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SKF commissioned its thousandth SKF S2M Active Magnetic Bearing (AMB), an event that illustrates how effectively this innovative solution improves reliability for an ever-increasing number of customers in the oil and gas industry. SKF S2M magnetic bearings operate without friction or oil and require little maintenance. They thus represent a powerful solution that offers the oil and gas industry high efficiency, long service life and low maintenance.
From the Vernon Saint Marcel plant (Eure), this thousandth achievement on a large turbomachine offers additional advantages thanks to several advanced functions. The rugged internal bearing design improves resistance to critical gas environments as well as the range of possible applications. The magnetic bearing control system provides remote control and diagnostic capabilities that measure critical machine parameters, such as rotational speed, vibrations and temperatures. The mechanical parts of the AMB system are based on a field proven design with mechanical interfaces adapted to the particularities of an OEM machine. The control cabinet used is an industry standard E300 volt / 30 A digital system, a rugged solution that has accumulated over ten million hours of operational experience in the oil and gas industry. The AMB controller adapts to all aspects of the complex dynamic behavior of the machine rotor. In addition, a formalized collaboration process between the customer and local SKF service teams has been developed.
These key factors enabled the local service engineer to quickly commission this 1000th SKF S2M Magnetic Bearing. In this app, having the right people in the right places is the key to success in this application. With over 30 years of experience in magnetic bearings for the oil and gas industry, SKF has a large global presence with specialized AMB teams in France, Canada, United States, Russia, in China, Japan and the Middle East. The company thus relies on experienced technical staff who speak the language of the country and understand the local culture. The result is fast and efficient service in applications where time is of the essence.
For customers who need to improve the reliability and efficiency of their machines, SKF can present many documented cases where 99-100% reliability is the norm. Many users have reported that their machine can run for 100,000 hours without any magnetic bearing failures. Typically, the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) exceeds 40,000 hours.
Such a level of reliability directly benefits production and operational efficiency. Combined with the elimination of other driveline components, such as the lubrication system and gearbox, an SKF S2M bearing delivers significant savings in operating expenses (OPEX) and a return on investment. positive original capital expenditure (CAPEX).
Thanks to their robustness, SKF S2M magnetic bearings extend the operating range of machines, which can rotate at faster speeds and withstand higher loads, giving the customer much greater operational flexibility. For this reason, SKF S2M magnetic bearings have become a true industry standard and the solution of choice for customers for most oil and gas applications.
A world first: a pipeline compressor fitted with magnetic bearings was commissioned in Canada in 1986. This success was followed by the world's first oil-free turbo-expander, installed at an offshore site in Norway. The technology was invented by the French company S2M (then an SKF subsidiary). Remarkable fact: some of the first installations are still functioning without failures after more than 25 years.
The ever-widening range of applications today includes gas storage compressors, polyethylene compressors, high speed electric motor drives, ethylene turbo expansion valves, power generation turbogenerators, etc. These machines are used by all major players in the oil and gas industry, from offshore sites off Africa to the Siberian plains north of the Arctic Circle, to petrochemical plants in North America. North.
SKF S2M magnetic bearings were chosen to equip compressors and high speed motors in an underwater gas installation. The world's first subsea gas compression station, fitted with SKF S2M magnetic bearings, will be installed in the Åsgard offshore field in Norway by 2015. The system was designed to extend the service life of the field by gas and improve recovery rates.
With more than 130,000 units in operation, SKF has unmatched experience in active magnetic bearings in a wide range of application areas: from small industrial machines to high power turbomachines for oil and gas. gas.
Find out more: www.skf.fr
