & sealing air

Thank you for your Attention

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4.2 Torque Converter

Operation of Torque Converter :

The hydraulic fluid for the torque converter supplied by the gas turbine lube-oil system.
During the startup operation of the gas turbine, the torque converter hydraulic fluid is drained and the mechanical lockup device is disengaged. When the gas turbine has reached rated speed, the torque converter guide vanes opened to filledup the torque converter with hydraulic fluid.

Once the torque converter full with hydraulic oil, the speed of the generator or large compressor start to increase until it has the same speed as the input shaft speed. Continue
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4.2 Torque Converter

Operation of Torque Converter : Once the two speeds has synchronous, the lock-up device will be engaged and the torque converter hydraulic oil drained by shutting up the guide vanes.

In this condition, the power is transmitted only mechanically with a very high efficiency.

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