Case Studies

When Alstom Power identified a phenomenon of spiral vibration close to the trip level on a 450 MVa hydrogen-cooled generator, our proprietary predictive tools and extensive industry experience on equipment of this size made Waukesha Bearings the clear choice to design and manufacture a drop-in bearing replacement.

Waukesha Magnetic Bearings has played a critical role in extending the life of Groningen, Europe’s largest natural gas field. Our active magnetic bearing (AMB) system, built into the compressors and the motors, has provided over 99.9% availability and has reduced energy costs.

In 2002, a leading oil & gas customer approached Waukesha with the challenge of developing a bearing for a hermetically sealed integral motor compressor. Availability and reliability were the customer’s primary objectives. The end user could achieve a significant cap-ex savings in the installation if the motor compressor could be located outdoors, with no building or enclosure required.

At a compression station in West Siberia, a refrigeration process applied to the gas at the plant outlet created a requirement for a highly efficient compressor. That efficiency was achieved with a compressor rotor shaft with a high slenderness ratio, resulting in a very flexible shaft. The industry-leading processing power and advanced control algorithms of Waukesha magnetic bearing controllers were required for the successful operation of these machines.