turbine starting systems 4

[mectarek]

Hi,
I'm working at an oil pumping station. We have two gas turbines that have diesel motors as a starting system and they asked me to study the possibility of changing them with turbo-starters because the diesel motors are very old and their spare parts no longer exist in the market.
I haven’t calculated 5+5=10 since college! So I’m here to ask you some questions
How can I calculate the starting torque?
What else should I calculate?

 

[DerbyLoco]

If I was asked the question I would look at the original engine details and work back from there, ie what power output do they have. How old are the engines and how big - I am supprised you cannot get parts.

 

[MintJulep]

Contact the turbo-starter manufacturer. Tell him you want to buy two starters for such-and-such turbines.

They'll likely ask a few questions about the turbines and tell you what to buy.

 

[racookpe1978]

Yes. Contact the turbine manufacturer. First. Always. Adding a different one after market may void your existing warranties and service contracts, even if the turbines are relatively old.

But, what is the size and speed and footprint of the current starting diesels? You HAVE to remount the new starters into nearly the same area, at the same height above foundations, with nearly the same (or exactly the same!) torque and final speed and cut-out clutch arrangement. Also, check your new control circuitry: You'll still need to do something to stop the new diesel starter when the turbine is up and running, right?

 

[tbuelna]

mectarek-

As others have advised, you should start by obtaining the technical documentation for your turbine engines from the OEM. Here is a link to some commercially available turbine starters from Ingersoll-Rand. The literature gives some rough airflow requirements for starters of various power levels. Remember that if you are going to use turbine starters you need to be able to supply them with an airflow sufficient to keep them operating for as long as it takes to get your turbine engines to light up, and in cold conditions this can take quite a while. Have you considered where this compressed air supply will come from?

Good luck to you.
Terry