Engine-Generator Flexible Coupling for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large internal combustion engines, such as those in ships or power plants, experience vibrations that are transmitted to generators via rigid connections, leading to fatigue failures and potential damage around mounting points and other locations.
Innovation Solution
The engine and generator are supported separately via resilient mounting elements, with a flexible coupling connecting them, eliminating rigid connections and allowing for an inertia mass element or clutch to be used, enabling the generator to function as a synchronous condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If rigid connections are used between engine and generator, then mechanical power transmission is efficient, but vibration transmission causes fatigue failures
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible coupling is introduced as an intermediary element between the engine and generator shafts. This coupling transmits mechanical power while accommodating vibrations and misalignments, thereby maintaining power transmission efficiency while preventing vibration-induced fatigue failures in the generator and its mounting points.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible coupling employs flexible elements (such as rubber or elastomeric materials) that can deform to absorb vibrations. These flexible components allow torque transmission while isolating the generator from engine vibrations, resolving the contradiction between efficient power transmission and vibration isolation.
2Device complexity
If engine and generator are mounted on common base frame, then structural simplicity is achieved, but vibration transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into separate resilient mounting elements for the engine and separate resilient mounting elements for the generator. Each component is mounted independently on the base frame through its own vibration-isolating elements, preventing vibration transmission while maintaining the simplicity of the common base frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Resilient mounting elements serve as intermediaries between the engine-generator set and the common base frame. These elements (such as rubber mounts or spring isolators) absorb vibrations locally, allowing the use of a simple common base frame while preventing harmful vibration transmission to the generator.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If resilient mounting elements are used for both engine and generator, then vibration transmission is prevented, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate resilient mounting elements for the engine and separate resilient mounting elements for the generator. This segmentation allows each component to be mounted independently with appropriate vibration isolation, preventing vibration transmission while keeping each mounting subsystem relatively simple and modular.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively prevents vibration transmission, reduces fatigue failures, allows for lighter foundations, and enables the generator to stabilize rotation speed and adjust grid voltage.
Implementation Method 1
the engine is supported against a support surface by a plurality of resilient mounting elements, and the generator is supported against a support surface by a plurality of resilient mounting elements
Implementation Method 2
an engine that is coupled via a flexible coupling to a shaft of the generator for driving the generator
Data Source
AI summary
A engine-generator set includes a generator for producing electricity and an engine that is coupled via flexible coupling to a shaft of the generator for driving the generator, the engine being supported against a support surface by a plurality of resilient mounting elements, and the generator being supported against a support surface by a plurality of resilient mounting elements separately from the engine, wherein the engine is mechanically connected to the generator solely via the flexible coupling.