2021-01-05
Voith installs and commissions first VoreconNX marking global milestone
- The variable speed drive runs with minimal vibration while delivering low-range power up to 10 megawatts.
- The installation and commissioning of the drive, which took place throughout 2020, went smoothly and it officially went into service at the end of November.
- Voith’s VoreconNX variable speed drive is standardized and modularized by design, which allows for easy parts swapping and maintenance.
Prior to delivery, installation and final commissioning at its new home in Louisiana, the VoreconNX unit was tested at Voith’s Crailsheim, Germany, factory where it ran through a series of standardized performance tests including a speed ramping, overspeed protection and defined-load point tests. With the installation complete and the VoreconNX unit in operation, the owner expects to operate the unit for the next five years without shutdown. At that point, it will be taken offline for a routine inspection and maintenance.
“The entire installation and commissioning process went very smoothly despite the area being hit by three hurricanes this year,” added Craig Aggen, Sr. Field Service Technician, Voith Turbo North America, who also noted the drive not only passed a rigorous test on Voith’s test stand but also an informal vibration test at the site. “We gave it the ‘Coin Test.’ This is where we balance a nickel on its edge on top of the VoreconNX and see if it stays or falls due to vibration. It stayed!”
Voith Turbo North America currently has several other VoreconNX units that have been ordered for use in the U.S. and Canada, with deliveries and com-missioning activities coming up in the next two years.
“The units built for the North American market are going to be tested in a lot of varying conditions – from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico – and our customers are very excited to get this next-generation power transmission technology added into their production processes. Once installed, the VoreconNX will boost their operational efficiencies through adjustable pump guide vanes, which offer an improvement of up to eight percent at part load,” said Peter Goretzki, Product Manager, Voith Turbo. “Beyond its efficiency improvements, ease of maintenance and small footprint, our testing also is showing another key value of the VoreconNX – we’re predicting a mean time between failures of 48 years in long-term operation. That’s a phenomenal number for an industry that values reliable operation.”
Learn more about the VoreconNX at https://voith.com/VoreconNX.
About the company
The Voith Group is a global technology company. With its wide range of plants, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets for energy, oil and gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 20,000 employees and earns 4.2 billion euros in sales. It has locations in over 60 countries and is one of Europe’s larger family-owned companies.
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The Group Division Voith Turbo is part of the Voith Group and a specialist for intelligent drive technology, systems as well as tailor-made services. With its innovative and smart products, Voith offers highest efficiency and reliability. Customers from highly diverse industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining and mechanical engineering, ship technology, rail and commercial vehicles rely on the advanced technologies and digital applications of Voith.
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