ITT Takes Shock Out of Power Generation with Visco-Elastic Technology

Energy absorption, vibration isolation solutions highlighted at Hannover Messe

BAD KÖNIG, GERMANY – – ITT Corporation’s Control Technologies business has engineered a product called Visco-Elastic Support (VES) technology that reduces shock, controls oscillation and prevents damage to power plant turbines. ITT will showcase this technology, as well as its ECO OEM Series shock absorbers and additional energy absorption and vibration isolation solutions, at the Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany, April 8-12, 2013, inside Hall 20, Stand B07.

ITT is a global provider of innovative technologies for the energy, transportation and industrial markets that are engineered to withstand the harshest operational environments. Through leading brands such as Compact, Enidine, Jarret and Turn-Act, ITT offers technologies that provide seismic and wind protection for power plants, buildings, bridges and pipelines; reduce thermal forces to bearing and civil structures; and, provide protection from damaging vibration forces caused by overspeed conditions, magnetic pull and turbulent flows.

Viscoelastic Technology

In a power plant turbine, thermal expansion forces and vibrations tend to peak at the guiding bearing above the generator rotor. The shock and magnetic forces at the top of an operating turbine can damage its components or weaken the civil structure supporting the turbine and even lead to catastrophic failure. The VES technology, which improves the dynamic behavior of the turbine’s rotor-bearing system, consists of proprietary silicon elastomers inside high-performance shocks that absorb energy. Engineers place VES shock absorbers on power plant generators at each point of contact between the generator’s support structure and upper guide bearing.

“Many power plant operators mitigate shock and vibration by strengthening the turbine’s civil structure. But this increases cost and only postpones immediate problems,” said Christina Classen, general manager for ITT Control Technologies in Bad König. “VES technology, however, absorbs and dissipates the problem of shock and vibration; this increases generator efficiency as well as the lifetime of the turbine.”

Principles of the VES technology come from the steel-making industry. For example, when rolling sheet metal for automobiles, machine builders rely on hydraulic damping to reduce energy but sustain a high amount of force to produce the required thickness of steel. In power plant generators, VES reduces the generator’s dynamic response, while preventing excessive force on the civil structure.

New Adjustable Shock Absorbers

ITT is also displaying its new adjustable ECO OEM Series shock absorbers, which comply with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). With the ITT ECO OEM Series shock installed in a machine, technicians can change the shock’s damping force with the simple turn of a knob on the shock if the machine’s input conditions change. For instance, if manufacturers operate food processing or semi-conductor handling machines at high speeds to increase productivity, then the new shock can reduce vibraton and product damage.

The new ECO OEM Series shocks:

- provide enhanced corrosion and wear protection with the new Enicote™ II surface finish.
- include bio-degradable oil, whch is something ITT engineers added to adhere to the VDMA Blue Competence – a German engineering initiative focused on energy efficiency and recycling.
- range in length from 67 mm to more than 142 mm.

New Online Portal for Building and Customizing Products

ITT has developed an online portal, named ENIZISE, for customers to specify the features of their shock absorbers and actuators. The recently launched online sizing software gives machine builders a way to also view and download a CAD model with their selected options. The ITT Competence Center Europe, loacted in Bad König, also offers customized solutions and technical consultation.

“We’re bringing machine builders and operators not only our new technology but also our reputation for problem-solving, expertise and development capacity,” said Munish Nanda, president of ITT’s Control Technologies business.

About ITT

ITT is a diversified leading manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the energy, transportation and industrial markets. Building on its heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver enduring solutions to the key industries that underpin our modern way of life. Founded in 1920, ITT is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with employees in more than 35 countries and sales in a total of approximately 125 countries. The company generated 2012 revenues of $2.2 billion. For more information, visit www.itt.com.