(3b) Maximizing Turbomachinery Reliability and Optimizing Plant Performance with Torque Monitoring Couplings

Couplings with integrated torque monitoring devices have been available for over 40 years.  However numerous misconceptions remain regarding the technology and effective use of these devices during performance testing and continuous on-site operation of turbomachinery equipment.  An overview of current torque monitoring technologies will be reviewed, calibration methods will be discussed, and a comparison against the industry standard practice of heat balance equations will be provided.  Several real-world examples will be presented to demonstrate how torque monitoring couplings can accurately measure operating conditions.  Torque monitoring couplings verify the power being transmitted, identify decreases in train efficiencies, and detect damaging torsional resonances as part of a system to achieve optimal plant reliability and performance.