Compressor and Engine Monitoring Compressor and Engine Monitoring | HBM

Measure high torque with reduced measurement uncertainty

The application of high capacity torque transducers has developed as a result of new international regulations, as well as the need for higher energy efficiency and less fuel consumption.

Apart from the testing of conventional ship combustion engines, the applications for measuring high torque are more or less completely new in the engineering Industry.

Only by integrating torque flanges can a continuous and precise control of ship engines and compressor efficiency be guaranteed – as a result one has significant fuel savings and the ability to fulfil international emission regulations.

HBM is the global market leader for torque flange technology, be it standard or custom transducers, HBM offers significant advantages and solutions in the following applications:

Testing of ship engines

This is a standard application in engine testing, however it is often still performed by means of lever arms and force transducers – thus not meeting new requirements for measurement uncertainty budgets.

Standard HBM T10FH or T40FM torque transducers are perfect for the implementation into systems for testing of ship engines. With this well accepted technology, measurement uncertainty budgets of less than 1% for the complete test systems can be met.

See also our white paper on torque measurement of ship engines

Torque transducers from HBM for ship engine testing:

T10FH analog high capacity torque flange

T40FM digital high capacity torque flange

Monitoring of gas engines in direct drive propulsions

The latest international regulations, such as MARPOL annex VI, requires significant emission reductions.

An option for this is to increase the use of gas engines, instead of classic diesel engines. Gas engines burn very cleanly therefore exhaust gas cleaning is not necessary, however to do this they need to be carefully controlled by a high precision load signal.

Torque transducers directly installed on-board of ships with gas engines (or dual fuel engines), with direct drive propulsions, can automatically optimise the gas engine performance – this also guarantees the protection of the gas engine from knocking, misfiring and overload. Furthermore, this torque flange technology has been identified and is now promoted by international marine societies.

Gas compressor monitoring

The monitoring of gas compressors at gas pipelines is an interesting prospect within high torque measurement applications. The application is gathering momentum due to being driven by new legislations, the need to reduce transport costs and the ever increasing price of energy. In addition to this, the push for alternative fuel (LNG) and the new marine engine designs (gas or dual fuel engines) makes the monitoring of gas compressors even more important.

The application itself is not dissimilar to the monitoring of gas engines on ships; however it requires an ATEX certification for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Here HBM can cater for this with customised torque transducers with ATEX approval.

Learn more about HBM's customised torque transducers

Upgrading of high-capacity hydraulic dynamometers

High capacity dynamometers are integral part of test systems for marine engines. They are often still equipped with lever arms and force transducers; however this installation limits the measurement uncertainty.

A state of the art solution is offered by HBM: installation of a torque flange directly to the output shaft of the dynamometer is by far the more precise method of doing this.

Questions on high-capacity torque?

See HBM's solution for high capacity torque measurements...

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