• Reliable and innovative driveline technologies from Voith improve efficiency and reliability by using well-trusted approaches
• Bespoke service solutions help operators to reduce downtime and maintenance costs
• The BHS AeroMaXX technology for parallel-shaft gear units reduces power loss and oil consumption by up to 30 percent

Johannesburg/Heidenheim: Voith will be presenting several innovative technologies and solutions for the power generation industry at POWERGEN Africa from 17-19 July 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Voith is showcasing its wide range of service and products at booth J12 with the claim ‘Boost your growth through smart solutions’. Besides a modular and tailor-made service concept, Voith´s presented portfolio includes hydrodynamic Torque Converters, the variable speed planetary gear Vorecon and the resource-saving AeroMaXX Technology for the BHS Parallel Shaft Gear Units. 

Reliable and innovative technology for more efficient drivelines
Based on the fundamentals of hydrodynamic power transmission, Voith torque converters offer great versatility when it comes to torque and speed modulation customized to the characteristics of each individual driven machine. It’s a simple, proven, compact and robust technology and well-suited as a variable speed and start-up solution from 100 up to 10,000 kW. One of its main applications is to provide high breakaway torque and superior acceleration power for a reliable start-up of gas turbines. The Voith torque converter is also one of the core elements when it comes to achieving variable speed inside the Voith Vorecon.

The Vorecon is a hydrodynamic variable speed planetary gear. It can reach powers of more than 50 MW and can be operated at speeds in excess of 20,000 rpm. In power plants it is used to control the speed of pumps and fans. The Vorecon combines reliable mechanical design with wear-free hydrodynamic power transmission. This helps the variable-speed gear to achieve a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 48 years and a system reliability that exceeds 99.98%. The operation runs for a very long time without unplanned downtime, boosting the productivity of the power plants. The reliability of the Vorecon is obviously an important factor when calculating the lifecycle costs of a system and also a prerequisite to minimize the associated operating costs of a power plant.

Bespoke service solutions 
Conventional power plants in South Africa are facing an economically and technically challenging environment due to the current situation of the industry in the country. Therefore, plant and assets maintenance has become a key priority for most of the operators. 

Control and drive technologies from Voith can be found at many critical points in power plants and provide reliable service for many years. However, a regular planned service of these components is essential to prevent unplanned breakdowns and thus to ensure the profitability of the systems. The Voith service solutions ensure trouble-free continued operation. In addition to first-class services and spare parts, customers can rely on the wealth of experience of the Voith experts. Voith also focuses on lifelong service partnerships covering the entire life cycle of products and systems: From planning and commissioning to maintenance, repairs, modernization and retrofits. In addition to the standardized services, there are also Individual service solutions available for special needs. These include, among others, extended warranties, time or condition based maintenance agreements, asset lifecycle management, health checks, modernization and retrofits.

Health Checks to avoid unplanned downtime and consequential damages 
Health checks are a powerful tool when it comes to evaluate the condition of power plant components. Performing health checks regularly prevents unplanned downtime and can avoid expensive consequential damages. As a result of such an inspection, customers also get to know the exact condition of their equipment and, if required, receive from Voith an overview of possible measures to be carried out. This helps to optimize the availability and profitability of a plant.

AeroMaXX technology reduces power losses and oil consumption 
The BHS AeroMaXX technology for parallel-shaft gear units enables operators to reduce power loss and oil consumption by up to 30 percent. It minimizes losses by separating lubrication and cooling while no additional accessories are needed due to its passive mechanical construction. Such losses usually appear at high pitch line velocities of up to 200 meters per second when the oil swirls and squeezes into the gear mesh. The BHS AeroMaXX technology consisting of a special inner gearbox casing and optimized bearings is designed for easy retrofitting for existing gear units.

The BHS AeroMaXX can be retrofitted to existing gear units as part of a standard overhaul of the powertrain without additional downtime. The costs for the operator are amortized solely by the energy saved within one to two years.

About the company
Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith, is a specialist for intelligent drive solutions, systems and comprehensive services. Customers from highly diverse industries such as oil and gas, energy, rail and commercial vehicles, ship technology, mining and mechanical engineering rely on the advanced technologies and solutions-driven expertise of Voith Turbo.

Voith is a global technology group. With its broad portfolio of systems, products, services and digital applications, Voith sets standards in the markets of energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transport & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith today has more than 19,000 employees, sales of €4.2 billion and locations in over 60 countries worldwide and is thus one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe.

Contact at the booth:
Shayne Crouwkamp – Key account Manager Sales
Pierre van Rooyen – Engineering Manager