Vorecon

Full mechanical variable speed planetary gear

Precise speed control – Fast amortization

    Voith Vorecon

    Providing the speed your process requires and combining reliable mechanical design with hydrodynamic power transmission, a Vorecon variable speed planetary gear precisely controls the speed of compressors and pumps.

    Precise speed control results in significant energy savings compared to throttle or bypass control systems. Furthermore, amortization is fast and usually within just a few years of service.

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    Customer success story

    US-based gas pipeline operator Williams relies on a Vorecon variable speed planetary gear for speed control.

    All benefits at a glance

      Voith efficiency icon
      High reliability
      High reliability > 48 years MTBF
      Voith cost reduction icon
      Lowest cost
      Lowest total cost of ownership
      Voith peak efficiency icon
      95
      Up to 95% peak efficiency
      Voith tool icon
      600
      More than 600 oil & gas installations
      Voith superior quality icon
      30
      Design life > 30 years
      Voith compact design icon
      Minimum installation space
      Small footprint and weight

      OnCare.Health Vorecon

        Are you interested in minimizing maintenance costs and increasing the availability of your critical drivetrain? The answer, OnCare.Health Vorecon!

        Unlike other machine protection systems in the power, oil, and gas industries, OnCare.Health Vorecon is self-learning. The data diagnostic system continuously analyzes the machine’s condition and predicts future behavior through accurate signal analysis and data diagnostics.

        The self-learning diagnostic system that monitors your Vorecon’s ‘Heartbeat’ in power, oil and gas applications

        OnCare.Health - Vorecon

        How the Vorecon works

          The Vorecon is located between the drive motor and the driven machine in the driveline

          The most significant proportion of Vorecon’s input power flows directly from the input shaft to the output shaft. At the same time, the hydrodynamic torque converter diverts a small proportion of the input power to the output shaft through the superimposing gear. The power splitting principle explained here results in the Vorecon achieving very high efficiency.

          Voith | Vorecon

          Our portfolio

            Type
            RWE
            RWC
            RW
            RWE-M
            RWC-M
            Offering
            A compact economical design
            Motor load-free start-up
            A wide range of control
            A modular and economical unit
            An economically-priced modular version with motor load-free start-up
            Compressors
            Applications
             
            Pumps

            RWE

            Type RWE – Economical and compact

            Voith | Vorecon Type RWE sectional diagram
            RWE sectional diagram
            Function
            • The torque converter fills immediately after starting the motor and branches off a small proportion of the input power.
            • The driven machine is decelerated to a minimum speed.
            • A fixed planetary gear transmits the power branched off to the revolving planetary gear (superimposing gear).
            • The revolving planetary gear increases the power again.
            • Speed control is applied using the adjustable guide vanes in the torque converter.
            • The integrated oil system fills the torque converter with operating oil. At the same time, the Vorecon supplies the drive motor and the driven machine with lubricating oil.
            Voith | Vorecon RWE characteristics
            RWE characteristic curves
            Special benefits
            • The Vorecon RWE is a cost-effective and straightforward solution for high-speed turbo compressors and boiler feed pumps with a reduced control range.

            RWC

            Type RWC – For starting-up the motor load-free

            Voith | Vorecon RWC sectional diagram
            RWC sectional diagram
            Function
            • The hydrodynamic coupling is emptied when the drive motor starts and the clutch are opened; this indicates the drive motor and the driven machine are decoupled, and motor start-up is essentially load-free.
            • The hydrodynamic coupling is filled after the drive motor is running and begins to transmit power. The driven machine is then gently decelerated to minimum speed.
            • The clutch closes and bypasses the hydrodynamic coupling.
            • From then on, the Vorecon RWC operates similarly to the Vorecon RWE. The speed control of the driven machine is applied using the adjustable guide vanes in the torque converter.

             

            Voith | Vorecon RWC characteristic curves
            RWC characteristic curves
            Special benefits
            • The drive motor starts unloaded, and the driven machine can be started under weak power grid conditions.
            • Driven machines with a high mass moment of inertia are easier to start up.

            RW

            Type RW – For a wide range of control

            Voith | Vorecon RW sectional diagram
            RW sectional diagram
            Function
            • When starting up the drive motor, the hydrodynamic variable speed coupling is emptied, and the clutch is opened. This means the drive motor and the driven machine are decoupled, and motor start-up is essentially load-free.
            • In the lower control range, the hydrodynamic variable speed coupling is filled and transmits power. The torque converter is emptied and thus is non-operational within this control range. The speed control of the driven machine is achieved via the adjustable scoop tube, which determines the filling level of the operating oil in the coupling and, therefore, the power transmitted.
            • The retarder (hydrodynamic brake) is filled with oil and keeps the fixed planetary gear at a low speed.
            • The clutch closes and bypasses the variable-speed coupling to achieve the upper-speed range.
            • The retarder is emptied, and the torque converter is filled.
            • From then on, the Vorecon RW operates similarly to the Vorecon RWE. The speed control of the driven machine is applied using the adjustable guide vanes in the torque converter.
            RW characteristic curves
            Special benefits
            • The Vorecon RW is the ideal control combination for driven machines with a comprehensive control range – mainly pumps and blowers
            • In addition, the Vorecon RW offers the same advantages as the Vorecon RWC, such as a load-free motor start-up and easy start-up of driven machines with a high mass moment of inertia.

            RWE-M

            Type RWE-M – Economical and modular

            RWE-M sectional diagram
            Function
            • When starting the motor, the hydrodynamic couplings are filled, and the torque converter is emptied. The hydrodynamic couplings thus connect the stationary gear with the input shaft. This results in a very low speed on the output shaft, and the driven machine takes on a little power. This relieves the motor when starting up.
            • After starting up the motor, the hydrodynamic couplings are emptied, and the torque converter is filled. The driven machine is decelerated to a minimum speed.
            • From then on, the Vorecon RWC-M operates similarly to the Vorecon RWE-M. The speed control of the driven machine is applied using the adjustable guide vanes in the torque converter.
            Voith | Vorecon RWE-M characteristic curves
            RWE-M characteristic curves
            Special benefits
            • The Vorecon RWE-M is a cost-effective and straightforward solution for high-speed turbo compressors and boiler feed pumps with a reduced control range.
            • The modular design with horizontally split housing allows service work to be carried out quickly and effectively, which is an essential aspect of offshore systems.

            RWC-M

            Type RWC-M – The economically-priced modular version for starting up the motor load-free

            Voith | Vorecon RWC-M sectional diagram
            RWC-M sectional diagram
            Function
            • When starting the motor, the hydrodynamic couplings are filled, and the torque converter is emptied. The hydrodynamic couplings thus connect the stationary gear with the input shaft. This results in a very low speed on the output shaft, and the driven machine takes on a little power. This relieves the motor when starting up.
            • After starting up the motor, the hydrodynamic couplings are emptied, and the torque converter is filled. The driven machine is decelerated to a minimum speed.
            • From then on, the Vorecon RWC-M operates similarly to the Vorecon RWE-M. The speed control of the driven machine is applied using the adjustable guide vanes in the torque converter.
            Voith | Vorecon RWC-M characteristic curves
            RWC-M characteristic curves
            Special benefits
            • The drive motor starts unloaded. The driven machine can also be started under weak power grid conditions.
            • Driven machines with a high mass moment of inertia are easier to start up.
            • The modular design with horizontally split housing allows service work to be carried out quickly and effectively, an essential aspect of offshore systems.

            Features

            • A standard integrated oil system with lube oil supply for the motor and the driven machine
            • Optional: An integrated base frame solution 

            Key technical data

              Rated power 1 - 50 MW
              Input speed 1,500 rpm or 1,800 rpm
              Rated output speed Up to 20,000 rpm
              Speed range 10% - 105%
              Installation Ex & non ex

               

              References

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                  Publications

                    • Efficient control of pumps and compressors | Vorecon variable speed planetary gear

                      Efficient control of pumps and compressors | Vorecon variable speed planetary gear

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