Detecting thrust bearing failure within a screw compressor
A 3 1/2 mile ring of over 1000 superconducting magnets are needed to focus and drive the world`s highest energy particle smasher. 24 Refrigerators supply liquid helium to the magnets; 34 high pressure oil flooded screw compressors supply 285 psig helium gas to the refrigerators. The 400 h.p. screws are reliable machines that use 45 gallons of oil per minute to seal and lubricate the rotors, lubricate the bearings, and remove the heat of compression. These machines are spaced out in seven buildings over four miles. A minimum of 28 machines must be operating at all times. A contingent of operators start, stop, and monitor any machine from a distant control room. The 34 compressors have an average of 32,000 hours; 9 machines have over 40,000 hours; the highest is 55,000 hours.
- Research Organization:
- Fermi National Accelerator Lab. (FNAL), Batavia, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76CH03000
- OSTI ID:
- 10157970
- Report Number(s):
- FNAL-TM-1885; ON: DE94013419; TRN: 94:011159
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: May 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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