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The Air House Engine Test Facility

Suspension and support system for GEC compressor.
With description


The spring-supported ductwork of each G.E.C. compressor set, showing the valves, anchors, and expansion joints.


“There are eight identical units installed in the Air House, each unit consisting of an in-line arrangement of an 8,000 h.p steam turbine, two low-pressure compressors, a high pressure compressor and a 36,000 h.p. motor. The eight units aggregate to 352,000 h.p. believed to be the biggest compressor installation of its kind in the western world.

The principal function of the steam turbine is to start the set, but it may also continue to give power after the motor is synchronised and will in fact be required to do so when the set is operating as a 9 to 1 compressor. The largest power demand occurs during cold winter conditions when the steam turbine is required to deliver about 6,000 h.p. The choice of drive was influenced to some extent by the existence of steam supplies on the site. It is technically sound on its own merits since it obviates the rather fearsome problems of independent geared starting motors and the heavy current demands at starting. An induction-motor drive would present power-factor difficulties at low loads (exhausting duties) and such a machine would necessarily be of slow speed with very large speed increasing gears. The civil-engineering cost for foundations and buildings would thus be increased and the problem of high starting current would be present in acute form.”



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