Rotating Machine Rotor Contact Mitigation via Stepwise Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotating machine systems do not effectively continue operation when rotor contact occurs, leading to potential failures and inefficiencies, as they lack measures to manage and mitigate the contact event.

Innovation Solution

A rotating machine system equipped with an abnormality treatment apparatus that includes a sensor to detect rotor contact and a control unit to execute sequential controls such as rotation number reduction, liquid injection, and pressure control to mitigate the contact, allowing the machine to continue operation safely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rotating machine is stopped immediately when rotor contact is detected, then the reliability is improved by preventing serious failure, but the productivity deteriorates due to operation efficiency loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure preventionVSAvoidoperation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the rotation number of the rotor based on the detected contact state. When contact is detected, the control unit reduces the rotation number to a predetermined lower limit, allowing the machine to continue operating at a reduced speed rather than stopping completely. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining operational capability while preventing serious failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operating parameters (rotation number) in response to the abnormality detection. By reducing the rotation number from its normal operating value to a lower limit value, the system modifies the operational state to prevent serious failure while maintaining continuous operation, thus balancing reliability and productivity concerns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the rotation number is reduced to continue operation, then the productivity is maintained, but the harmful factors increase due to continued rotor contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoid rotor contact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the rotation state and contact conditions through the sensor unit. The control unit receives feedback from the sensor about the rotor's contact state and adjusts the rotation number accordingly. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain continuous operation while preventing excessive harmful factors by dynamically responding to the actual contact conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

The system effectively reduces rotor contact and prevents failures by stepwise reduction of rotations, injection of cooling fluid, and pressure management, enabling continued operation and minimizing operational disruptions.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor that detects an elastic wave generated when the rotor contacts something during its rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic wave: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

liquid injection control of injecting liquid into a housing chamber of the rotor step by step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCooling: Cooling

Data Source

PatentEP3587747B1Rotating machine system
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 KOBE STEEL LTD
  • EP3587747B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587747B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3587747B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An abnormality treatment apparatus includes: a sensor which outputs a signal upon detecting an event caused by contact of a rotor of a rotating machine during rotation of the rotor; and a control unit which executes at least one of rotation number control of reducing the number of rotations of the rotor step by step, liquid injection control of injecting liquid into a housing chamber of the rotor step by step, and pressure control of lowering a discharge pressure of the rotating machine step by step based on reception of the signal output from the sensor.