The Gulf region is showing strong interest in Voith Turbo’s new-generation of Vorecon variable-speed planetary gear, a senior official of the company’s regional operation said.

The Vorecon is a variable-speed planetary gear that has proven itself in many applications for 25 years especially in the oil and gas industry as a drive for pipeline and process compressors, LNG refrigeration compressors, boiler feed pumps or fans.

'The improved Vorecon version has now been launched and we have been receiving enquiries,' said Ward Loeffen, Voith Middle East manager for industry.

Loeffin said Saudi Aramco and Petroleum Development Oman were among the regional oil companies that had made serious enquiries.

The official said the company expected to achieve its first sales of the new-generation Vorecon shortly.

Currently available models of Vorecon variable speed planetary gear are selling briskly in the region even before the first of the new-generation Vorecon arrives.

Outputs of 1,000 to 50,000 kW and speeds of 100 to 20,000 rpm are no problem for the variable-speed planetary gear. It can be operated at any time, even in extreme temperatures and in dusty environments with explosion hazards, the company explains.

'Due to its high reliability of 99.97 per cent and clear-cut investment costs, the Vorecon enjoys high acclaim in the industry, for example from the VGB Association of Power Station Operators. To the four reasons in favor of a Vorecon (reliability, economy, long service life and efficiency) are now added another reason: improved maintainability,' it says.

'The horizontally split housing allows easier access to rotating parts, making the Vorecon more service-friendly. Maintenance work now requires less crane capacity, lower crane hook heights and less time.'

Modular design

Another new feature of the Vorecon new generation is its modular design. The drive already requires less space than a frequency converter solution – about one third - and fewer single components. At the same time its efficiency of more than 95 per cent is significantly higher than that of a system with frequency inverter, where transformer, converter and filter cause power losses.

As with previous Vorecon models, the function of the unit is based on the power split principle. The main portion of the output is transmitted mechanically via the main shaft and planetary gear. The remaining portion of power to be used for speed control is split from the main shaft by hydrodynamic components and then redirected to the planetary gear. This results in an overall unit efficiency of more than 95 per cent. In practical applications, torque converter control results in high positioning accuracy and control dynamics. For many operators, an equally important aspect is the high reliability of this form of speed control. It is reflected in an overall service life of over 30 years and the mean time between failures. The MTBF of the Vorecon is five times higher than that of a frequency inverter.

The first five Vorecon new generation units are in operation in an American gas pipeline to drive pipeline compressors in four stations in Florida with an output of more than 15,000 kW. In future, double converters are expected to provide even this level of high efficiency throughout the active speed range.

The horizontally split housing allows easier access to rotating parts

Dubai subsidiary

Voith Turbo, which supplies Vorecon drive systems, opened its new subsidiary in Dubai Techno Park earlier this year. The company had since 2003 looked after its Middle East customers from its office in Sharjah.

The company offers comprehensive services in the GCC mainly for the energy and petrochemicals sector.

The services range includes project management as a main contractor for refinery turnarounds, routine maintenance, engineering, prefabrication to disassembly and reassembly of equipment and documentation, piping, valve overhauling and testing and heat exchanger repair.

'In the region, the oil and gas fields of Saudi Aramco and the gas fields in Qatar offer enormous business potential - both for new plants and for overhauls, maintenance and retrofits,' says a company spokesman.

The new Voith premises in Dubai spans an area covering 12,000 sq m. The company has also set up a workshop in Qatar.

'Voith Turbo in Dubai covers all divisions and will enable us to react fast and competently within the region,' says Huub Hendrickx, executive vice president of Voith Turbo in Middle East.

At present, 36 people work for Voith in Dubai and 23 employees are based in Iran.

The Techno Park in Dubai is a 9 million sq m industrial estate in the desert. Approximately 10 per cent of the area is now built up. The Voith Turbo complex in the Techno Park includes workshops for DIWA and rail transmissions, as well as a performance test stand with an output of 400 kW.

In the future, Voith will carry out all maintenance work for transmissions, including spare parts supplies and oil changes. Alongside new orders and the supply of drive components, the company offers long-term maintenance contracts and high-quality after sales service.'

The Voith Turbo product range for these industries covers primarily fluid couplings, Vorecons and high-performance gears. The company has installed approximately 3,000 units in the Middle East.

'Jointly the divisions of Voith offer a unique service portfolio for rotating and static equipments to our clients, according to our slogan: Voith Engineered Reliability,' says Michael Rau, managing director Voith Industrial Services Qatar.