Inventors:
Henry E. Howard - Grand Island NY, US
Carl L. Schwarz - East Aurora NY, US
Ahmed F. Abdelwahab - Clarence Center NY, US
Lee J. Rosen - Buffalo NY, US
Nick J. Degenstein - The Woodlands TX, US
Reh-Lin Chen - Williamsville NY, US
International Classification:
F04D 27/00
F25J 3/04
F04D 27/02
F04D 29/26
F04D 17/12
F04D 25/16
Abstract:
A method for compression of an incoming feed air stream using at least two variable speed compressor drive assemblies controlled in tandem is provided. The first variable speed drive assembly drives at least one compression stage in the lower pressure compressor unit driven while the second variable speed drive assembly drives higher pressure compression stage disposed either in the common air compression train or the split functional compression train of the air separation plant. The first and second variable speed drive assemblies are preferably high speed, variable speed electric motor assemblies each having a motor body, a motor housing, and a motor shaft with one or more impellers directly and rigidly coupled to the motor shaft via a sacrificial rigid shaft coupling.