Loughborough University
Partnership on a recent project between HPC and its Authorised Distributor, REP Air Services, has provided Loughborough University with a unique high efficiency compressed air installation. The compressed air generated is used to assist the University in it's research for gas-turbine manufacturers in the areas of jet nozzle performance and gas-turbine combustor aerodynamics.
The installation consists of two distinct systems built into the same plant room for use in two different laboratories in the University.
System one consists of a 315kW and a 75kW HPC rotary screw compressor linked via an HPC control system to produce compressed air at up to 15 barg, 0.8 kg/sec mass flow, dried to a dewpoint of -40°C and stored in pressure vessels with a total capacity of 120,000 litres. The air will initially be used in a laboratory studying high pressure nozzle exhaust plumes, the air being discharged at high volume flow over a short period of time. All the flow measuring, control and pressure control valves formed part of the installation together with 6" (welded in situ) stainless steel pipework.
System two is a single 315kW HPC compressor that produces air at up to 8barg, dried to a pressure dewpoint of -40°C and stored in pressure vessels with a capacity of 20,000 litres. Air is required to be supplied at a flow rate of 45 m³/min for a variety of laboratory tests on gas turbine combustion system aerodynamics. All the flow measuring, control and pressure control valves formed part of the installation together with 6" (welded in situ) stainless steel pipework.
Installation
The installation contract included the supply, offloading and positioning of equipment, some of which weighed in excess of 20 tonnes. Once in position, 6" stainless steel pipework was fabricated to connect the air generation system to the laboratories via a series of pressure and flow control valves. Air was then carried to the laboratories over a 6 metre high gantry and fed into the building via sound insulated access points.
Compressor Control
All the compressors are controlled by dedicated systems which not only start and stop the compressors but also ensure that a correct shut down process is used ensuring that the system is ready to use at any future point in time.
The compressor control for the Jet Nozzle system is provided by an HPC SIGMA Air Manager which ensures precise pressure control at all times as well as providing up to date operational information.
Further details are available from HPC.